Sankarshan das Adhikari: Established by Srila Prabhupada, we are very much indebted to him for giving us the Bhagavatm and giving us this program to study a verse every day like this. It is very powerful, very ecstatic, very enlivening, very purifying, very uplifting, very enlightening experience to study Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Srimad Bhagavatam. So today we are reading from the 3rd canto, chapter 29, text number 44.

Om Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Om Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Om Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya

gunabhimanino devah

sargadisv asya yad-bhayat

vartante ’nuyugam yesem

vasa etac caracaram

Synonyms

guna — the modes of material nature; abhimaninaḥ — in charge of; devah — the demigods; sarga-adisu — in the matter of creation and so on; asya — of this world; yat-bhayat — out of fear of whom; vartante — carry out functions; anuyugam — according to the yugas; yesam — of whom; vase — under the control; etat — this; cara-acaram — everything animate and inanimate.

Translation

“Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the directing demigods in charge of the modes of material nature carry out the functions of creation, maintenance and destruction; everything animate and inanimate within this material world is under their control.”

Purport

The three modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, are under the control of three deities — Brahma, Visnu and Lord Siva. Lord Viṣṇu is in charge of the mode of goodness, Lord Brahma is in charge of the mode of passion, and Lord Siva is in charge of the mode of ignorance. Similarly, there are many other demigods in charge of the air department, the water department, the cloud department, etc. Just as the government has many different departments, so, within this material world, the government of the Supreme Lord has many departments, and all these departments function in proper order out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Demigods are undoubtedly controlling all matter, animate and inanimate, within the universe, but above them the supreme controller is the Personality of Godhead. Therefore in the Brahma-samhita it is said, isvaraḥ paramaḥ Krsnah. Undoubtedly there are many controllers in the departmental management of this universe, but the supreme controller is Krishna.

There are two kinds of dissolutions. One kind of dissolution takes place when Brahma goes to sleep during his night, and the final dissolution takes place when Brahma dies. As long as Brahma does not die, creation, maintenance and destruction are actuated by different demigods under the superintendence of the Supreme Lord. (End of Purport)

vande ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavams ca

sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa jivam

sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krishna-caitanya-devam

sri-radha-krishna-padan saha-gana-lalita- sri-visakhanvitams ca

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine

nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

Even though there are many different departments - the rain department, the sun department, the vegetation department, the snake department, the rabbit department or porcupine department, the cactus department, so many departments. The Supreme Controller is ultimately behind everything. isvarah paramah krsnah In India many people worship different demigods, this demigod, that demigod, worship worship to get this thing, to get that thing, but this is less intelligence. Those who are less intelligent worship the demigods. Of course, they are better off than atheists, at least they understand there is some Supreme. They don’t think they are the Supreme controllers. They are higher than the atheists. Foolish atheists will say that everything came out of nothing, but nothing comes out of nothing. These demigod worshippers are better than the atheists but still they are less intelligent because they do not see the Supreme Controller behind everything. What is the advantage of seeing the Supreme Controller behind everything? You may worship some demigod and get some temporary benefit but even the demigod is subject to laws of birth, death, old age and disease. The demigods are still within the material world. Even though they are on the higher planets but these higher planets are also destroyed at the time when Maha-Vishnu inhales, the whole universe is destroyed. The demigods may have very nice planets in the heavenly regions, a very long duration of life, but even they will also die. As long as you remain simply a demigod worshipper, worshipping the different departmental heads, you are worshipping those who are mortal, that means you will also remain mortal. If you worship the immortal, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, Bhagavan, the source of all existence -

aham sarvasya prabhavo

mattah sarvam pravartate

iti matva bhajante mam

budha bhava-samanvitah

If you worship that Supreme Person who is the source of all existence, who is immortal, then you achieve your original identity of immortality. Actually, we are immortal beings. But only out of foolishness, out of our stupid desire to try to enjoy separately from the Lord, we have come to this place to try to do that and we are suffering like anything here. Specially recently, in Austin, we are suffering like anything. This is a foolish desire to try to enjoy separately from Krishna. Those who are intelligent, either through material science or through demigod worship, instead of trying to make better arrangements here, get out of this place. This is a prison. You want to remain in the prison and try to make nice arrangements in the prison?

Gurumata: Sounds good!

What kind of intelligence is that? The prisoner is thinking, “O this prison is very nice, I will make nice arrangements. I will bribe the guard. I will do so many things. I will make nice arrangements here to be happy.” What kind of stupidity is that, to remain in the prison? The intelligent person will say “Let me qualify to get out of this place. Let me learn how to abide by the laws of the government very nicely, so I become released, I became a free citizen once again.” In the same way there is the Supreme government of Krishna. Instead of trying to defy the authority of Krishna and be thrown into this prison house of material existence, those who are intelligent, they say “Let me find out what Krishna wants.” God is the law. His word is law. Why don’t you find out what God wants? Is it difficult to do that? No. If you desire to find out what God wants, it is very simple. It’s right here in the Bhagavad Gita. Simply study the Bhagavad Gita. You will understand exactly what God wants.

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

“If you will offer Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” Before you eat, you offer your food to Krishna. You can be a vegetarian, its better than eating meat but it’s still sinful. Even eating vegetables, you get karma. If you don’t offer the vegetables to Krishna, you will get karma because you are responsible for killing a living entity and eating it if you didn’t offer it to Krishna. We have to learn how to follow the instructions of Krishna. It’s so nice thing. You can have a deity or put a nice picture of Krishna. Set up a nice altar in your home, even a nice picture of Radha and Krishna there. You can put Prabhuapada, you can put Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, you can put Gaura Nitai. Make a nice altar. And when you are initiated, you put your Spiritual Master also. You make a nice altar and get a really nice plate as Krishna’s plate with some nice bowls, some spoons, put nice things you can offer to Krishna and keep it in very nice condition, not dirty, rusty. Nice and shiny, clean and make a very nice offering to the King and Queen of all existences. Why not serve the Supreme Lord and His eternal consort every time you eat? First serve Them. Feed Them. Cook for Krishna, make a nice offering for Krishna. In this way your eating should be centered around Krishna. And instead of talking nonsense, talk about Krishna. Talk about how Krishna swallowed that forest fire amazingly. Can you imagine there was a whole forest fire, the Vrajvasis, were completely in anxiety. The cows and calves, everybody was completely bewildered and Krishna just (sound of swallowing) swallowed the forest fire. That’s not an ordinary cowherd boy. Here He is playing as a simple cowherd boy then He swallows the forest fire. Such an amazing person. You can talk about His amazing pastimes, how He lifted the Govardhan. How Balarama was carried away by the demon Pralambasura and He simply smashed Him on the head and killed Him immediately. There are so many amazing pastimes about Krishna and wonderful teachings of Krishna, Bhagavad Gita.

sarva-dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

moksayiṣyami ma sucah

We have to do everything we can to be Krishna conscious. It’s a difficult age. It’s the age of Kali. 5,000 years ago, the age of Kali entered. Maharaj Parikshit was a very powerful king. By his influence Kali could not enter. Personality of Kali means you will have illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling. Of course, now it is everywhere, in every town, every village and every home, it is going on, illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling.

Gurumata: Devotees.

But 5000 years ago, Maharaj Parikshit, a very powerful devotee was able to hold off the age of Kali. But now we are in a very difficult situation. Everywhere this nonsense is going on.

Gurumata: Even amongst the devotees.

Even our devotees are having difficulty sometimes in following the regulative principles. How do you become strong to not fall into this illicit sex? It’s a big problem amongst our devotees. How do you become strong to protect yourself from these things? Well, you have to be Krishna conscious, the higher taste. What is that higher taste verse in the Gita, Devi? There is a verse in the Gita about higher taste. Param dristva nivartate..

There is a nice verse in the Gita about higher taste, give up the lower taste. We have to get the higher taste, that is the point. You have to practice Krishna consciousness in such a way that you get taste. Don’t do mechanically. “I have this duty; I have to chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna…”

Gurumata: Just like me. (Laughs)

Take this as special mercy from Srila Prabhupada, just like you are drowning in the ocean and somebody comes by in a ship and throw you a lifebuoy. He says, “Grab hold of this.” You say, “What is this mechanical. I don’t feel like grabbing onto it.” No. “Wow! this is mercy!” Not that “This is too much work grabbing onto this lifebuoy. I don’t want to hold onto it. It’s too much work.” No, its special mercy. This lifebuoy is thrown to you. This is the loving kindness of some person on the ship. Hold on, they want to pull you in. Similarly this is great mercy of Srila Prabhupada,Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, of the Vaisnava preachers. They want to rescue you. They want to save you from the material existence. They may ask you to do something. All they are really saying is to hold onto the lifebuoy. That is all they are really saying. They are not trying to torture you or force you to do this and that. No. They are just saying to hold onto the lifebuoy, grab on and you are going to be pulled in. That’s all we have to do. We have our regulative principles, no illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication and no gambling. You follow those, then you drive away Kali. If you engage in any of these things - illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling. Kali is sitting right there in your heart; you are tied and handcuffed by Kali. You are completely his prisoner. You kick away Kali. No illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat eating and no gambling. “Kali, get out of here and don’t ever come back again.” If you do that then you can peacefully chant- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, diving deeper deeper into Nama ruci. Actually, we talk about going back to home, back to Godhead, we can be with Krishna, Gopis, the cowherd boys, the cowherd girls, you know what? You don’t have to wait. You can be with Krishna right now, packed up tightly with Krishna, because He has come as Nama avatar. He is fully present in Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Krishna is fully present right here right now. We don’t have to think about dying and going back to Godhead and be with Krishna. You can be with Krishna right now, just give up illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling, sincerely try to avoid the 10 offences and just chant Hare Krishna with full absorption and you will be in direct contact with the Supreme Lord. Your Japa period will be like you are right there in Goloka Vrindavan with Radha and Krishna. If you are really in your japa, you will be in Goloka Vrindavan with Radha and Krishna right there in the middle of Their pastimes. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. And the material world will be far, far away from you. And at the same time, your pure chanting will have a very powerful uplifting impact on the material world. Even Prabhupada says amazingly that if one chants the Holy Names of the Lord purely, then by his influence the whole world will chant Hare Krishna. There is a great opportunity we have for our own liberation and the libération of the fallen souls just by the quality of how we chant Hare Krishna. Take the quality of your chanting very very seriously and then the expansion of your chanting is your service. How do you do your service, do you do it grudgingly or you do it sincerely, do the best you possibly can? Sometimes we neophytes, we have this tendency, “I don’t feel like doing it. Let me get this half done and get out of here and go sleep.” Sometimes we neophytes have this tendency. We neophyte devotees suffer by holding onto that kind of consciousness. “I will do halfway and get out of here as fast as I can, so I can go sleep or go space out on the internet. This is nonsense. We neophyte devotees have to come out of this neophyte platform and become very serious to become pure devotees, in everything we do at every minute, 24/7 with every thought, every word and every deed completely absorbed in Krishna consciousness and no more spacing out in the material energy or spacing out in the mode of ignorance, or in the mode of passion. We have to become serious about this and stop being such knuckleheads, dull headed fools and rascals. Prabhupada said “Don’t be a lazy fellow.” Stop being so lazy, not wanting to do any devotional service, just wanting to be spaced out, overeat, oversleep etc etc etc. It’s time to become very serious about kicking Kali out. As long as we indulge in these laziness and craziness, means we are still captured by Kali. We have to kick out Kali. We want to actually associate with Krishna, we actually want to be with Krishna, we actually want to relish the association of Krishna. We actually want to make a spiritual revolution on this planet to make the whole world Krishna conscious as Prabhupada ordered us, we have to become free from the influence of Kali, free from the influence of tamo guna, free from the influence of rajo guna.

It’s easy to say these things but for some of us, it’s not so easy to practice it. But by meditating on it, and begging Krishna, “My dear Lord, mostly I am a tamo guni, sometimes a little rajo guni, hardly any sattva guna. I am in a very fallen position. I get overwhelmed by anger, I get overwhelmed by lust, I get overwhelmed by greed, I have all these bad qualities my dear Lord, I am just begging You - please save me from this horrible position I am in. Here I am trying to be a devotee, but I can’t even control my senses. My dear Lord, I hear that You are Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, my dear Lord, Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam, I am begging You my dear Lord, please engage these rascal senses 100% in Your service. Get me out of Maya. Please Krishna, save me from horrible Maya that I am in.”

Gurumata: Please don’t punish this soul.

In this way we have to beg Krishna and Krishna will reciprocate. If we are sincerely begging Krishna to save us from this Maya that we are in, He will. Krishna will liberate us. He wants us to be back in pure devotional service. He doesn’t want us to be suffering here in this cycle of birth and death. He wants us to be back with Him in the spiritual world engaged in our original relationship in anyone of the 5 primary rasas, as conjugal relationship, parental relationship, fraternal relationship, servitor relationship or neutral relationship. Each one of us has an eternal relationship with Krishna in anyone of these 5 primary rasas. And Krishna wants to have us back. He is missing us like anything. He wants to have us back in our original relationship that we have with Him but we ran away from Him trying to enjoy separately. In this way we have to become very serious now to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of all existence, Bhagavan. He has all power, all beauty, all renunciation, all knowledge, all wealth and all fame. That’s why He is called Bhagavan. Bhaga means opulence. There are 6 opulences - power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth and fame. Everyone of these things is an opulence. If someone is very powerful, it’s a great opulence, like president of United States, very powerful person or big General or some heavy-duty wrestler who can defeat everyone. Just like our Jayapataka Swami, in his earlier days, he was a powerful wrestler. Some devotees came from Japan, very fired up brahmacaris. They would have wrestling matches on the bank of the Yamuna. They had the biggest wrestler who could defeat everybody but Jayapataka just threw him on the ground, boom. Of course, now he is in an old man’s body but he had the opulence of being very very powerful physically, in his early days in Mayapur. Before even we had any building there were snakes over there, it was very wild in those early days in Mayapur. There was only one building, that was it. For the devotees there were no proper toilets, no proper showers, very, very austere, but these devotees were very dedicated. Jayapataka was known for being very powerful, he had the opulence of power. And beauty, of course our ladies in Iskcon are very beautiful but they are nothing compared to the beauty of Krishna. Krishna is unlimitedly beautiful. That’s why He is called all-attractive. He is more beautiful than anything and everything. Someone is very beautiful, they are very attractive, Miss Universe or Miss America, so-called beauties, but Krishna surpasses in all of these beauties. If someone is very renounced, they are considered very opulent. Bezos, multi-billionaire, is considered very attractive, if somebody is very knowledgeable, has a PhD degree, is considered very attractive. All these things are considered very attractive - Power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth and fame. But that person who has unlimited power, unlimited beauty, unlimited renunciation, unlimited knowledge, unlimited wealth and unlimited fame, that person is Bhagavan, the possessor of all opulences and that is Krishna. Actually the whole world will become attracted to Krishna, we just have to introduce them to Krishna. Right now, they are running after the movie stars, the rock stars, the porno queens or whatever, they are running after all these nonsense people, according to their different modes they are running here, running there, attracted to this, attracted to that. The rock stars, the movie stars, all political stars, the fighting heroes, they are all running after these personalities but Krishna, He is all powerful, all beautiful, all renounced, all wise, all famous, all wealthy, if they can actually understand who is Krishna , the whole world will run after Krishna. This is our goal in Krishna consciousness movement. We want to make the whole world Krishna conscious, to save these people from their horrible sufferings in the cycle of birth and death. We are praying to Krishna, “Please Krishna bless us that we can now make the whole world Krishna conscious. As soon as possible put a stop to all the sufferings of these people, put a stop to these slaughterhouses, abortion clinics, gay marriages, this nonsense is going on, we want to stop all this and bring Vedic culture back to this planet so we can have sanity on this planet once again. That means we have to cooperate. That’s how we will have strength in our movement, by cooperating. Just like the British had a very tightknit cooperation, because of that they had a huge empire all over the world, of course it’s fallen apart now because it was not based on Krishna. Because they were very cooperative amongst themselves, they had a very tiny island but then they had a huge empire all over the whole world, by the tightknit cooperation with each other. We should learn from that example. we should have very tight-knit cooperation within ISKCON. In this way we can conquer the world if we have a very tight-knit cooperation with each other. In this way, we should learn as a very tightknit doing things as a team to cooperate with each other to serve Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.  We want the whole world to be happy and we have the formula how to do it. Now we have to faithfully follow the instructions of his divine grace Srila Prabhupada and the most amazing future awaits us.

Now I can open it up for questions. Is there any question? Let’s see if somebody has question typed in already. Many questions actually we have.

Bahurupa Caitanya das: What is the key to become successful spiritual practitioner?

SDA: Sincerity is the key, Bahurupa Caitanya Das. Sincerity is the key. You have to be sincere. You have to realize that there is no real alternative. Become Krishna conscious or suffer like hell. One has to understand there is really no alternative. Proper understanding should be there and then you should sincerely try to become Krishna’s pure devotee. You should become qualified as Prabhupada told me, “Now you just become qualified to see Krishna face to face.” That means to be a completely pure devotee. You should aspire to become a completely pure devotee, Bahurupa Caitanya Das, completely free from lust, anger, greed, madness, illusion, envy, laziness and craziness, completely pure devotee. You should beg Krishna. “My dear Krishna please bless me I can be Your pure devotee. Please save me from all of my nonsense. Let me be perfect in my understanding, perfect in my practice, perfect in my words, perfect in my thoughts, perfect in my actions, in all times, places and circumstances. In that mood chant your japa and the miracles will happen. With every syllable you will be moving forward, back to your original, pure identity as a pure devotee of the Lord.

(Banging is going to go on for a while? just wait for a minute for the banging to stop, so that you can hear what I am saying. We have an important service in the kitchen. We have our Sunday feast revived now. Important service is going on in the kitchen. Transcendental sound vibrations coming out of the kitchen.)

Damayanti devi dasi: How come the great personalities like lord Brahma are in fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

SDA: That means they are acting under His direction. They have to obey Him. That’s what it means.

Nandini: In the final dissolution when Brahma dies, what happens to Siva and Brahma?

SDA: When Brahma dies, he actually dies obviously. What happens to Siva? Devi do you know what happens to Siva at the time of universal destruction?

VPM: I cannot understand right now. Wait.

SDA: I don’t know right now. Nandini, I would say, do some research in Prabhupada’s books.

VPM: What?

SDA: What happens to Siva at the time of universal dissolution?

VPM: Siva is not a living entity so he does not disappear like other living entities. He is Lord Vishnu Himself.

SDA: Yeah, he has a different position.

Hare Krishna Das: Advanced devotees are constantly engaged in service, neophyte devotees do service and take some relaxation before the next service. Why this phenomenon and how one can be 24 hours engaged in service?

SDA: We are allowed to take some rest. At night we take some rest. Prabhupada even said if you are sleepy take a nap. Not too much but just to get refreshed. We are allowed to take some rest. We have material bodies and they have some limits. We are allowed to take some relaxation. But we should not overdo it. That’s all. It should be balanced. Ok.

Bahurupa Caitanya: How to subdue the mind? It is always disturbed in its whim. I have proven to be a failure to do so, it has become my enemy, how to pass this test, please help me.

SDA: I would recommend memorize this verse:

yato yato niscalati

manas cancalam asthiram

tatas tato niyamyaitad

atmany eva vasam nayet

“From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.”

I would memorize that verse and chant it often. That’s what I suggest. Krishna’s specific instruction about controlling the mind. Memorize the verse in sanskrit and in your local language if you speak Spanish. Memorize it in English and Spanish and recite it often throughout the day. Whenever you see your mind is going off the track, do it again. yato yato niscalati

Amala Purana: If the government puts an abrupt end to activities like slaughterhouse and liquor shops, then the general populace will revolt and bring down the government. So how Vaisnava government can drive away Kali practically in this present age?

SDA: You have to educate the people, that’s why massive book distribution is very important. We have to educate everybody in these days of democracy. Not that we have a powerful king who forces citizens to do whatever he wants. Now it’s the days of democracy. If they don’t like the government leader, they get rid of him and bring someone else. We have to educate the people in general. You want to close the slaughterhouse; we have to convince the people that they don’t want slaughterhouse anymore. We have to convince them not to buy the products of slaughterhouse and liquor shops. That’s the best way in the present situation. Convince people not to buy meat anymore, not to buy liquor anymore, don’t go to the brothels anymore. Convince them not to do these things.

Bhadra devi dasi: How to effectively pray to Krishna to make me a pure devotee?

SDA: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. That’s the most powerful prayer, Bhadra Devi dasi, for becoming a pure devotee.

Devotee: How can Lord Siva be in charge of ignorance if he is one of the greatest Vaisnava?

SDA: That’s the duty he has been given. Whatever duty is given to pure devotes, they accept it.

Why Siva is in charge of ignorance if he is the greatest Vaisnava?

VPM: But he is in charge of it.

SDA: Why is he in charge of it if he is the greatest Vaisnava? That’s his service.

VPM: Yes

SDA: Just like here for example, in the modern-day government, some very highly qualified person is put in charge of the prison. Does it mean he is a criminal? No. A very highly qualified government servant, very loyal, law-abiding government servant is made in charge of the prison.

VPM: What I am saying is he can handle those in mode of ignorance, all the hobgoblins and all.

SDA: He is powerful enough to keep them under his control. That’s another reason. Gurumataji is making that point.

Bhadra devi dasi: When I recognize that I am responsible for the precarious position I find myself in… this is 2nd half of the question.

SDA: You are responsible, you are in Maya right now Bhadra Devi. It’s your fault that you are caught up in the cycle of birth and death. That’s why you have to beg Krishna “Please get me out of here my dear Lord, please get me back to my original position in Your pure loving service, please take me.

Bhakta Ravi Kolluru: When our goal is to make the whole world Krishna conscious, how can we be compassionate to those who cannot follow the regulative principles even if they aspire for it?

SDA: That’s why we have to be compassionate. Compassion is the key. Not that by hating people you can make them Krishna conscious. It’s by the compassion of other devotees that I became a devotee, compassion of Vishnujana Swami. Compassion is how we are successful in making people Krishna conscious, you can’t force them. It’s by compassion, kindness and love because in material world there is no genuine compassion everyone is exploiting. They talk about love but it’s all facade. There is no genuine love and compassion in the material world. It’s cheating business, they are just trying to be the enjoyer, that’s all. Genuine compassion is only there from the pure devotees and that compassion is what inspires one to follow the regulative principles.

Nandini: Is it true that if one has genuine love for Lord Siva that it would inspire them to become Krishna’s devotee?

SDA: Lord Siva is a pure devotee. If you have some motive in approaching Lord Siva then you will become one of his hobgoblins. If you are approaching him with genuine love, he is a great Vaisnava. He will inspire you to become like he is, a great devotee of Krishna.

Bahurupa Caitanya: How to become Krishna conscious when a person is in mode of ignorance effectively?

SDA: Those of us who are in mode of ignorance, how can we get out of Maya? We want to sleep all day long. Whenever we get disturbed, we just sleep sleep sleep that’s what they do. When our mind gets disturbed, we go to sleep. How do you get out of that mode of ignorance? One thing don’t overeat. If you overeat that can put you to sleep. Regulate your eating. Don’t overeat. Eat balanced amount of prasadam that can help. Don’t eat too much. Don’t eat too many sweets. Don’t overdo your senses. When you do that, you will go into mode of ignorance very easily. By regulating your senses, you can conquer the mode of ignorance.

Devotee: Should I do personal endeavor to please Shiva?

SDA: No, you should focus on being a devotee of Krishna. Not that you become a devotee of Shiva. No. Shiva wants us to be a devotee of Krishna, so go ahead and do what pleases him the most. Shiva is most pleased when you come to Krishna. That’s what you should do. If you want to please Shiva, you have to become Krishna’s pure devotee. That will please Shiva.

Hare Krishna Das: Kindly enlighten, your Grace said that along with chanting the Holy Names, one should have proper consciousness. For example, Gandhi chanting the name of Rama at time of death.

SDA: Gandhi is not our example certainly.

Hare Krishna Das: What is the proper consciousness for chanting Hare Krishna?

SDA: You are begging for pure devotional service. Not that you are begging Krishna, “Krishna give me this, Krishna give me that”. You are begging Krishna “Please make me Your pure devotee. Please free me from all my nonsense and let me be Your pure devotee, please my Lord. Let my every thought, word, deed in all times, places and circumstances be completely pleasing to You.” That’s the mood for chanting Hare Krishna.

Caitanya Das: The amount of impurities I have is giving me hopelessness. But I do want to become pure in this lifetime however with these impurities how will I ever be able to offer my heart to Krishna? How will I get pure?

SDA: That’s the mood. Save me a fallen, Your Divine Grace. The more you feel you are a hopeless basket case, “There is no hope of ever becoming Krishna conscious”. The more you feel hopeless and totally dependent on Krishna’s mercy, that’s when you actually become liberated. Just like our acaryas, they say, “I have no taste.” Even Lord Caitanya prayed, “I have no attraction for the Holy names.” Lord Caitanya prayed He had no attraction for the Holy Names because that’s our position. He said, “Unfortunate as I am I have no attraction.” Lord Caitanya Himself prayed. Actually He is stating our position. That is our position. We have no attraction for Hare Krishna. We just want to eat, sleep, mate and defend. But by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, by the mercy of the Spiritual Master, the Vaisnavas… The more you feel hopeless, that’s when the mercy actually comes. The more you feel desperate and hopeless , that’s when mercy flows like anything to save you. It’s very good if you feel hopeless. Keep that mercy of hopelessness. That’s how you will attract the mercy Caitanya Das.

Our time is almost up. Anything else? I see there is no more questions here. We will stop a little early today if necessary, so we can get the feast rolling. Any last question? We will go ahead and stop here. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!