Reading Assignment

a) Quotes from Hari Sauri's Diary August 30th 1976, New Delhi

As Srila Prabhupada sat on the small stage, Lokanatha Maharaja led his men in an exuberant kirtana. After singing the standard prayers and the maha-mantra, he began chanting "gaura-Nityananda bol, haribol, haribol; gaura-Sriadvaita bol, haribol, haribol; gaura-Sri gadadhara bol, haribol haribol ... with a lot of emphasis on the response of haribol, haribol. Srila Prabhupada suddenly signalled him from the stage to stop it; he apparently didn't like it, although he didn't say why.

September 6, Vrindavana, Haribol, haribol and Panca-tattva mantra

Summary: A question is often raised by householders Vaishnavas - How do I avoid the contaminations of bad association I find in the work place? Here Bhakti Vinode Thakur details some principles that are to be applied for all ashrams. His explanation centers on making a clear distinction between love and duty. While the prohibition side is there (intimacy with non-Vaishnavas should be strictly avoided), the opposite is implied, i.e. That exchanges with devotees should be done with love, with deep caring for the Vaishnava who we are serving. Without this dimension of love and genuine caring, there will be no real association, and thus no transformation within the character of the individual.

Reading Assignment

Association

Summary: During this past 3 weeks in India I have been speaking on the Life of Dhruva Maharaja from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Twice the ksatriya spirit of Dhruva moved him to severe anger. Both times he felt great remorse afterwards. The topic of controlling anger, and proper use of anger, is a theme of the Dhruva Maharaja katha. Below is a sublime rendering of this topic by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada, in his typical style -- strong, direct and to the point, uncompromising, while instructing to "look within", to make our own heart pure and clear from contamination, avoiding the fault-finding propensity, seeking a position of humility and purity. This is our acarya! You will find the same text in formatted form, within the attached file.

Summary: During our Gita Nagari Retreat, we were reading from Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 2, Chapter 6. A very profound purport appears there, instructing in the principle of celibacy for those who care to restore and again enter into their loving relationship with Krishna in the spiritual world. Srila Prabhupada presents *with such compelling force* the clear message that his emphasis upon the 4 regulative principles, joined with our chanting of the Holy Name, is to assist in carrying us to our ultimate destination.

Summary: Devotees often find themselves immersed in conflict with other devotees and thus see their progress in Krishna Consciousness impeded, retarded, or worse. Offenses against devotees is an offense against the Holy Name. We must try to focus on chanting the holy name and on not committing offenses against any living entities, especially against devotees. What follows are two relevant texts which discuss this point.

Reading assignment 1) Harinama Cintamani, Chapter 4; 2) Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, sixth Rainfall, second Shower, translated by Bhanu Swami

1) Harinama Cintamani, Chapter 4

Summary: We normally hear of tapasya in terms of physical austerity, like fasting, enduring heat and cold, observing celibacy, or undergoing some extreme physical difficulty. A more complete picture of tapasya is the corollary feature of mental discipline that accompanies the sense control part of tapasya. Life itself is filled with austerities, and spiritual life is no exception. The difference between the two is that spiritual austerities elevate our consciousness and purify both mind and senses, whereas austerities in material life do not have this benefit at all. At best, they make one more determined and more inclined to the mode of goodness; at worst they increase pain, suffering, resentment, anger, etc.

Summary: The First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam corresponds to the lotus feet of the sound representation form of Krishna. At the lotus feet of the Lord we will find all of the Lord's devotees. We will also find complete instructions as to how to best approach these lotus feet in pure consciousness. By incorporating these instructions within our lives, we will attain the Lord's shelter, His eternal service, and His eternal abode. Early on in the 1st Canto Narada narrates his own story, how he personally became transformed from 'rags to riches', or from worldly insignificance to a superlative exalted state of spiritual perfection. The details of his transformation are of great pertinence to our own efforts on the bhakti path.

Summary: Begining today, in Udupi, there will be a yatra in which 250 devotees will be taking part. The theme is the "cultivating a simple and grateful heart". The theme is based upon the quote found in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.19.36 below. Externally, bhakti is practical activity designed to please Krishna, performed by our senses, in contact with this material world, which is but a wide variety of sense objects. Internally bhakti is an expression of, or is resting upon, our feelings of love and gratitude to Krishna for His love for us, which He is manifests in so many ways, on all levels of our material and spiritual existence. In BHAGAVAD-GITA 10.10, Krishna explains that one who knows Him as the source of all things, material and spiritual, will serve Him.

Summary: This verse is found in the section of the Second Canto that immediately precedes the 4 essential verses of Srimad Bhagavatam (catur-sloki) which summarize the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Supreme Lord has just appeared before Lord Brahma, before the dawn of creation, before there is anything but darkness in all directions. The Lord has appeared before Lord Brahma within His entire Vaikuntha realm, while Brahma is seated on his lotus flower, peering in great emotional excitement upon the Lord's form, His very source and origin. Lord Vishnu indicates His happiness with Lord Brahma for undergoing such severe and 'non-deceptive penance' (tapasya), under His indirect indication only.

Summary: Both in Svayambhuva Manu's testimony of his subjective experience after hearing transcendental instructions about rendering his duties in this world from Kardama Muni (Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3), and in Lord Caitanya's instructions to Rupa Goswami, we find a common thread. Here is the lesson: Great fortune is being transferred whenever a sadhu's instructions are being extended to others. Receiving that fortune with great eagerness as well as applying the fortunate message of the sadhu within one's life in practical service is a critical part of the bestowal of mercy. When our ordinary activities of life are rendered under the spiritual master's direction, according to our degree of our submission we will experience relief from material existence ...