Transcription made by: Bhuvanidhi prabhuji, Jnaneshwari mataji, Deekshita mataji and Ananya mataji
Devotee: It’s dictation tapes, Gurudev, for Kṛṣṇa book.
Gour Govinda Swami: Accha.
Devotee: This is the whole Kṛṣṇa book’s dictation.
Gour Govinda Swami: Oh, cassette.
Devotee: Yes Gurudev.
Gour Govinda Swami: That’s good.
Gour Govinda Swami: Nice. Yes. All right. Very nice. What is it?
Devotee: That’s the extra one, the 33.
Gour Govinda Swami: Long to play.
Devotee: Yes.
Devotee: Well done.
Gour Govinda Swami: Well done. So, everything all right?
Devotee: Now that I’m here, Guru Maharaj, no more problems.
Gour Govinda Swami: You are from England right?
Devotee: Yes. Yes, Guru Maharaj.
Gour Govinda Swami: Good. So you stay in Northern England or what you are doing right now?
Devotee: We’re traveling.
Gour Govinda Swami: Traveling?
Devotee: Scotland and London, north, south, Manchester.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: Different places.
Gour Govinda Swami: Not fixed?
Devotee: Not fixed. No.
Gour Govinda Swami: Both of you?
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: We like to be fixed here. Nowhere. Fixed nowhere else.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm. So how many days you will stay here?
Devotee: Gurumaharaj, we’re planning on, planning on leaving, mid-March. After mid-March, maybe 14th, 15th March.
Gour Govinda Swami: March.
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: So only two months you may stay.
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: January, February and March you will leave.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev.
Gour Govinda Swami: All right.
Devotee: If there’s, there may be some war though in England. So if there is the, maybe we’ll stay longer if possible.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, according to your convenience.
Devotee: Actually I’d like to stay here anyway, as I wrote. I’d very like to stay here.
Gour Govinda Swami: I am proposing to go to Europe and America in, I mean, July.
Devotee: July? Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah. July or August. This year I went to Australia.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev.
Devotee: Heard it was very successful, Gurudev.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah. Something.
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: It’s mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda, Mahāprabhu. Preaching was very nice.
Devotee: Yes. I have many devotees, they’ve asked for dīkṣā from you.
Gour Govinda Swami: No mind. Man supposes, God disposes.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev.
Gour Govinda Swami: There is sanctioning authority. Kṛṣṇa, ultimate sanctioning authority. Unless He sanctions, even a blade of grass cannot shake, you see. Under His sanction.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev. Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: Anyhow, after many, a lot of obstructions, impediments, objections, so many, I was able to go to Australia.
Devotee: Yes, Guru.
Gour Govinda Swami: First they refused.
Devotee: Yes, Guru.
Gour Govinda Swami: The Australian leaders refused first. I want to go. Then, anyhow, Kṛṣṇa sanctioned. Mahāprabhu sanctioned. At last. Then many problems come to get visa. Very difficult to get visa, Australian visa. He knows.
Devotee: Yes. We had said it.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah. At last I have to go, I had to go to there, to Delhi. I went there, Delhi.
Devotee: Yes, Guru.
Gour Govinda Swami: Then it was granted, you see. So much hurdles. Anyhow, śreyānsi bahu-vignāni. One saying is there in Sanskrit, śreyānsi bahu-vignāni. If you find many obstacles are coming and if you are steady, strong, then you must achieve success. That is test how strong you are, how determined you are. So obstacles, impediments will come and if you are steady and determined, not caring for these obstacles and impediment, then you cross the hurdles and will achieve success. That is test.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev.
Gour Govinda Swami: So śreyānsi bahu-vignāni. Thereby you will prove that you are a determined person. Aha! Otherwise one weak person, he will be, you see, desperate and give up. His determination will be shaking, you see, is not strong. So he cannot achieve success. That’s the proof, once you’re determined.
You will not achieve success in spiritual attainment, you see. Can’t can’t. Māyā will create so many obstacles, impediments, distractions, so many, so many. Yes.
And one should cross it over. Mm.
Devotee: Yes, Gurudev. This can be done by guru’s mercy.
Gour Govinda Swami: Then you can achieve success, otherwise no possibility there. So what is about that Acyutānanda?
Devotee: Acyutānanda? I have many times tried to contact him, but -
Devotee: one time I, I spoke to him, but he said it wasn’t him. He said it was his brother.
Gour Govinda Swami: Oh.
Devotee: But I knew, I knew it was him because I know his voice very well.
Devotee: So then I phoned back two days later and I spoke to his brother.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: And I said, "You tell Acyutānanda that I know it’s him I spoke to."
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: So then two days, and he phoned me afterwards.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: You see, he spoke to me for some time.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: I was speaking maybe three-quarters of an hour.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: Uh, but I didn't ask too much on this call, cause he’s very enclosed sometimes. He doesn't like revealing his mind, what’s going on. So then, we’d arranged that he would come and stay with me in London.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: But then he never came, and then I couldn’t contact him again. I could never get in contact. I told him, I told him to write, but-
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah.
Devotee: He never did.
Gour Govinda Swami: Does he stay with his mother?
Devotee: Sometimes he does.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: Sometimes.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm.
Devotee: Sometimes not. I spoke to her. About 10 days ago, I spoke to her on the telephone, his mother, again. I keep on trying to contact. But, she said she doesn't know when he'll be back. He often doesn't tell her. I got the address from her.
Gour Govinda Swami: Oh. So he doesn’t come to the temple?
Devotee: No.
Gour Govinda Swami: No, he don’t associate with devotees. So he's fallen, degraded. Degraded, fallen. Nonsense. Nonsense.
Devotee: I think one time he told me he had been to Paris and he had seen Dattātreya. Some devotee called Dattātreya.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm-hmm.
Devotee: And Akiñcana said that he’s not a very good devotee.
Gour Govinda Swami: No.
Devotee: So maybe bad association.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm. Look, Dattātreya is not a good devotee. He came here, Dattātreya.
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: I knew him very well. He’s not good devotee. He’s a rascal also. Yeah. As you sow, so you will reap.
Devotee: Mm.
Gour Govinda Swami: As you sow, so you will reap. Then, opening the gate towards hell, hell. You’ll just go to hell. Very shocking. Very shocking to me. All right, then.
Devotee: Is he chanting?
Devotee: I don’t know. I don’t know.
Gour Govinda Swami: What do you mean chanting? He’s not contacting. He’s not staying with the devotees. Come on. Not doing any devotional service. Is completely fallen. Completely fallen. Therefore, we stress upon this thing. One should always remain in the association of devotees. Otherwise, Māyā is so strong, very strong, very strong, and you are weak. You have no strength to overcome Māyā. You’re a weak fellow.
Only if you constantly stay in the association of devotees, then you will get some protection. Otherwise, Māyā is very strong in many ways. In many ways, Māyā comes, Māyā comes. Many ways. Māyā is very tricky and very strong, in many ways comes to attract. And is very, very careful, very, very careful. They say that is Rajas path, Rajas path.
One should be very careful. Slightest carelessness will cut you. You understand?
You're off the track. Very careful you must be. This association service, most important thing. That will protect you, give you protection. You get some protection. Otherwise, you cannot protect yourself. So, very dangerous place this material platform. The material world is very, very dangerous place. Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Goswāmī Prabhupāda Mahārāja says, "This is not at all a fit place for any gentleman’s to live." This material world, not at all a fit place for any gentleman to live. Definitely not a fit. Isn't it, Murāri? What do you say? Huh? Is it fit place for you?
Devotee: No.
Gour Govinda Swami: (laughs)
Devotee: (laughs)
Gour Govinda Swami: For Janārdan, it is very fit place. (laughs). Go on to embrace Māyā. Isn't it, Janārdan? And get kicking from Māyā. Māyā will kick you. Very heavy kick. You understand?, you don't know Māyā.
It’s like a very deep, dark well. You understand? A very deep, dark well, but the surface of the well is covered with very soft grass. You understand? Surface is covered very soft grass and you'll find, oh, very soft grass. It's very soft like cushion. Let me sit down.
You'll fall down if you do this. Dark well. Māyā is, just like māyā. You understand Janārdan? be careful. Outward, it is outwardly very enchanting. Very nice outward. Inside is very deep, dark well. It's like, this is māyā. You understand? Murari, be careful. Māyā is such thing. You be careful.
Devotee: We need to pay attention.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. That I tell you. Be very careful. Don't give any chance, any chance to māyā to attract you to allure you. You understand?
Be always, constantly, attached to Kṛṣṇa and holy name. Constantly attached. You understand? The moment you are detached, that is the most, unfortunate, dangerous moment. At that moment, māyā will capture you. Yes.
Be very, very careful. Very, very careful. Only one moment. Be very careful. Every moment. Constantly attached to the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, māyā is there. Just waiting for that moment. When that moment, immediately she'll grasp you. You understand? That is what situation. Dangerous situation. Very dangerous situation.
So it is said this is not at all a fit place for any gentleman to live. Any gentleman. It is nasty. It is dangerous. padaṁ-padaṁ vīpadām. If you step, there is danger. If you step. Danger. You understand? If you step, there is danger. Must be very careful process.
Devotee: We must be, unified in the, very beginning of spiritual life. We don’t concentrate down properly. Sometime we are, you know, always get distracted with something else. So how to keep going? How to be careful with this thing? What should we do?
Gour Govinda Swami: You understand? This material world is a place where at every moment, you face the test. Kṛṣṇa tests you through māyā. You understand? Kṛṣṇa tests you through māyā. Every moment you face the test. Do you know how to come out successful from that test? Huh?
Devotee: Teach me.
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: You should teach me, but I don’t know.
Gour Govinda Swami: Parabrahma?
Devotee: Yeah. Most powerful person’s name.
Gour Govinda Swami: You must hear sādhu and mahājana. So, you must be always in the association of sādhu, mahājana’s. And hear from them. You understand? Hearing. Then you will be able to come out successfully from that test. Otherwise no possibility. You have to do it. You understand? Murai. Yes? You have to do it. This hearing from sādhus, mahājanas. You have to hear.
Otherwise, you cannot. You’ll become a speculator, then put into the māyā’s trap. This hearing is most important. Hear from the right source, not from bogus authority, not by that, bona fide sādhu. Must hear. That hearing is very potential. It’s very potential. You understand? Yes. It’s potent with spiritual energy, spiritual strength. That will give. Then, you get the strength, spiritual strength.
You cannot overcome māyā through your own strength, material strength. No. No. When you will get the spiritual strength coming from Kṛṣṇa through Sādhu, Mahājana, Guru. You understand? Then you will be strong with that strength. Then māyā will be powerless. You can overcome māyā. Otherwise, you’re not possible to do it. You understand? And you should develop greed for it. Become greedy. Yes.
Devotee: Guru Maharaj, how much would you expect for some devotees also they hear from their spiritual master? So after speaking to that other devotee and then how to get benefit of that hearing?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah.
Devotee: Because many people can hear also, but they don't, they don't give mind so.
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh, that’s another important question. Who is really hearing? That’s another question. One may be posing to hear. Many are posing to hear, but who is really hearing? That’s most important question. Really one who hears.
If you take the statistics, you’ll find very meager statistic. You understand? Very disappointing statistics you’ll find. Very disappointing. One who really hears. You understand? Many are coming. Many maybe coming and sitting and hearing, but, how many are hearing, really hearing?
Devotee: Gurudev, how is it that one can really hear them? How is it that one can get that, that one really hears and takes notice of them?
Gour Govinda Swami: If you are hungry. You understand? If hunger is there, thirst is there, then the food will be palatable and drink will be very nice. If there's no thirst, no hunger, dishes are supplied, but you cannot taste it. You cannot have it at all. Do you understand what I say? Yes.?
Devotee: This, this hearing can also be under the it’s also under the mode of, guṇa, of the guṇa like passion. Somebody can hear with, with passion or sometime with goodness. Like, like to be eager to hear.
Gour Govinda Swami: Eager, eagerness. Yes. That’s the question.
Devotee: That is, can be passion also?
Gour Govinda Swami: Passion is the material mode, you see. This hearing is not nothing material. The transcendental kṛṣṇa-kathā, it is not material, it’s transcendental. Above three modes. You understand? But what do you say is, should be eager. One should have that eagerness. You understand? One should have that eagerness. One should have that greed.
Therefore, I said one should have that greed. Should develop greed for it. How can I hear more and more from sādhus? It's not sufficient. One should feel always dissatisfied. Dissatisfied in this sphere and feel satisfied in material sphere. You understand? What is materially obtained is enough. Feel satisfied. Don't be dissatisfied in material attainment. You understand? It’s enough, enough.
But always feel dissatisfied in the spiritual sphere. No, I cannot get anything. No, I cannot get anything. No, no, no, no, no. Like that dissatisfaction? You understand? Yes. If you say, "Oh, yes, I have got, I have got now." Finished. Finished. Yes. If you’ve got something, you’ll lose it now. It’s finished. Yes, always dissatisfied. Dissatisfied. And develop greed for it.
How can I have the association with others and hear more and more? Upon doing, like, up and doing. You understand?
Devotee: Guru Maharaja, where does, where does that greed come from? The greed.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Where does it come from, that greed?
Gour Govinda Swami: People are very greedy for material possessions. You see? Just divert that greed towards this end. You understand?
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, mahājana said that thing. ‘viṣayayā chhe rati, sei mata rati hauk tomāra caraṇe’. That Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, "O Lord, I have developed so much greed, so much attraction, attachment to this, in material enjoyment, material possessions. Let that attachment, greed, be diverted to your lotus feet, O Lord." Like that.
Devotee: So we pray to Lord.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah, pray to the Lord. Yeah, yes. Pray to the Lord. Unless He showers His mercy, what can you do? Can't do anything.
Devotee: Because we don't know the Lord, so, we have to pray to the spiritual master?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. You don't know the Lord, what is it? We presented Him, bona fide representative. You have devotees here. Sādhu is there. He is the real representative of the Lord who can give you Lord. Kṛṣṇa se tomāra, Kṛṣṇa dite pāra, tomāra śakti āche.This morning, we were discussing that thing, isn't it? In Bhagavatam class.
Have you seen a beggar? You may see many beggars in India. You may not see beggars in . Beggars are here. They're running, "Oh sir, please give me one pie, give me one pies from you." Many beggars are running, running. Train station, bus station, you'll find. Purī, you'll find. Many are sitting there, "Oh, please give, please give." Beggars begging.
So, he must like a beggar. "Please give me Kṛṣṇa. Please give me Kṛṣṇa. Please give me Kṛṣṇa." Run, run behind. Run behind that Vaiṣṇava Ṭhākura, who, who has bound up Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa belongs to him, isn't it? He has bound up Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is now in bondage. That Vaiṣṇiava Ṭhākura has bound up Kṛṣṇa in his heart by the rope of, rope of love.
Gour Govinda Swami: And Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, but He feels powerless to break that bondage He’s bound up. Helpless now. "I am helpless." Kṛṣṇa says, "I am helpless. I cannot get out of this bondage."
So, he can give you Kṛṣṇa. If you, like a beggar, run after him, "Please give me Kṛṣṇa." He'll think, "All right, let me give one paisa to this beggar, so he can get."
Otherwise, not a easy thing. So, you should develop greed. You should have that hunger. You should have that thirst for Kṛṣṇa. Then you can hear the nectar is coming and you can have it. If you are no hungry, no thirsty, and nectar coming, he won't accept it, "No, I, I don't need it." Then who hears?
Who really hears? One who is really hungry and thirsty for it, for Kṛṣṇa, he will hear. Otherwise, he cannot hear. Isn't it?
If fire will catch your head, what will you do? You'll shout loudly, "Water! Water! Where is water?" And run hither and thither. "Where is water? Where is water?" That position, like that. Yes. That is the situation.
He will really hear. So, running hither and thither, "Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is this?" Fire has come on his head. Now, running after water. "Where is water? Where is water? Where is water?"
If you are not running, if you are not eager, so anxious, you are not hungry, you are not, not hungry, you have no hunger at all, no thirst at all, then how can you get it? Tell me, how can you get it? Do you understand Nrhari?
Developing hunger for material things, isn't it? Develop that hunger for Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand, Nrhari?
Devotee: Guru Maharaj this, it only cost us this, I don’t know..
Gour Govinda Swami: (laughs) Your belly is filled. Nrhari, your belly is filled with material pool, no place. No, no place. No place. Now how can you develop?
Devotee: Sometimes when we are sick, we don't feel like eating.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Because we are sick.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Sometimes sick. You see? Indigestion also.
Devotee: Yeah.
Gour Govinda Swami: Indigestion. Agnimantika. Digestive fire is very low now. Indigestion is there. You never feel hungry.
Devotee: But, like you were saying, ultimately we cannot. We are impotent. It's all depending on Kṛṣṇa. By our own effort, we cannot do anything.
Gour Govinda Swami: No, no, no.
Devotee: So, we can compare Kṛṣṇa to the, to the fire of digestion.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: If there's no fire for digestion, then we don't feel like being hungry or eating.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Yes, yes.
Devotee: So like we join Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and we are very eager to hear and everything, but then it goes.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: So, what can we do? Do we have any-
Gour Govinda Swami: Why it went away?
Devotee: Huh?
Gour Govinda Swami: Why it went away?
Devotee: Yes, this is the question.
Gour Govinda Swami: (laughs) Yes. Why it went away? Why you cannot keep it up? Such eagerness. First you were so eager. Now, no eagerness. So, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says that thing in Upadeśāmṛta.
utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt samgat-tyāgāt tada bhute ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati. [Upadeśāmṛta, Verse 3]
He says that thing.
Devotee: But then, in the then beginning, we said we don't have to. we, by our own effort, we can’t do anything. But then, if we have to keep it, keeping it means doing a lot of, it's really a big effort to keep Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Devotee: Yes.
Gour Govinda Swami: That's what I said. You should develop greed for it. But, do you think now, "My hunger is satisfied. My thirst is satisfied now. No more." Then you lose, you lose. You will lose.
I tell you, we should feel always dissatisfied. "No, I cannot get anything. No, my hunger is not satisfied. My thirst is not satisfied. I cannot get anything, anything. No, no, no." Always dissatisfied. Then you can’t lose it.
Devotee: If we associate with those who are greedy, will we also-
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Those who are really greedy. Like Nrhari he is very greedy fellow.
Devotee: We should find out the most greedy person.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, the most greedy person.
Devotee: And associate with this person.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Then you will develop greed. Yes. Yes. You understand Nrhari? Those who are really greedy.
Always dissatisfied, greedy, and crying for Kṛṣṇa. Crying, crying, crying. Crying. And we say that thing. That’s Mahāprabhu's teaching. Always fill the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa. Crying. Isn't it?
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me [Siksastakam, verse 7]
Isn't it?
cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam.
yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me
[Siksastakam, verse 7]
Gour Govinda Swami: They are greedy persons. You understand? They are greedy. "Oh, where is Kṛṣṇa? I find no Kṛṣṇa. I can't see Him. Oh. One hour passed. Three hours passed. Then second yāma. Again, three hours passed. Then third yāma passed. Fourth yāma passed. Oh, whole days now finished. Still I cannot see Govinda Oh. You see? Crying, crying, crying. Greedy person. You understand? Such a, he is a greedy person. Such a person.
Greedy person. You understand? That Mahāprabhu has said that in Śikṣāṣṭaka,
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me.
You see?
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me
The whole world is empty now, empty. No Kṛṣṇa, no Govinda. The world is empty for me. Yes.
Come close, closer, closer. Hey, sit down, Nrhari.
Devotee: Take them and put them over there to-
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh? Oh, let them sit here. You close. do you understand Nrhari? This is a greedy person.
Devotee: So Guru Maharaj, are we praying for material things instead of praying for Kṛṣṇa?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Why?
Gour Govinda Swami: What, why?
Devotee: We're crying always for material things greater than for Kṛṣṇa.
Gour Govinda Swami: Ah.
Devotee: But we're spirit souls.
Gour Govinda Swami: Because, because you have developed attachment to material things, to māyā. Therefore, crying for māyā.
Develop attachment to Kṛṣṇa. Only by association with such person, you will develop. Otherwise, how can you develop? How can you develop? You are already in grip of māyā. You understand? Huh?
Māyā's just alluring you, enchanting you and you, "Oh, it's very nice." And kicking you! Kicking is also nice. (laughs)
Oh, it's nice kicking. You have developed further attachment to māyā. You didn't know. Still running. Still running. You're getting kicked. Still running. Gardhava-pada-tārita.
Gardhava-pada-tārita. Ass runs after she-ass. She-ass kicks with, with her hind legs. Still running, still running. Like that. You understand?
Devotee: It's an amazing situation.
Gour Govinda Swami: If you see. You should understand. Like that. Be aware of this thing. When you kick māyā, no more. Then Kṛṣṇa will come to him.
mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te. So, completely surrender unto Kṛṣṇa who is the master of māyā. Then you'll be able to overcome māyā. Otherwise, you can't, you can't. You will develop distaste for it.
Devotee: We must get. Very often, we speak about surrender to Kṛṣṇa, taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa. But actually, we don't understand properly. What does, what does it mean to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, as that verse you just cited?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Surrender to his dear devotee. He's a representative.
Devotee: To surrender to Kṛṣṇa.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. You can find Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will never come to you. Never come to you.
But Kṛṣṇa is very merciful. He has made nice arrangements. This, He has sent His dear devotee here. His dear devotee has come here, to this material world out of causeless mercy.
anugrahāyeha caranti nūnaṁ
bhūtāni bhavyāni janārdanasya [ŚB 3.5.3]
Anugrahāya, by mercy, showing causeless mercy because dear devotees of Lord Janārdana, Kṛṣṇa have come here and they're here. They are here. They're wandering here, though they are very rare. Their number is not so great. They are very rare persons. Still, they are here.
And you should find them out. We should find them out. How can you find them out?
Devotee: By mercy of Kṛṣṇa Maharaj?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Yes. How can you find them out? Can you see them? Can you see them?
Devotee: I think-
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh? Can you see them?
Devotee: I don't see them.
Gour Govinda Swami: No. Can you see Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee: No.
Gour Govinda Swami: No?
Devotee: Guru Kṛṣṇa Prasāde pāi bhakti-latā-bīja.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Guru Kṛṣṇa Prasāda pāi bhakti-latā-bīja, That's all right.
Devotee: I can’t see Kṛṣṇa.
Gour Govinda Swami: You can’t see Kṛṣṇa. How can you see Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee: By the mercy of the spiritual master?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. That we are saying. Kṛṣṇa sūrya-sama. Isn't it?
Devotee: Māyā haya andhakāra
Gour Govinda Swami: Māyā is andhakāra . Kṛṣṇa sūrya-sama. Kṛṣṇa cinmaya bhāskara. We were discussing that three times in our class, isn't it? Kṛṣṇa cinmaya bhāskara. Kṛṣṇa is spiritual sun, like spiritual sun.
It's material sun. See here. But Kṛṣṇa, spiritual sun, cinmaya bhāskara. Isn't it? How can you see sun?
Devotee: How can we see the sun?
Devotee: By the energy of his rays.
Gour Govinda Swami: By the help of sunshine.
Devotee: Sunshine.
Gour Govinda Swami: Otherwise, you cannot see sun. Isn't it? By the help of sunshine, you can see sun. Otherwise, you cannot see sun. Sun is there in the sky always. Isn't it? When there is night here, there is no sun in the sky. That doesn't mean that sun is not there in the sky. Sun is there in the sky.
In some other part of the world, in the sky, you'll find sun. But here, sun is not here now. Sun is absent. At that time, can you see sun? No. You can't see sun. By the help of very powerful. What do you say? Telescope or like that. Still, you can't see sun, because only sunshine is required to see sun. No other way is there.
Similarly, when Kṛṣṇa is like spiritual sun, so the spiritual sunshine is required. That light is required. Well, what is that light?
Devotee: Spiritual master.
Gour Govinda Swami: What is that light? Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is that light. Āloka -svarūpiṇī. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is Āloka-svarūpiṇī. Isn't it? I told you. Isn't it? Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is Āloka svarūpiṇī. She's light.
Devotee: It's energy. Yeah.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Light. So if you can get that light, then you can see the spiritual sun, Kṛṣṇa. How can you get that light? That another question. How can you get that light? That means mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is required to see Kṛṣṇa or get Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, you cannot approach Kṛṣṇa and get Kṛṣṇa. How can you get that mercy?
Devotee: By spiritual master
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Is spiritual master Rādhārāṇī?
Devotee: He's assisting Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Rādhā-priya-sakhī. Spiritual master is Rādhā-priya-sakhī. In Guruvāṣṭaka, every day we chant.
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Of Rādhārāṇī. You understand? Sakhī. And very expert. dākṣya. tatrāti-dākṣyād. Very expert in uniting Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Kuñja. nikuñja-yūno rati- keli-siddhyai. That's business of sakhī. And they are very confidential associate of Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa. The sakhīs. So, you get that mercy of Rādhārāṇī through them. You understand? Through them. Yes.
Devotee: When the spiritual master comes to the material world, then he is at the same time, he is still assisting Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. That is going on simultaneously.
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: Simultaneously that the spiritual master is here and in the spiritual world he's also engaged in the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa at the same time.
Gour Govinda Swami: Ah. Yes. Because he is very confidential associate of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Yeah.
Devotee: So when he comes here of his own volition, then at the same time as he is in material world, he's in spiritual world. It's the same, same place?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Though he comes here, still he is always in transcendental sphere, transcendental atmosphere, transcendental position. You understand?
Outwardly or apparently he may be in the material world, but this māyā or matter cannot touch him. Like padma-patram ivāmbhasā. The lotus leaf is in the water, the water doesn't touch it. Isn't it? Similar is there.
Devotee: At the same time as he's preaching.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: The spiritual master is preaching. So two things he's doing at the same time?
Gour Govinda Swami: Ah, he does two things. Two things. Two aspects. Spiritual master has two aspects. One aspect is Rādhā Priya Sakhī. Another is the manifestation of Nityānanda Balarāma, Nityānanda Rāma. You understand? Two aspects. Can't understand? You understand? Yes, yes. Yes, tell.
Devotee: Guru is Rādhāpriya Sakhī assissting Kṛṣṇa in His pastimes. Within the material world He manifests as Lord Baladev, the Ādi Guru.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Its transcendental knowledge.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah.
Devotee: It's His function within the material realm.
Gour Govinda Swami: Two aspects of guru. You understand? One aspect, Rādhāpriya Sakhī. Another aspect is the manifestation of Nityānanda Rāma, Nityānanda Balarāma. You understand? Because without the mercy of Nityānanda Rāma, you cannot approach Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi
You understand? heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi, dharo nitāir caraṇa. Isn't it?
nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala je chāyāy jagata jurāy. [Nitai Pada Kamala, Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur]
That song, isn't it? heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi
Without the help of Nitāi, Nityānanda Rāma, you cannot approach Rādhā Kṛṣṇa.
And that Nityānanda is Balarāma. balarāma hoilo nitāi, and Nityānanda and Balarāma same. You understand? And very powerful. Balarāma. Bala means very strong. You understand? Very strong. He incorporates spiritual strength that Balarāma, Nityānanda. Yes. His mercy is required. You understand?
When empowered by that strength, that power, transcendental strength and power coming from Lord Balarām, Nityānanda Rāma, then you will be able to approach Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, you cannot. You understand?
That is the Guru-kṛpā That's Guru-kṛpā, the Guru's mercy, because he is the manifestation of Nityānanda Rāma. And that's needed for conditioned souls. You are conditioned souls. You are immersed here in this dreadful ocean of material existence, drowning, drowning, drowning, isn't it? Life after life.
How can able to get out of this material ocean, the drowning condition, state, without that spiritual strength coming from Nityānanda Rāma? Yes. They are very, very merciful.
They are very, very merciful. Nityānanda, Lord Nityānanda is more merciful than Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya is mahā-vadānya, most munificent person, indiscriminately, freely distributing prema.
Still, Lord Nityānanda is more merciful. You understand? Take the case of Jagāi and Mādhāi. Jagāi and Mādhāi, beat. They were bleeding from His head, Nityānanda Prabhu's head. Still embracing, still embracing them. Mār khāyā prem diyā – emon prabhu kothāy āche?
Is there such merciful Prabhu like Nityānanda who bestows His mercy, even beating? You understand? Accepting beatings, bestows His mercy, such mercy. Is there any other so merciful?
When Mahāprabhu heard this, He became angry and He invoked Sudarśana cakra, kill those miscreants. But what did Nityānanda Prabhu said? "Oh, Mahāprabhu, in this incarnation, you'll never use any weapons. Why are You invoking Sudarśana cakra.
You have to only distribute prema. Just reminded him. You understand?
Mahāprabhu got angry, but Nityānanda Prabhu didn't get angry. So when Jagāi and Mādhāi fell flat at the lotus feet of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. Mahāprabhu said, "Go there! Fall flat at the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda. Beg excuse there. Don't come to me."
He bestows mercy. He's so merciful. heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi.
Without the mercy of such Nitāi, Nityānanda Rāma, you cannot approach Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, get Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. That is our goal of life, approach Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. That is success of our human life. Without the mercy of Nityānanda Rāma, we cannot. This is most important. This is for conditioned souls. How can you get strength? There are no strength, no spiritual strength. The world has no fortune, very weak fellow. How can that merciful Nityānanda Rāma, Balaram has inculcated the strength infuse the strength unto you. If He will be angry, if Lord Balaram or Nityānanda Prabhu will be angry on you and just takes away His strength, can you lift a blade of grass? Tell me.
Where is your strength? Can you lift? Can't lift a blade of grass. If He takes away His strength, means that you are surviving only for His mercy. Understand?
Devotee: Why, why do you think others get the mercy while others don't? Why?
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: Others, they get mercy of Nithyananda which, another’s don't.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Others not. Why?
Gour Govinda Swami: Why not?
Devotee: I mean, it's not that people get mercy. Some people get mercy of Nithyananda. This is what you found. For others, not.
Gour Govinda Swami: That is first step, first step. That is first step. First requisite. Get the mercy of Nityānanda Rāma. Balaram. You understand?
Because how can you go? How can you tread this path? How can you lift your leg and walk? How can you move without that strength? Can you move? No, you can't move at all.
Devotee: I'm asking why some people, the fortunate enough to get that mercy and others not? How can-
Gour Govinda Swami: They are unfortunate. They're unfortunate. They don't want it. In Caitanya-bhāgavata, they say it is that a nice verse is there.
Bhajo koro Nitai Chāndere, Bhajo koro Nitai Chāndere.
One who wants to merge himself into the ocean of prema, prema-sāgara, the ocean of prema, he should do the bhajana of Nityānanda Prabhu bhaja ko nitāi-cāṅdere dubibo premera-sāgare bhaja ko nitāi-cāṅdere. Caitanya-bhāgavata says this.
Yes. Śrīman Mahāprabhu is, bringing that inundation of love, prema-vanyā.
chāḍilā prema-vanyā cāri dike bhedāi, You understand? chāḍilā prema-vanyā cāri dike bhedāi Such great flood is coming. Flood of love of Godhead Kṛṣṇa. You understand? Inundating whole directions. You understand? Inundating whole directions. But how can you inundate? How can you inundate with that flood without the mercy of Nityānanda Rāma and Balaram? You can't. You can't.
Devotee: How to do Nityānanda bhajana? How? How to do Nityānanda, how to do bhajana of Nityānanda?
Gour Govinda Swami: So, yes. His Gurudev is his manifestation, his guru. You understand? So, that is I, I say, that is what I said. That is one aspect of guru. There's two aspects. Rādhāpriya Sakhī, another aspect is manifestation of Nityānanda Rāma. Balaram. Nityānanda.
Devotee: Guru is the manifestation of Lord Nityānanda and Baladeva. He is for the disciple in the, in the conditioned state, and then the-
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: the guru-
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: is the manifestation of Lord Baladev, Lord Nityānanda.
Gour Govinda Swami: Ah.
Devotee: Is for the benefit of the, the disciple in the conditioned state.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, yes, yes. Conditioned side, yes.
Devotee: And then the, the guru in his function as Rādhā-priya Sakhī is for the, for the benefit of the liberated stage?
Gour Govinda Swami: Wherever you are. Yes. Two aspects. You understand? Two aspects.
Devotee: When the spiritual master comes to the material world, does he come here eternally or sometimes he comes and sometimes he just doesn't come at all?
Gour Govinda Swami: You see, Jnaneshwar. That's eternal. You understand? That's eternal. It's not temporary. It's eternal. He's always there. Do you think Guru is not there? He's always there. Do you think Kṛṣṇa is not there?
Kṛṣṇa is everywhere. Isn't it? Though Kṛṣṇa's abode is there, Goloka Vṛndāvana, He's constantly there. Still, He's also here. Isn't it?
If you have, if you have vision, you can see Him as Prahalad Maharaj saw in the stone pillar. Isn't it? He is present in your heart also, as Supersoul. Kṛṣṇa is everywhere. Even in an atom. But you should be a qualified person, you should have that vision to see. Otherwise, you cannot see, "Oh, where is Kṛṣṇa?" Hiraṇyakaśipu said, "Where is He? I am Isvara. He is not Isvara, I am Isvara”. isn’t it? Didn’t see, But his son saw Prahlād Maharaj. Similarly Guru is there, Guru is there though physically he may disappear, his physical disappearance, that doesn’t mean that guru is not there, that doesn’t mean so.
He is there because this guru is confidential associate, eternal associate and confidential associate of Kṛṣṇa, he is also eternal and then in same platform, then in same platform with Kṛṣṇa always spiritual platform, same platform. But he should have vision to see him, to know him, to understand him. Otherwise, he cannot. As I had said, it is said, Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vrindavan, never leaves even one step doesn't leave Vrindavan.
padam ekaṁ na gacchati, vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya padam ekaṁ na gacchati. That is stated Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vrindavan, he will go on stay there, He is always in Vrindavan.
Then question arises then how is it Akrura came by the order of Kamsa and took away Kṛṣṇa and Balaram in the chariot? Kṛṣṇa and Balaram. So Mother Yaśodā cried, ran behind that chariot and they're crying and sleeping in the front of chariot. No, we won’t allow this chariot to move, thus doing that thing. How is it Kṛṣṇa that never leaves Vrindavan even one step? How is it? How is it?
Devotee: Kṛṣṇa left in his Vāsudeva form.
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: Kṛṣṇa left in his Vāsudeva form.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah. That's all right. Kṛṣṇa kills demons in Vāsudeva form. That's Vāsudeva's activities. That's not Kṛṣṇa's activity. Kṛṣṇa is always immersed in rāsa-līlā. No other activity. Vāsudeva kills demons. Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva is there in Kṛṣṇa, because Kṛṣṇa is the source of all the incarnations, he is avatāri Isn't it? The source of all the incarnations, all the incarnations. When Kṛṣṇa comes, all the incarnations are there. You understand? All right, if Kṛṣṇa goes there in Vāsudeva form, then in Kṛṣṇa form does he here? No. Why they are crying if Kṛṣṇa is there? In Vrindavan
Why the Gopis are crying. Why Mother Yaśodā is crying?
If Kṛṣṇa went there in Vāsudeva form, Vāsudeva form 400 form. With Kṛṣṇa is 200 form. Then?
Devotee: One time, Gurudev, you said, you gave the example of, Kṛṣṇa is sitting with Rādhārāṇī and then the bee is flying
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: and the bee goes and then Kṛṣṇa says the madhusūdana is gone.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: And then Rādhārāṇī, she is crying then.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah.
Devotee: She thinks Kṛṣṇa is gone even though Kṛṣṇa is sitting right next to her.
Gour Govinda Swami: That is the question of līlā. Līlā. Pastimes. When Kṛṣṇa manifested that līlā now, Mathurā līlā. You understand? And this līlā in Vṛndāvana līlā, apparently it is now covered up. Covered up. You understand? It's covered up. Covered up. That līlā is manifested there now. Vāsudeva līlā. But still this līlā is here, but not publicly. Not publicly. You understand? Not publicly as it was. This līlā is here. Those who have such eyes, they can see. They can see. You understand? They can see. Those who have such eyes. In Vṛndāvana, that līlā is eternally going on. Therefore, we have that song:
viṣaya chhāḍiyā kabe śuddha ha'be mana kabe āma heraba śrī-vṛndāvana / rūpa-raghunātha-pade ho-ibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhabē se yugala-pīriti
That Narottama Dasa Ṭhākura song is there. When can I be able to see Them in Vṛndāvana? When my mind will completely free from the material contamination, freed from the attachment of this material attachment, viṣaya‑rati, then I will be able to see Vṛndāvana. Otherwise, I cannot see Vṛndāvana. If you go to Vṛndāvana, you will only see the hills. The river, the mountain, the jungle, the animals. Like this. You, you can see the real Vṛndāvan, how Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastime is going on.
Can you see in Vṛndāvan? No, no. That is seen in real Vṛndāvan. When that day will come and I will see it? You understand? That's most important thing. Those who are fortunate, those who have endowed with such vision, they always see how Kṛṣṇa is there. You understand? This is the question of līlā, you see. That līlā is manifested. This līlā is somehow covers- covered up. Yoga-māyā covers it up now. This yoga-māyā's activity covers it up now. Those who have such eyes, they see always how the līlā is going on. So Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvan even one step.
padam ekaṁ na gacchati. Very subtle. Subtle philosophy. Very subtle. Very subtle. In Ujjvala-Nīlamaṇi, Lalita Mādhava, Vidagdha Mādhava, Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, these points are discussed. Rupa Goswami has discussed this point. Yes. Very subtle philosophy. Yes. That subtle philosophy, high, very high. You can't understand. No. Can you understand?
Gour Govinda Swami: Nrhari, Can you understand? Very high. It's post-graduate study. You are primary student. How can you understand? Post-graduate course.
Yes. Gopinath! Oh. Sitting here? I'm thinking, "Where is Gopinath?"
Devotee: (laughs)
Devotee: I’ll stay away, Mahārāj.
Devotee: You were talking just before this question about the spiritual master, how he's always here.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: Were you going to relate that to that point? Maybe I didn't quite understand how the spiritual master is always present.
Gour Govinda Swami: How Kṛṣṇa is always present?
Devotee: Kṛṣṇa is always present.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.
Devotee: The spiritual master also, also present simultaneously in the spiritual world?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. He is present, but we should be qualified enough to see him, to recognize him or to hear him. You understand? He is always present. He is always present. He's always teaching. Yes, he's always teaching. Yes, but we should recognize it. That's question of recognition. How he's teaching, how my spiritual master is teaching me. My spiritual master is catching hold of my ear and slapping me. I always feel so because I never feel separation from my spiritual master. Yes. He's always slapping me. Yes.
Devotee: So a slap?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, slap.
Devotee: So we there are also, like, slaps?
Gour Govinda Swami: Slap, Yes. He has to slap, yes. Yes.
Devotee: Slap, slap from the spiritual master is always positive.
Gour Govinda Swami: Whatever it means, positive or negative.
Devotee: Means,
Devotee: Beneficial.
Gour Govinda Swami: Beneficial, it is always beneficial.
Devotee: Yeah, always-
Gour Govinda Swami: Beneficial, yes. Always beneficial.
Devotee: How does one get to be slapped?
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: How does one get to be slapped?
Devotee: Do we have to do some nonsense to be slapped?
Gour Govinda Swami: (laughs)
Devotee: How do we, how can we be slapped?
Gour Govinda Swami: While you do nonsense, deliberately. You should not do like that. You understand? Slap is there from guru. Means when you, you have accepted guru and guru has accepted as a disciple, you as disciple, that's his business to inflict severe discipline on you. That's his business. Yeah. Some situation is created also. You understand? Situation is created. Sometimes it is created, the slapping will come. You get slapped.
Devotee: Maharaj, you said something interesting in class this morning about how the installation of a deity-
Gour Govinda Swami: Yeah.
Devotee: it requires the presence of a pure devotee to call Kṛṣṇa. We see now, in our society ISKCON, since Prabhupada's left, we've installed many deities in different places.
Gour Govinda Swami: Mm-hmm.
Devotee: And sometimes there may not have been pure devotees present at those places, so what is it, our situation in these places?
Gour Govinda Swami: You see, deity installation is generally done in congregation of the devotees. Not one single devotee does so.
Devotee: Ah.
Gour Govinda Swami: Congregation of Vaiṣṇavas will come. They will congregate, chant, do kīrtana. That's it. If there will be in the congregation, one devotee, then that's enough. The ISKCON, Kṛṣṇa will come, He'll manifest. Lord will manifest in deity form. Yes.
Devotee: So does that mean that if, say, in some temple, we have a deity installation, would that suggest that there is at least one person there to receive it?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Why not he? Why do you think they are all are not, bonafide? All are nonsense? Why do you think so? Or maybe there, you cannot have noticed. It's very difficult to notice also.
Devotee: So in that situation, the word pure devotee doesn't necessarily mean one on the top-most platform, just someone who has some straight desire in his heart.
Gour Govinda Swami: In the heart.
Devotee: What's crooked?
Gour Govinda Swami: Simple. Simple as brāhmaṇa.
Devotee: Brāhmaṇa.
Gour Govinda Swami: Saralata, simplicity is Vaiṣṇavism. Very often I say this thing and they say, Mahājana’s have said these things. One, when one simple devotee, very simple, like, like that story I tell, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law story. Isn’t it? You didn't hear?
Devotee: Which one?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, I have. That tape is there, isn't it? You hear that tape? Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law story, how daughter-in-law can
Devotee: Heard.
Gour Govinda Swami: ah, could get it. Whereas, the mother-in-law couldn't get. Old woman, experienced but crooked. No simplicity was there. Proud fellow. So puffed up. But, daughter-in-law young lady, but very simple at heart and she got. Like that. You cannot trace. You cannot notice also such persons are there. Such person, one person may be there in the congregation. Then what is the harm? Must be there. Therefore, many Vaiṣṇavas are called, "Please come. Please come."
Devotee: So if we're as devotees, if we're going to do any worship activities -