(PT 3) Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 5.5.2, April 13, 1975 Hyderabad
- Sreshta Appalabattula
- Aug 30, 2022
- 5 min read
(written on March 25, 2020)
SB 7.5.30
Prahlāda Mahārāja replied: Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Kṛṣṇa are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.
SP uses this verse to talk about how Prahalad maharaj tried to teach his father about Krsna consciousness
BG 5.29
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.
SP explains how people are extremely materialistic and think that they are the enjoyer
But actually the enjoyer is Krsna
This verse explains how all of the sacrifices are ultimately enjoyed by Krsna
BG 10.12
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.
SP uses this verse to explain that we are not the enjoyers
He uses the phrase purusha sashvatam which means eternal enjoyer
BG 7.4
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.
SP uses this verse to explain how the material nature is one of Krsna’s energies
Material nature is prakriti but the living entities are, too
BG 4.34
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
Again, SP is stressing the importance of learning from a bona fide spiritual master
SB 11.3.21
Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.
It is explained that a guru is necessary for those who are desiring happiness or the purpose of life
He explains that guru is very important and that one should not take a guru just because other people have gurus
BG 18.66
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
SP explains how abandoning religion and surrendering unto Krsna is a symptom of a mahatma
BG 7.19
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
This is another symptom of a mahatma
At this point in the lecture, SP is listing out all the qualifications of a mahatma
BG 9.13
O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.
another qualification of a mahatma
They are always engaged in service
BG 18.54
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state, he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
SP uses this verse to describe how one can be peaceful only when he has no desire
At that point, they exhibit neutrality and equality
Cc. Mad 19.149
Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.
Again, SP is stressing the point that a krsna-bhakta is desireless
Sikshashtakam 4
O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife, or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.
The devotee does not desire wealth, a beautiful wife, or followers
All they would ever want is devotional service
NOT even liberation
Cc. Mad 22.42
[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] ‘O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.’
The devotee does not want any benediction
Originally, Dhruva maharaja sought out after the supreme lord due to the desire that he wanted to be closer with his father, but after realizing the glory of the Lord he realized that he didn’t want anything from Him
He was satisfied that he got to witness the presence of the lord
SB 3.25.21
The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.
The qualifications of a sadhu are that they are tolerant
Ex. Prahlad maharaj was alway getting tortured by his father but he kept thinking about ways to make him Krsna conscious
Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these. The darkness of ignorance is called kaitava, the way of cheating, which begins with religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation.
Dharma artha kama and moksha are not the aims of life
Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.
Love for Krsna exists in everyone
That is why american and european people were able to become devotees
'In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.’
To make the love which exists in our hearts for Krsna to come out, we need to begin with faith
The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
To increase our faith in Krsna, to increase shraddha we must associate with advanced devotees
Bg. 9.30
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
Devotional service is so powerful and important in the advancement of Krsna consciousness
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