Realizing the Absolute Truth: Devotional Path to Knowledge and Detachment

1. SB 1.2.12 – 1.2.17

2. Offering respectful obeisances näräyaëaà namaskåtya naraà caiva narottamam devéà sarasvatéà vyäsaà tato jayam udérayet “Before reciting this Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Näräyaëa, unto Nara-näräyaëa Åñi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvaté, the goddess of learning, and unto Çréla Vyäsadeva, the author.” SB 1.2.4

3. nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké “By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” SB1.2.18

4. SB 1.2.12 How to realize the Absolute Truth?

5. SB 1.2.12 tac chraddadhänä munayo jïäna-vairägya-yuktayä paçyanty ätmani cätmänaà bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä “The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedänta-çruti.”

6. Punching statement from the purport • Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge combined with detachment from material association and which is fixed by the aural reception of the Vedänta-çruti, is the only perfect method by which the seriously inquisitive student can realize the Absolute Truth. Devotional service is not, therefore, meant for the less intelligent class of transcendentalist.

7. FORMULA FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS • What is the qualification to realize the absolute truth in full? • By Devotional service based on • Full knowledge • Detachment • Fixed by aural reception of Vedanta Sruti • Seriously inquisitive

8. eagerness • tac chraddadhänä - Seriously inquisitive, • Faith • Eagerness to see, want to love Krishna • Jewel thief, Dhruva maharaj

9. SRILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA • “Of course, if you are eager to see Kåñëa, the motive may be different, but somehow or other, due to your eagerness, you'll see Kåñëa. That is the only qualification. So RüpaGosvämé advises that "Kåñëa consciousness, if it is possible, please purchase. Don't delay." Kåñëa-bhakti-rasa-bhävitämatiùkriyatäm. "Purchase immediately!" Kåñëa-bhakti-rasa-bhävitämatiùkriyatäàyadikuto 'pi. "Where it is available? It is very nice thing." "Yes, it is available. You can purchase. The movement is going on." "And what is the price?" "Price?" "It is such a nice thing; you have to pay price." "Yes, there is price." "What is that?" Tatralaulyamekalaàmülyam: "Simply your eagerness. That is price. This price you have to pay." Then you get Kåñëa. Immediately. So this eagerness is very important thing. Tacchraddadhänämunayaù. Those who have developed that eagerness, faith, that "I must see Kåñëa in this life..." This life is meant for seeing Kåñëa. It is not meant for becoming dogs and hogs. “

10. SB 1.2.12 • Jnana vairagya yuktaya – Equipped with Knowledge and Detachment • Jnana – “I am not the master but I am simply the servant of the Supreme Lord” • Vairagya – Knowledge leads to Detachment • Jnana & Vairagya are the subset of Bhakti

11. Srilaprabhupadauvacha • “So this is jïäna, as Caitanya Mahäprabhu enunciates, not to become master or God, to become servant of the God. Not only servant, but servant, servant, servant, servant, hundred times downward. Then you become perfect. That is the demand of Kåñëa, that you first of all become servant. Sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëam [Bg. 18.66]. Because that is your real position. Caitanya Mahäprabhu confirms it. Jévera svarüpa haya nitya-kåñëa-däsa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. This is our position. This is jïäna. Anyone who is claiming other that this is not in knowledge. He is ajïäna. “

12. Based on vedic knowledge • bhaktyäçruta-gåhétayä – through aural reception from the Vedanta Sutras • Bhakti is on the basis of Vedic Knowledge • The goal of Vedanta is to understand Bhagavan çruti-småti-puräëädi- païcarätra-vidhiàvinä aikäntikéharerbhaktir utpätäyaivakalpate "Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upaniñads, Puräëas and Närada-païcarätra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society." (BRS 1.2.101)

13. Srilaprabhupadauvacha “What kind of bhakti? Bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä. Çruta, by hearing çruti, or Vedas. Completely on the basis of Vedic knowledge, that bhakti, not sentimental. Real bhakti, Çré Jéva Gosvämé has commented that bhakti based on understanding of Vedänta-sütra is perfect, on the basis of jïäna, knowledge, and vairägya. “

14. Three classes of devotees • Devotional service therefore is not meant for less intelligent class of transcendentalist • First class, second class and third class devotees • Kanista adhikari – no knowledge, not detached from material association, more attached to material benefit than transcendental profit. • Madhyama adhikari – sees four principles in devotional line • At least be on the platform of Madhyama adhikari to realize the absolute truth. • How to raise oneself to the platform of Madhyama adhikari?

15. SB 1.2.12 • Importance of Hearing • Neophytes have very little taste to hear from authorities • Prepared to hear from 1st class devotees • From right source • Without following devotional service based on Vedic literatures is simply a disturbance • How we hear has a reciprocal effect on our consciousness • Difference between listening and hearing

16. Simple hearing is not all… “Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviñöa means that SütaGosvämé drank the juice of Bhägavatam through his ears. That is the real process of receiving Bhägavatam. One should hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once realize the presence of Lord Kåñëa in every page. The secret of knowing Bhägavatam is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if someone hears with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning one can assuredly see Lord ÇréKåñëa in person in the pages of Bhägavatam. “ – SB 1.3.44 Purport

17. Receive knowledge through parampara • Important to accept a Guru who is coming in Parampara - Bhagavata • Pranipatena – Approach a bonafide spiritual master • Prasiprasnena – Inquire submissively • Sevaya – Render menial Service

18. Practical Application • Hearing • Applying • Engage in devotional sevice, strictly following rules and regulations as laid down by Acharyas and Scriptures

19. What is the goal of realizing the Absolute Truth?

20. SB 1.2.13 ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù svanuñöhitasya dharmasya saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.

21. Highest perfection • To Please Supreme Lord Krishna with the Social institution of Varnasharama system “Everyone should know how to become perfect. That education is not there. They do not know what is perfection. They do not know that "I am eternal. My struggle for existence is for perfection of life, to come to my original position, Kåñëa consciousness, so that I may regain again my eternal, blissful life of knowledge.That is the aim” – Srila Prabhupada

22. varnashrama system • What’s not Varnaashrama System • Division by birth • Not for selfish purposes, Sense gratification • Not for artificial dominance

23. SRILA PRABHUPADA UVACA • So it is required therefore that the social system should be organized in such a way that automatically people become interested in the ultimate goal of life. That is civilization. This is not civilization, simply animal propensities: eat voraciously and sleep twenty hours and have sex life without any restriction and have atom bomb for the defense. That's all, finished, civilization. Ähära-nidrä-bhaya-maithunaà ca sämänyam etat

24. PURPOSE OF VARNASHRAMA SYSTEM • Division by one’s work and qualification • Best interest of human society • Each of them performing occupational duty for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord • Smooth social intercourse and high thinking self realization • Cooperate jointly to please the supreme personality of Godhead

25. Srilaprabhupadauvaca • Because it is said, varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù. A brähmaëa, brähmaëa-varëa, he can satisfy Kåñëa by his tapasya, by his truthfulness, by his knowledge of the çästras. He can preach the knowledge of the çästra to the world. He can eat on behalf of God. • Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was a kñatriya. He was not a brähmaëa; he was kñatriya. He was not a sannyäsé; he was a gåhastha, king. His business, he knew how to kill. So by killing he satisfied Kåñëa. Saàsiddhirhari-toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. • So this is the real dharma, saàsiddhirhari-toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. If you, someway or other, can satisfy Kåñëa... Just like Arjuna, by killing, he sat... Killing art is not very good art. But because by killing he satisfied Kåñëa, Kåñëa gave him certificate, bhakto 'sipriyo 'si me [Bg. 4.3], "Oh, you are My very dear friend."

26. SB 1.2.13 • Performances of occupational duties with different motivations • Satisfaction of the self (Mind, senses, ego) • Family • Society, Nation, etc. • Purification • Satisfaction of the Supreme (Highest perfection) by which is one awarded devotion

27. Srilaprabhupadauvacha • Anything you do, if you can satisfy Kåñëa by your art and intelligence and education, by your work, then your life is perfect. • So this is our proposition. Svanuñöhitasya dharmasya saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. It does not matter, varëäçrama-dharma, eight categories, four social and four spiritual or four material and four spiritual, but when the material activities are enacted for spiritual advancement, then it is no more material; it is spiritual.

28. Practical application How should we act? • Samsiddhir hari tosanam – Using our work, intelligence, abilities etc for the satisfaction of Krsna • Bhakti means – transforming material to spiritual

29. How do we act to attain perfection?

30. SB 1.2.14 tasmäd ekena manasä bhagavän sätvatäà patiù çrotavyaù kértitavyaç ca dhyeyaù püjyaç ca nityadä “Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.”

31. Singular focus • Four things are required: 1. Srotavya – Hearing 2. Kirtitavya – Glorifying 3. Dhyeya – Remembering 4. Pujya – Worshipping • Nityada – Regularly • Whom? – Bhagavän sätvatäà patiù – The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, protector of devotees • Ekena manasa - Love means singular focus

32. Punching statements from purport • If realization of the Absolute Truth is the ultimate aim of life, it must be carried out by all means. • Especially in modern society, all activities are more or less dependent on hearing and glorifying. • The tendency to glorify others or hear others must be turned to the real object of glorification-the Supreme Being. And that will bring happiness.

33. SrilaPrabhupadauvaca • Tasmäd ekena manasä bhagavän sätvatäà patiù, çrotavyaù. How you can satisfy God if you do not know God, if you manufacture God? Çrotavya, hear about God, what is God……. Çrotavya and kértitavyaç ca. And spread that knowledge. Just like you are hearing about God. Now you have to spread it. Kértitavyaç ca.. So what is real God, you must preach. Çrotavyaù kértitavyaç ca, dhyeyaù. And you should always think of God; then you will get intelligence. If you think of something else, for sense gratification, then it will not be done. Always thinking of God, always thinking of Kåñëa. • Dhyeyaù püjyaç ca, and offering worship, just like we have got this in the temple. Chanting Hare Kåñëa, that is dhyeya; and püjyaç ca, and offering worship to the Lord.

34. Nityada • So preaching, hearing, always thinking of, and worshiping. These four things are required. Then everything will be all right. It is not official business, that after one week you go and "God give us our daily bread" and go home. No. Nityadä, twenty-four hours we should be business, engaged in this business. Nityadä.

35. Ekenamanasa • Ekenamanasä. Concentrating fully. Ekena. With one attention. No diversion. Ekenamanasä, bhagavänsätvatäàpatiù. Don't be afraid that "If I simply concentrate my mind in Kåñëa, then how other things will go on?" No. Bhagavänsätvatäàpatiù. He is very careful about His devotee. – SrilaPrabhupada • “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.” [BG 9.22] • Story of Arjunaacharya

36. Practical application • Hearing is the basic foundation of our spiritual life • Singular focus – My goal is Krsna • sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam and arcanam are the four essential processes that we should follow in our life to advance in Krsna Consciousness

37. Now, how can I remove the karmic reactions that bind me to the world and cause me to value things other than Krsna?

38. 1.2.15 yad-anudhyäsinä yuktäù karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidäs tasya ko na kuryät kathä-ratim “With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?”

39. Benefits of Krsna consciousness • yad-anudhyasina yuktah : Being engaged in this process of KC • Karma-grandhi-nibhandanam – the spool of the result of our activities one after the another • Chindanti – cut off • Kovidah – Intelligent man • tasya ko na kuryat katha ratim – Why an intelligent man should not engage himself in hearing about the topics of Kåñëa?

40. Punching statement from purport • They are all-attractive spiritual activities, and therefore constant association with the spiritual activities of the Supreme Lord gradually spiritualizes the conditioned soul and ultimately severs the knot of material bondage.

41. karma • Our karma is compared to tangle of knots • They are Obstacles on the path of devotion • Solution: Remembrance of the Lord in any situation of life

42. How to uproot sinful proclivities kecit kevalayä bhaktyä väsudeva-paräyaëäù aghaà dhunvanti kärtsnyena néhäram iva bhäskaraù “Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to Kåñëa can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays.” (SB 6.1.15)

43. Padmapurana aprärabdha-phalaà päpaà küöaà béjaà phalonmukham krameëaiva praléyeta viñëu-bhakti-ratätmanäm “ For those who are engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all sinful reactions, whether fructified, in the stock, or in the form of a seed, gradually vanish. Therefore the purifying potency of devotional service is very strong.”

44. Devotional service • Eradicates sinful reactions • Nullifies • Counteracts material sinful proclivities • Uproot Ignorance

45. Why am I not getting taste? • Srila Jiva Goswami – who will not hear about Krishna who saves mankind from the greatest misery? • Chanting can easily focus our mind on Krishna, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had said – Durdaivam • Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur lists four causes of this misfortunte • Tattva brahma • Aparadha • Asat trsna • Hrdaya daurbalyam

46. As easy and important as the process may be, I simply have not acquired the taste either for Chanting or hearing Krsna Katha. HOW TO GET THE TASTE FOR HEARING?

47. 1.2.16 çuçrüñoù çraddadhänasya väsudeva-kathä-ruciù syän mahat-sevayä vipräù puëya-tértha-niñevaëät “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.”

48. 1.2.16 • The confidential servants of the Lord appear to save the human society • They urge people to become devotees • They are to be respected as God, but they never tolerate being called God

49. Serving devotees with life and soul • Mahat- seva : Rendering service to a pure devotee • Who is a mahatma? – vasudeva sarvam iti • Nobody in the history has attained love of Godhead without serving and pleasing devotees • Adi Purana – “Those who worship My devotee is more dear to Me” • Examples Ramanujacharya, Pundarik, Uddhava • By serving a Bhagavatam, a person understands Bhagavatham.

50. Punching statements from purport • By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord. The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and so are very dear to the Lord. • Parents and Kids • Eg: Maharaj Prataprudra, Dukhi, Madhai,