"Devotional Service Will Free You"

[Paramananda das]

Jaya Sri Guru Gauranga,Gandarvika Giridhari Jaya Srila Prabhupada Srila Prabhupada gave many important lectures about mayavadi (impersonalistic) philosophy, in the below lecture Srila Prabhupada has clearly explained why Bhakti yoga is higher in any respect to the teachings of Sankacarya.Srila Madhavacarya has given a very important  book about Mayavadi Philosophy,that should be understood by everyone in the Madhava Gaudiya vaisnava line  . Mayavada Sata Dushani http://krishnascience.info/Vaisnava%20Library/Devotion%20-%20shastras/Bhaktivinoda%20Thakura/Sri%20Mayavada-sata-dushani.htm vaisnava das anu das Paramananda das "Devotional Service Will Free You" Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.21-28 New  York, January 11, 1967 downloadflash  player   Take a  test Prabhupada: kevala jnana 'mukti' dite nare bhakti  vine krsnonmukhe sei mukti haya jnana vina Mukti, liberation... The impersonalists think that simply  by cultivating knowledge that "I am not matter; I am spirit," or "I am one with  the Supreme Spirit; I am now... Out of ignorance, I am thinking different, but  when I am fully elevated to the platform of knowledge, then I become liberated."  But the..., there is no answer that "Why you have become conditioned?" The  impersonalists think that "I am one with the Supreme. Now, due to my ignorance,  I have forgotten that I am the Supreme." Because they do not recognize the  Supreme Personality of Godhead, so they think that impersonal conception of the  spirit soul: "I am now... Out of ignorance, I am thinking matter, but as soon as  my ignorance is over, I shall become one with the Supreme." So this is the  theory of the impersonalists. But they... They cannot give any answer that "Why  you have become under the influence of ignorance? If you are the Supreme, then  what is the cause that you have become conditioned? Then the Supreme will become  conditioned under the material nature. Then how one can become the Supreme?  Supreme cannot be conditioned." So there is no answer for this question from the  impersonalists' school. But real fact is that the Supreme never falls down. The  part and parcel of the Supreme, they fall down -- some of them; not all. So  therefore the living entities, they are different from the Supreme. They are one  in quality with the Supreme, but not in quantity. So Lord Caitanya says that "Simply by thinking that 'I am  not this matter; I am spirit soul, aham brahmasmi. I am Brahman,' that will not  help you to get liberation." The real fact is that the individual living  entities, they are part and parcel of the Supreme, but somehow or other, they  wanted separation from the Supreme and wanted to lord it over the material  nature. Therefore they are entangled. That is the real fact. And as such, we  find from the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord asked that sarva-dharman parityajya mam  ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "Just surrender." So therefore, unless there is  surrender of the individual soul to the Supreme, there is no question of  liberation. There is no question of liberation. You can cultivate knowledge that  "I am not this body; I am spirit soul," but that will not help for your  liberation. Because real thing is that you have or we have rebelled against the  supremacy of the Supreme Lord. That is the attitude, everywhere we can see  actually. Everyone is: "Oh, what is God? What is God?" especially in this age.  So this impersonalism is another type of atheism, and this impersonal theory of  the Absolute Truth has converted practically the major portion of the world into  atheism. So therefore Lord Caitanya says that simply by cultivation of knowledge  that "I am not this matter. I am not this matter. I am spirit soul," that will  not help. Now He gives again evidence from scriptures. Every step,  whatever He says, He gives some evidence from authoritative scripture. Mostly He  gives evidence from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, because for the  Vaisnava school these two books are sufficient for acquiring knowledge. So far  Vedanta-sutra is concerned, Bhagavata is Vedanta-sutra itself. Bhagavata is the  natural commentary on the, on the Vedanta-sutra. Therefore one who has  sufficient knowledge in Bhagavata, he has automatically sufficient knowledge in  Vedanta-sutra. According to Vedic system, one must have sufficient knowledge in  Vedanta-sutra. Then he'll be considered as learned in spiritual science. So  Srimad-Bhagavatam, although the Vaisnavas, they have got their commentaries on  Vedanta-sutra, but this Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya, they did not make any  commentary on the Vedanta-sutra because they belonged to the disciplic  succession of Vyasadeva. So Vyasadeva is the spiritual master. So the later  acaryas, they did not think it proper that whatever the... Because their  spiritual master has had already made a commentary on the Vedanta-sutra, "Oh,  that is sufficient. Why should we do again?" These are some of the etiquette.  Anyway, the Vedanta-sutra... And Bhagavata is natural commentary on  Vedanta-sutra, and Lord Caitanya therefore gives evidence from the Bhagavata  generally and Puranas also, and Mahabharata and every, I mean to say, Upanisad.  They are all authorities. But especially He gives evidences from  Srimad-Bhagavatam. Now, so far, in confirmation of this statement that  knowledge, cultivation of knowledge, is not sufficient to give one liberation --  one must take to devotional service. Devotional service past knowledge is just  like gold with flavor. Yes. So, of course, those who are engaged in devotional  service, their knowledge automatically comes. They are not fools. Those who are  actually, seriously in devotional service, in Krsna consciousness, they will not  lack in knowledge because you'll find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Lord says  that, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam  priti-purvakam dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te [Bg.  10.10] Those who are engaged in transcendental loving service of  Krsna, for them knowledge automatically comes from within because Krsna is  within us. So a sincere soul in Krsna consciousness will not lack in knowledge.  And in the Vedic literature also it is confirmed: yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha  gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah [SU  6.23] The Vedic knowledge, revelation, to whom it is revealed?  It is revealed to a person who has unflinching faith and love for the Supreme  Personality of Godhead as well as to the spiritual master. Yasya deve para  bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. As much he has got faith in the Supreme,  similarly he has faith in the spiritual master. Such a person gets revelation of  the Vedic knowledge from within. So those who are actually serious in engaging  themselves in Krsna consciousness, devotional service, for them knowledge is  secondary. Knowledge automatically revealed to them. And those who do not take  to the Krsna consciousness, devotional service, simply indulge in dry  speculation, for them liberation is not possible. Not possible. So Lord Caitanya gives one evidence from  Srimad-Bhagavatam from Tenth Canto: sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho klisyanti ye  kevala-bodha-labdhaye tesam asau klesala eva sisyate nanyad yatha  sthula-tusavaghatinam Real knowledge means to understand the last word of the  Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and surrender unto Him,  after knowledge. As it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, bahunam janmanam ante:  [Bg. 7.19] "After many, many births, one who is actually in knowledge, he  surrenders." So Srimad-Bhagavata practically confirms the same, that  sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho. Any person who does not take to the  devotional service in Krsna consciousness, simply indulge in dry speculation,  klisyanti, takes trouble... Klisyanti means "takes trouble"; ye, "persons."  Kevala-bodha-lab..., simply to understand that "This is not matter, this is not  spirit, this is not...," like that, and that there is no separate Supersoul,  only one soul is there, and this conception of individual soul is  misunderstanding, ignorance -- in this way, there are volumes of books of, by  Sankaracarya especially, and later on, his disciples. They are very, very  learned scholars, undoubtedly. By their scholastic jugglery they want to cover  the Supreme Personality of God. They do not want to cover; they think that they  are advanced. But Krsna covers Himself so that they may not understand Krsna.  Krsna does not want. Krsna wants that one should surrender and take to  devotional service. So Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that naham prakasah  sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah: [Bg. 7.25] "I do not reveal Myself to everyone,  one and all. No. I cover Myself." So these impersonalists, due to their, I mean  to say, less intelligence, or misfortune, they cannot see Krsna. So therefore,  for them this remark is here that sreyah-srtim, that "Actually what is  auspicious, devotional service, if somebody gives that path away and takes to  simply dry speculation, simply to understand..." Because jnana means to  understand what is the difference between matter and spirit. So they, of course,  indulge in that process of knowledge. But simply by that speculation the result  is that tesam asau klesala eva sisyate. The trouble which they accept for  discriminating matter from spirit... There is trouble. You have to see so many  Vedic literatures, and you have to understand the instruction of Upanisads and  logic, and so many things there are to, I mean to say, back your understanding.  So tesam klesala eva... Their, their profit is that the trouble which they  accept for studying so many Vedic literatures to prove that the Absolute Truth  is not person, that trouble is their profit and nothing more. Klesala eva, tesam  asau klesala eva sisyate: "They do not get any other profit except that  troublesome business." That's all. Tesam klesala eva sisyate. How it is? The  example is, nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam: "Just like husking the grain to  take out the skin." Now, there are many grains which are skin over. So there is  process of taking out the skin out of the grain. So if the grain is already  taken out, only the skins are left. Then, if you husk on it and beat to get out  the grains, so there is no possibility to get any grains from them because the  grain is already taken out. So that is the trouble. Simply, I mean, beating the  skin is no good. We must have some concrete result. That concrete result is one  who is directly engaged in the transcendental service, loving service of the  Supreme Lord. That is recommended. daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya mam  eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14] So the same thing is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita,  Seventh Chapter, that the Lord says that... This is also another influence of  maya, illusion. Just like under the spell of illusion we are thinking that "I am  American," "I am Indian," "I am king," "I am big man," "I am poor man" -- so  many we have got -- and this is all due to this body, bodily conception. It has  no actual standing. It is all..., they are all designations. Similarly, the last  snare of maya is to, I mean to say, induce one to think that "I am God." Just  like we are under the spell of illusion. We are thinking, "I am this and that,  this and that." So after many, many years' cultivation of knowledge, if one  comes to the conclusion that "I am God. There is no other second God. I am God,"  so that is also another spell of illusion. So the Bhagavad-gita says that daivi  hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. One is trying to get out of the  clutches of the illusory energy, but it is very difficult. Up to the last point  the maya, illusion, will offer you something so that she will baffle your  endeavor to get out of her clutches. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya.  Then how to get out of her hands? Mam eva prapadyante mayam etam taranti... Only  process is just you surrender to Krsna, and maya will not any more interfere  with your business. So therefore surrender is the only process by which you  can get out of the clutches of maya. 'krsna-nitya-dasa'-jiva taha bhuli' gela ei dose  maya tara galaya bandhila Just like we become..., sometimes we take a pet dog with  shackles on the neck, similarly we are under the spell..., we are pet dogs of  the illusory energy, with shackles. You see? So why? Now,  'krsna-nitya-dasa'-jiva taha bhuli' gela: "That the living entity is eternally  servitor of the Supreme Lord, Krsna, that he has forgotten." That he has  forgotten. Therefore... [break] ...galaya bandhila. Just like the dog is  shackled on the..., we are in that way shackled. tate krsna bhaje, kare gurura sevana maya-jala  chute, paya krsnera carana Therefore, if one agrees to serve Krsna under the  direction of spiritual master, follows the instruction of spiritual master, and  engages himself in the service of the Supreme Lord, maya-jala chute, paya  krsnera carana, then he can get out of this network of illusory energy and paya  krsnera carana, and he can get the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord  Krsna. cari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje svakarma  karite se raurave padi' maje Cari varna. Cari varna means four castes, four division  of human society: the brahmanas, the ksatriya, the vaisyas and the sudras. They  have got their specific duties. One who is brahmana, he has got his specific  duty. Culture, cultivation of knowledge is their first and foremost duty.  Similarly, ksatriya, he has got his specific duty. The fore and foremost is to  establish good administration in the state. And vaisya, he has got also specific  duty. What is that? Cow protection and agriculture. That is the duty of vaisya.  And the sudras, they have no responsibility. Therefore they serve these three  higher class: the intelligent class, engaged in cultivation of knowledge; the  administrator class, who are engaged in good government; and the mercantile,  class who are looking to the productive side of the society. So this is natural.  There is no denying the fact. In every society there is a natural division. A  certain class of men, they are intelligent class, a certain class of men, they  are, take part in politics, and a certain class of men, they delight in doing  business. And there are certain classes -- they do not do anything; simply by  serving, they maintain themselves. So these four classes are there. So according to Vedic civilization, these four classes  are also recommended to serve the Supreme Lord, Supreme Lord. With their  professional occupation, they want, they have to, they have to serve the Supreme  Lord. That is the injunction of the Vedic literatures. cari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje svakarma  karite se raurave padi' maje Therefore Lord Caitanya says that suppose an intelligent  brahmana, he's very learned scholar and great philosopher, big thinker...  Everything is all right. But he has no relationship in the matter of rendering  service to the Supreme Lord. That is minus. That means learned scholar minus  Krsna consciousness. Similarly, a learned politician, able administrator, minus  Krsna consciousness... Similarly, a successful businessman minus Krsna  consciousness... Or the sudras... Anyone, if he is minus Krsna consciousness,  then the result is that svakarma karite se raurave padi' maje: "By doing, by  executing his specific duty, he's going to hell." Hell. It is fact. He's  thinking that "I am doing my duty," but he's going to hell. So this is a version  of Lord Caitanya Maha... He, even if he does his duty very nicely, still, he's  going to hell. Raurave padi' maje. Raurave means hell. And again He gives evidence from Srimad-Bhagavatam: mukha-bahuru-padebhyah purusasyasramaih  saha catvaro jajnire varna gunair vipradayah prthak ya esam purusam saksad- atma-prabhavam  isvaram na bhajanty avajananti sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah In the Srimad-Bhagavata, Eleventh Canto, these two verses  are there. What is that? Mukha-bahuru-padebhyah purusasyasramaih saha. Now,  according to Vedic conception of social life, there are four divisions of social  order and four divisions of spiritual order. The four divisions of social order  is the brahmanas, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra; and spiritual order is the  sannyasi, vanaprastha, grhastha and brahmacari. To become a brahmacari means to  make advance in spiritual life. And the social order is there, the brahmanas,  ksatriyas. So it is called varnasrama-dharma. Actually, "Hindu," there is no  such word as "Hindu" religion. We don't find in the Vedic scripture. Hindu  religion... This "Hindu" word is given by the Muhammadans. They, they, they  generally pronounce i as h. They... So there is river in the west, western side  of India. There is river, Indus, Indus River. So Indus River the Muhammadans  used to call "Hindus." From "Hindus" it has come to Hindustan, "the place of the  Hindus." So Hindu, Hindu religion is a modern term given by the foreigners.  Actually the Indians, bharatiya, they, their religion is varnasrama-dharma,  religion of four castes and four spiritual orders, four spiritual orders and  four social orders. The persons who follow these four orders of social status  and four orders of spiritual advancement, they are called varnasrama. So Hindu  religion is a miscalculation. Really, they are called varnasrama-dharma. That is  the Vedic term. Thank you very much. (end) >>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,  Madhya-lila 22.21-28 -- New York, January 11, 1967 HOME

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