Amrita Vani
Q&A by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada
Q : Who is a materialist?
A : A materialist is one who accumulates material objects for his own pleasure and who engages them as ingredients of his sense gratification. One who accumulates material objects for the Lord’s service is not a materialist but a devotee. It is not possible to differentiate between a material enjoyer and a devotee on the basis of their respective activities, but it is possible to differentiate by studying the motivation of each. One who eats for personal sense gratification is a materialist; one who eats to maintain the body for Krsna’s service is a devotee. A devotee is neither a material enjoyer nor a dry renunciant but a servant of the Lord. A devotee engages wealth, material objects, and everything in this world in the Lord’s service.
Q. What is karma?
A. Work done for one’s own happiness and the happiness of others is called karma. There is nothing about trying to please Krsna in the performance of karma. The goal of karma is to search after one’s own happiness and the happiness of others, whereas searching for Krsna’s pleasure is called devotional service.
This material world is the field of karma for ordinary people, but for the devotees the material world is a place in which to cultivate devotional service. Whatever is performed in this world with the prideful thought, “I am the doer,” is called karma, whereas whatever is done for the Lord’s pleasure, induced by the Lord, with the idea, “I am Krsna’s servant,” is called devotional service.
Q. How long should we engage in karma?
A. The Bhagavatam (11.20.9) states:tavat karmani kurvita, na nirvidyeta yavatamat-katha-sravanadau va, sraddha yavan na jayateOne should continue to perform the Vedic ritualistic activities until one actually becomes detached from material sense gratification and develops faith for hearing and chanting about Me.
One who does not manifest either of these symptoms must engage in karma. The root of devotional service is taste for and faith in hari- katha. Hari-katha hy kevalam paramam sreyah: discussing topics of Hari is the supremely beneficial activity. Possessing firm faith in hari- katha is a symptom of one’s developing taste for hari-katha.
Those who have faith in and taste for some activity find the activity their principal engagement. If we wish to develop faith in hari-katha we must associate with strong devotees. There is no other way to develop the inclination to serve the Lord and to give up the inclination for karma and sense gratification. Without becoming disappointed or restless, therefore, one should hear enlivening hari-katha from a living source and try to practically apply them in his or her life. This is the symptom of intelligence. Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.26.26) states:tato duhsangam utsrjya, satsu sajjeta buddhimansanta evasya chindanti, mano-vyasangam uktibhihAn intelligent person should therefore reject all bad association and instead take up the association of saintly devotees, whose words cut off the excessive attachment of one’s mind.Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 24.97) states:sadhu-sanga-krpa kimva krsnera krpayakamadi ‘duhsanga’ chadi’ suddha-bhakti payaOne is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaisnava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Krsna. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.
Q : Does lack of faith in God cause distress?
A : Wherever there is an absence of complete faith in the most auspicious personality, there is bound to be inauspiciousness. Therefore, the ascending or unauthorized path should be totally rejected and the descending or authorized path of disciplic succession accepted. If we really want to benefit, we will have to offer everything we have accumulated since birth to the Lord’s lotus feet without reservation and await His causeless mercy. Until we are favored by a glimmer of His causeless mercy, we will not be able to understand krsna-katha. If we do not have full faith that the Lord alone bestows all auspiciousness, we will not be able to give everything up without hesitation. We may think, “If I give everything to Krsna, I may actually lose everything and find myself in trouble if Krsna has nothing to give me.” Such doubts are baseless. By maintaining such doubts, we simply invite inauspiciousness.
The Lord never refuses His surrendered devotee or leaves his desires unfulfilled. The Lord has the sole power to fulfill all our requirements and to give us full protection. If we can gain this conviction, we will become fearless. We will no longer feel anxiety. We will become happy. It is not possible to describe how much benefit the living entity receives by the Lord’s causeless mercy.
When the Lord does bestow His mercy, it’s not that we become satisfied even after serving Him constantly. Rather, we receive an invaluable wealth of transcendental longing for the Lord’s service. We will not lament that we cultivated attraction to the Lord’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes, and we will not think they are boring or that our future is dark with possible disappointment. We will never think we have been cheated by surrendering to His lotus feet.
Our most magnanimous, able, and grateful Lord will never throw us into the ocean of disappointment. We have an invaluable jewel called independence, but even in our independence we are dependent on the Lord. The moment we attempt to misuse our independence by opposing this understanding we will bring about our own ruination.
If we approach worldly people with high expectations, they can neither fulfill our ambitions nor solve our problems. That is why Bhagavad-glta clearly instructs us to take complete shelter at Sri Krsna’s lotus feet. He alone is the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Lord. To surrender to Him is the ultimate goal of our life. Simply by
surrendering to Him, we perfect our life. We should discuss how to surrender completely despite our anarthas and impediments.
Q : Is chanting the best limb of devotional service?
Among all the limbs of devotional service, Sri-krsna-sanklrtana is principal. If we perform srl-krsna-sanklrtana we will attain the qualification necessary to lead a perfect spiritual life. All energies, beauty, fulfillment, and the perfection of all our sadhanas are included in chanting Krsna’s holy name. All our activities, propensities, thoughts, and imaginings are regulated by the process of chanting Krsna’s holy names. If the holy name appears on the tip of the tongue, we can easily give up temporary material activities, the material sense of duty, the tendency to enjoy the perishable world, and all surrounding inconvenience. Chanting the holy name easily destroys all the impediments on our path. Chanting Krsna’s holy name is not only sadhana but sadhya, the goal of life.
However, we must chant the name repeatedly and under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. All perfection is achieved by chanting krsna-nama. The living entities will achieve all auspiciousness simply by serving the holy name. Only Krsna’s holy name can drown us in an ocean of eternal bliss. Krsna’s holy name is the reservoir of all transcendental pleasure.
Q : Where is the Hare Krsna maha-mantra mentioned in the Vedas?
Q : Hari’s name is Hari Himself. The maha-mantra was present before the sastras appeared. The Bhagavatam’s catuh-sloki verse, beginning with aham evasam evagre, offers proof of this. The supremely independent holy name is not under the sastras’ control. In fact, the sastras have manifest by the holy name’s supreme will. It is not a fact that the sastras came first and the holy name followed. The Brahma- samhita states that the holy name appeared first in Brahma’s heart. The Rg Veda also mentions the holy name.
The maha-mantra or the importance of the Lord’s holy name is mentioned in various literature, such as Kali-santarana Upanisad (from the Yajur Veda), Brhat Naradiya Parana, Jnanamrta-sara, Pippalada-sakha (from the Atharva Veda), Sri Krsna Caitanya-carita- mahakavya, Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Sri Caitanya-mangala, Brahma- yamala, Radha Tantra, Padma Parana, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahmanda Parana, Sanat-kumara Samhita, Agni Parana, Ananta- samhita, Caitanya Upanisad (from Atharva Veda), Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Brhat-Bhagavatamrta, Sri Nama Kaumudi. We have also received instructions regarding the maha-mantra from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Gaurasundara.
Q : Is the phrase “As many opinions, as many paths” correct?
A : Opinion is born from mental speculation. As there are innumerable living entities, there are innumerable thoughts and tastes. The path that has been created, is being created, and will be created in the future by peoples’ whims can never be the eternal occupational duty of the spirit soul (sanatana-dharma). Although there have been and will be innumerable opinions based on mental speculation, Srimad- Bhagavatam, the king of all sastras, declares, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo, yato bhaktir adhoksaja/ ahaituky apratihata, yayatma suprasidati: “The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6)
The philosophy of “as many opinions, as many paths” found in this world is a path born from material knowledge; it is a path favorable to the material world. It is unmotivated, uninterrupted devotional service to Hari that is the supreme opinion for all humanity. The soul can be happy by no other means. Since other religious principles and processes award little pleasure to body or mind, gross materialists and mental speculators consider such religious principles and processes as their ultimate goal. Discussions of the Absolute Truth must be heard from the living source. Then the living entities can attain highest eternal benefit. Otherwise, there will be danger at every moment for those who are misguided.
Q : Why are we not able to depend fully on the Supreme Lord?
A : We are infinitesimal spirit souls, and it is our nature to remain surrendered and to take shelter of the infinite Soul. Because we listen with so much dependence to mundane discussions and solutions in the external world, we are unable to depend on the Supreme Lord. Only a person who desires nothing from this world, who is akincana, and does not depend on objects visible in this world, can faithfully depend on the Lord. By hearing enlightening hari-katha from the mouths of the ever-lively saintly persons and the scriptures, we can come to completely depend on the Supreme Lord.
Q. What kind of people find fault with Vaisnavas?
A. Only those averse to Lord Hari and whose only assets are their defective material senses find fault with Vaisnavas. In Bhagavad-glta Lord Krsna states that His devotees never perish. Can those who worship the Lord without deviation ever fall down? They certainly achieve perfection. Since our vision is polluted we find fault with others and thereby ruin ourselves. When we thus become materialists we become bereft of service to guru and Krsna. We think of the trouble of others because we ourselves are in trouble. Because we are full of faults we find fault with others. If we can correct ourselves, we will find that we have no time to find fault with others.
Q. Can you define our disease?
A. Our main disease is that we wish to accumulate material enjoyment, things unrelated to Krsna, simply for sense gratification. We get pleasure from sense gratification, but we do not find pleasure in chanting and serving the Supreme Lord, who is the ultimate object of all enjoyment. This is our misfortune. Just as a jaundice patient does not relish sugar candy, we who are attached to sense gratification do not relish the sweet holy names or the Lord’s service. When the body is poisoned, even honey tastes bitter.
Still, sugar candy is the only medicine for jaundice. As one applies the cure, the sugar candy gradually begins to taste sweet. Similarly, our aversion to the Lord and our attachment to sense gratification will gradually diminish if we willingly or even unwillingly chant the holy name and serve the Supreme Lord. As we are cured, we will taste the sweetness of the Lord’s service and the sweet holy name will automatically engage our spiritual senses in the service of the transcendental Lord.v
Q. Does one need to check one’s material propensity?
A. If the propensity to enjoy material life is not checked, then one will continue in the cycle of repeated birth and death. It is important to stop acting for sense gratification. Unless one stops acting for sense gratification, the propensity for material life—and the suffering that comes from material distress—will not be destroyed. It is essential to cultivate Krsna consciousness. Spiritual cultivation removes the desire for material life, destroys the desire to try for artha, kama, dharma, and moksa, and gives one supreme fortune. All the material desires in the heart of a person in which Lord Krsna has manifest are automatically destroyed, because Krsna is the transcendental Cupid and all desires serve Him and no one else. One who has captured Krsna in his heart has no desire for sense gratification.
Q. Why have the living entities become conditioned?
A. The living entities have become conditioned because they misused their free will.
Q. What does the Bhagavad-gita verse beginning isvara sarva – bhutanam (18.61) mean?
A. This verse confirms that Lord Visnu alone is the controller and director of all living entities. The Supreme Lord rewards everyone according to their respective karma. The living entities are the cause of their own activities, and the Supreme Lord is the director. As the director, the Supreme Lord is not responsible directly or indirectly for the karmic activities the living entities perform or the fruits they then become eligible to enjoy. The Supreme Lord gives the fruits of karma and the living entities enjoy them.
Q. Why are we busy with activities other than devotional service?
A. We are unfortunate, and so we have become busy in activities other than the Lord’s service. Somehow or other we are not able to understand that our only duty is to serve the Lord. Therefore we give more importance to other activities than to the Lord’s service. Even though we repeatedly associate with devotees, we are unable to remove this misconception. Since we are averse to the Lord, our tendency is to become conditioned by Maya, to fall for Maya’s temptations, and to work like asses to accumulate wealth to gratify the senses of our wife, children, and relatives whom we will never meet again. We plant mango trees, we buy movable and immovable assets, but people we will never meet will enjoy the fruits of these purchases. We work so hard to earn money, but someone else will spend it indiscriminately. What an illusion!
Q. Is it possible to make someone a Vaisnava?
A. It is not possible to either become a Vaisnava or make someone else a Vaisnava. Everyone in this world is already by nature a Vaisnava. In other words, everyone is Lord Visnu’s servant. One can understand this fact when one associates with devotees.
Q.How can we destroy our desire for material enjoyment?
A. Only when we realize, by the mercy of guru and sadhu, that we are servants of the Supreme Lord will we attain auspiciousness. As soon as we receive transcendental knowledge our propensity to enjoy matter will be destroyed. Until we understand the principle that we are servants of the Lord and devotees of Visnu we will continue to see the material world as meant for our enjoyment. We will not be able to see this world in the mood of isavasyam.
We try to lord it over material nature. The only hope we have of spiritual survival is to seek the association of a pure devotee. Those who desire their ultimate benefit should not approach preachers who are puffed up with lust, anger, greed, ego, or envy. If they do, they will never attain transcendental knowledge. Unless we associate with great personalities who are free from material desire, our own desire for material enjoyment will not be destroyed. We will not realize ourselves as the Lord’s servants. The Caitanya-caritamrta states:mahat-krpa vina kona karme ‘bhakti’ nayakrsna-bhakti dure rahu, samsara nahe ksayaUnless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of krsna- bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence. (Madhya 24.97)sadhu-sanga-krpa kimva krsnera krpayakamadi ‘duhsanga’ chadi’ suddha-bhakti payaOne is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaisnava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Krsna. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus, one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service. (Madhya 22.51)
Q. What should a devotee facing material distress do?
A. Everything that happens is the Lord’s supreme will. Therefore there is nothing we can do but wait patiently for the Lord’s mercy whenever we experience distress. Sri Nrsimhadeva always protects His devotees from all inauspiciousness. If we are fixed in devotional service we need not worry about our protection or maintenance. All material inauspiciousness will be destroyed simply by our surrendering to the Supreme Lord.
Q. What is surrender?
A. Krsna’s will is supreme in all matters. Even if I think I will do something, I will not have the power to do that thing if the Lord does not sanction it. To dovetail our will with the Lord’s will is called saranagati, surrender. Surrender means peaceful life. All material objects are favorable for Krsna’s pastimes, but if instead of offering material objects to Him we use them to seek our own happiness in this world, we will forget Him. Hence the merciful Lord has created this material world to test us. If we live here seeking material happiness, we will certainly forget Krsna. That the material world is meant for our testing is proof of the Lord’s compassion.
One cannot approach the land of Vraja by one’s own will. Only by the grace and blessings of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna is one able to reside in Vraja. Our independent will to reside in Vraja is detrimental to the cultivation of Krsna consciousness.
Although I had a strong desire to go to Mathura in April, Krsna had some other plan and I could not go. Now I desire to go to Mathura in October, but if Krsna thinks otherwise, there will be nothing I can do. If I try to do something against His will, I will become culpable.
By worshiping Hari one’s body, mind, and self remain healthy. If one is averse to His worship, then all these three will become unfavorable.
Q. Why do devotees usually appear in lower families? Why do devotees appear like fools or as if they are diseased, even though they are not subject to enjoy the fruits of karma?
A. Devotees are never forced to enjoy the fruits of their karma. All their pastimes, such as taking birth, take place simply by the Lord’s will. But it is often seen that devotees appear in low-class families or like fools to ordinary eyes, or afflicted with disease. There is a great purpose behind this. If people find that the Lord’s devotees appear only in high-class families and that they are always strong, healthy, and highly learned according to material calculation, they will become discouraged. In order to display His causeless mercy and to benefit all living entities, therefore, the most merciful Lord induces His devotees to appear among various classes of men. It is to be understood that this is like sending a trained she-elephant into a kheda, an enclosure for catching wild elephants. Sri Caitanya-bhagavata states:
socya-dese socya-kule apana-samana janmaiya vaisnave sabare kare trana
yei dese yei kule vaisnava ‘avatari’
tanhara prabhave laksa-yojana nistare
yata dekha vaisnavera vyavahara-duhkhah niscaya janiha sei parananda-sukha
visaya-madandha saba kichui na jane”
vidya-made,dhana-made vaisnava na cine
The Lord had His devotees, who are equal to Him, appear at impious places and in impious families in order to deliver everyone.In whatever place or family a Vaisnava appears, people for hundreds of thousands of miles around are all delivered.Know for certain that whatever worldly distress is seen in a Vaisnava is actually spiritual happiness.People blinded with pride over material enjoyment do not know anything. They cannot recognize a Vaisnava due to pride born of education and wealth.
Just because devotees appear in low-class families does not mean that they are sinful or that they have appeared in such families as a result of karma. Rather, we should understand that they have appeared to purify those families. One who attains perfection by practicing the sddhana prescribed for the age of Kali is the best of all.
Q. Are karmic fruits the Lord’s mercy?
Considering the fruits of one’s own karma the Lord’s mercy, intelligent persons enjoy those fruits and surrender body, mind, and speech to the Lord’s lotus feet. However great the danger, devotees accept it as karmic reaction. Therefore they do not attribute the Lord with any fault. Rather, accepting the reaction gladly as His mercy, they become more attached to Him. This is the attitude taught in the Bhagavatam.
Q. Are we certain to receive Krsna’s mercy?
A. If we are sincerely eager at heart to attain Krsna, we will certainly attain Him. Maintaining material desire spoils everything, because it makes us proud of high birth, opulence, knowledge, and so on.
By the grace of the Lord we are given a spiritual master. Our development depends on the Lord’s mercy. Without His mercy all attempts are futile. His mercy is the root. However, we must learn how to sincerely beg for His mercy. Those who are sincere will certainly achieve His mercy. He cannot but bestow His mercy, because He is all-merciful.
If we wonder why we don’t appear to be receiving His mercy, it’s because we are not really sincere. The Lord helps those who surrender to Him completely. Direct service to God awards us God. Without such service the soul cannot advance. Krsna is our only worshipable Lord and we have no other duty but to serve Him. Devotional service is not sense gratification. Living only for sense gratification is simply selfishness.
Amrita Vani of His Divine Grace
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada