In continuation of our discussion on the topic "Lessons from the Twenty-four Gurus", we were

meditating on the below qualities that we need to learn from one of the spiritual masters of

avadhuta brahmana – Ocean.

1. prasanna – cheerful/pleasing

2. gambhira – very grave

3. ananta-paarah – unlimited

4. akshobhyah – never disturbed

5. durvigaahya – unfathomable

6. duratyayah – unsurpassable

We had a peek into the quality of being prasanna (cheerful and

pleasing), gambhira (grave), ananta-paraah(unlimited) and akshobhyah (never disturbed)

in the last few mails of this series. Today we will try to delve into the next

quality durvigaahya (unfathomable).

5. durvigaahya – unfathomable: Ocean is so vast and deep that even centuries of research

has made scientists completely insignificant.

a) Every gallon of sea water contains an average of four ounces of salt. And there’s enough

salt in the world’s oceans to cover the entire surface of the earth with a layer of salt more than

147 feet thick! But scientists are not quite sure how all that salt got into the oceans.

b) More than a century of oceanographic research has revealed that oceans play a critical role

in regulating earth’s weather and climate, house extraordinarily diverse plants and animals,

provide food and medicines, and significantly influence the creation and ever-changing

appearance of our coastlines. However, the scientists are still paddling at the surface of this

immense entity.

c) Its sheer size is intimidating. Even at jet speeds, we ultimately have to sleep (or read a

couple of books) while traversing the ocean. And breadth is just one of their dimensions. The

ocean’s depth is even harder to fathom.

These are just a tip of the iceberg. Pure devotees and their activities are also unfathomable

just like the ocean. We cannot estimate the depth of their knowledge and realization as much

as we cannot measure the depth of the ocean. Some of their activities will be inconceivable
and even bewildering but because they are directly and fully engaged in Krishna’s service,

whatever they do pleases Krishna. We have the example of Srila Prabhupada in front of us.

1. When all other saints and sadhus were strictly following the traditional principle that one

should not cross the ocean or preach in the mleccha countries, he defied the tradition and

preached the message of Bhagavat-gita all over the world.

2. When everyone else would be satisfied just to retire in the old age and play with their

grandchildren, he started a worldwide movement that took the world by storm. And that too

with just 40 Rs!

3. Even though he was very sick many times, still he would continue with his travel all over the

world and preach tirelessly. 14 world tours in a short span of 10 years that too at the age of

70-80!

4. He wrote so many books in such a short time that a normal human cannot write for his

entire life time.

5. When he got the land in Juhu for the Bombay ISKCON temple, everyone was criticizing him

for purchasing land in an area largely occupied by the fisher men and in such a far away land

from the city center. At that time Prabhupada replied, "You do not know. Soon there will not be

an inch of land available in this area." Everyone who visits the temple now will realize how true

are his words.

There are innumerable such instances where Srila Prabhupada showed us how unfathomable

and inconceivable he was and it is not possible to list them all here.

We had many such instances of our Guru Maharaj too who completely bewildered us by his

inconceivable activities. Just to quote one example, so many times devotees who were

personally serving him, had seen him critically ill, gasping for breath and completely wiped

out. When they try to take him to the hospital, he would forcefully deny and ask them to just

recite Bhagavat-gita/Bhagavatam and to the devotee’s surprise very soon he would get his

breath back, will look as if nothing has happened and then to the complete astonishment of

the devotees, will go on to give Bhagavatam class for 4-5 hours non-stop.

Pure devotee’s activities are unfathomable because they are fully charged with loving

devotional service unto the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada beautifully says in his purport to
 SB 9.4.68: "vaishnavera kriya mudra vijneha na bujhaya. Even the most learned or

experienced person cannot understand the movements of a Vaishnava, a pure devotee. No

one, therefore, should criticize a pure Vaishnava. A Vaishnava knows his own business;

whatever he does is precisely right because he is always guided by the Supreme

Personality of Godhead."

This quality of being unfathomable behooves us to simply accept the glorious activities of the

pure devotees of the Lord as it is with awe and reverence and worship them with earnestness

to bestow us with a drop of eagerness to render service to the Lord. Trying to get into the logic

or reasoning behind those unfathomable activities spoils the pleasure of relishing it just as it is

with the pastimes of the Supreme Lord.

At the end of the day, we just have to feel transcendentally proud to have born very near to

the age when great acaryas like Srila Prabhupada and our Guru Maharaj appeared and gave us

this transcendental mercy of unalloyed bhakti unto Lord Sri Krishna. If not for their mercy, we

cannot read a single word of Srimad Bhagavat-Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam what to speak of

understanding and preaching that message?

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,

Kalacakra Krsna das and Sudarshana devi dasi.

Lessons from Bali Maharaj – Part 1

[granthraj]
BY
SARAVANA KUMAR PAULRAJ

– SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

DAILY SB/BG 30-September-2010 ThursSunday
MALA:9 BEAD:062

NITYAM BHAGAVATA SEVAYA SB 1. 2. 18

(Regularly reading/hearing Srimad Bhagavatam or Serving the pure Devotee)

Karma Yoga (Do Your Duty, Leave the result to Krsna) Great (easy to do)

Gnana Yoga Realising Self by controlling senses and mind Very Great (tough)

Bakthi Yoga Realising the Paramatma is Everything and Very Very Great
KC Surrender to Krishna is the Ultimate goal (very easy to do)

In our life when reverses happen our immediate tendency is to blame the people around and if

nobody is around then we blame the Lord squarely. We go to the extent of asking Him why He
has put us in such a condition. This is a natural position of us. We are so much insignificant and

inconsequential in this world. But we can see from the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam, Bali

Maharaj who conquered the three world was arrested and punished by the Lord in front of so

many people. It is really a embarrassing situation for the ruler of three worlds to be put in such

a precarious condition. When Bali Maharaj was arrested by the Lord, he surrendered his life

and manifested super wonderful glorious qualities which made him as one of the greatest

Mahajanas. The realization of Bali Maharaj on being arrested by the Lord is nicely expressed in

seven transcendental gem of verses quoted by him in 8 Canto Chapter 22 – Verses 4 through

11. We will discuss those gems and we can learn wonderful lessons from them for us to imbibe

in our lives. Let us the discuss the lessons from each of these verses.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 8.22.4 he says,

pumsaam shlaaghyatamam manye / dandam

arhattamaarpitam
yam na maataa pitaa bhraataa / suhrdash
caadishanti hi
"Although a father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a well-

wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this. But because You are the most

worshipable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted."

Bali Maharaj considers the punishment as most exalted because he understood that Lord is the

most worshipable and he is the subordinate and therefore accepts the punishment as exalted.

In our case we cannot even admit a single mistake forget about considering the punishment by

the Lord as exalted. We have not yet realized that the Lord is the most worshipable and we are

constant offenders at His lotus feet almost all the times because of our insubordination.

tvam nunam asuraanaam nah / paroksah

paramo guruh
yo no ‘neka-madaandhaanaam /
vibhramsham cakshur aadishat
"Since Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us demons, You act for

our best welfare by posing as if our enemy. Because demons like us always aspire

for a position of false prestige, by chastising us You give us the eyes by which to

see the right path."

Bali Maharaj is telling three things in this statement and accepting the chastisement.

1. Greatest well wisher

2. Acts on our Best welfare

3. Put us on the right path.

1.Greatest well wisher: When we are in difficulty, we don’t understand the Lord extends His

mercy so that we can go to Him and ask for forgiveness for our insubordination and rebellious

nature. The difficulties are caused by our own past karmas or existing sinful activities. This

repentance gives us a chance for us to elevate ourselves spiritually. Lord acts as the greatest

well wisher. Also He is the greatest well wisher because we are His part and parcel. He is very

much anxious for our liberation (alayaaya – never inattentive or idle for our deliverance).

2.Acts on our best welfare: Sometimes we plan and desire to achieve something but finally

it ends up in failure. We tend to get somewhat frustrated with the Lord in not reciprocating to

us. But we do not know what is best for us, especially about the future. One of our godbrother

got an offer from another company with double the salary, but he was cautious enough to

consult our Gurudev who advised him not to pursue with the new offer. We might be thinking

why our Gurudev is asking him to decline the offer as it is very clear that he is going to get

double the salary and therefore may conclude that Gurudev or the Lord is not acting on our

best welfare. But to the surprise after few months the new company who gave the offer had to

close down due to recession and the godbrother would have lost the existing good job, had he

not listened to Gurudev. So the Lord and Gurudev advised on the best welfare for our

godbrother. This is so subtle that we are not able to understand these transcendental things

beyond our vision. It is the always the best to act according to the instructions of our Gurudev

or Krishna then there is no case of despondency and failure.

3. Put us on the right path: Bali Maharaj could understand the false ego is the most difficult

to leave and that is the reason we are unable to understand the Lord and Gurudev are our

greatest well wishers and acts on our best welfare. Unless we are convinced of this particular

point, we will never be guided in the right spiritual path. We have to develop this conviction by

studying the shaastras regularly and seriously.

Krishna willing, we will see the other exalted gems of realisations of Bali Maharaj in the

ensuing mails.
 Once one of the disciples of Srila Prabhupada quoted so many verses praising Srila

Prabhupada and the Supreme Lord. But however he was not keeping the brahmachari room

nicely. So Prabhupada immediately chastised him and said, "Mere repetition of verses and

realization are not enough. This needs to be translated into action by keeping your room

clean." Please forgive me for any inadequacies and pray for me to understand this gems from

Srimad Bhagavatam and put them into practice.

Bali Maharaj ki Jai! Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai !

Thank you very much,

Your humble servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev,

Sajjanapriya Krishna das

Abudhabi.

Lessons from Bali Maharaj – Part 2

[granthraj]
BY
SARAVANA KUMAR PAULRAJ

– OCTOBER 1, 2010
DAILY SB/BG 01-October-2010 Friday
MALA:9 BEAD:063

NITYAM BHAGAVATA SEVAYA SB 1. 2. 18

(Regularly reading/hearing Srimad Bhagavatam or Serving the pure Devotee)

Karma Yoga (Do Your Duty, Leave the result to Krsna) Great (easy to do)

Gnana Yoga Realising Self by controlling senses and mind Very Great (tough)

Bakthi Yoga Realising the Paramatma is Everything and Very Very Great
KC Surrender to Krishna is the Ultimate goal (very easy to do)

We are continuing the topic on Lessons from Bali Maharaj. The realizations of Bali Maharaj on

being arrested by the Lord is nicely expressed in seven transcendental gem of verses quoted

by him in 8 Canto Chapter 22, verses 4 through 11. We discussed verses 4 and 5 in the

previous mail and now we will discuss verses 6 through 9 in this mail.

yasmin vairaanubandhena / vyudhena vibudhetaraah

bahavo lebhire siddhim / yaam u haikaanta-yoginah

 tenaaham nigrheeto ‘smi / bhavataa bhuri-karmanaa

baddhash ca vaarunaih paashair / naativreede na ca vyathe

"Many demons who were continuously inimical toward You finally achieved the

perfection of great mystic yogas. Your Lordship can perform one work to serve

many purposes, and consequently, although You have punished me in many ways, I

do not feel ashamed of having been arrested by the ropes of Varuna nor do I feel

aggrieved."

Bali Maharaj is expressing that he is not ashamed or aggrieved. “na shocati na kaankshati" –

He is in the brahma bhuta stage of devotional service. Whenever we are punished or in difficult

condition, we feel aggrieved without a doubt. Though he is born in the family of demons and is

the ruler of the three worlds, he is still quite happy being arrested by the Lord. In his wonderful

purport to the above verse, Srila Prabhupada says – "Thus Bali Maharaja could understand that

the Lord had some hidden purpose in punishing him. Consequently he was neither unhappy

nor ashamed because of the awkward position in which he had been put by the Supreme

Personality of Godhead." In our lives also we face difficult situations. But whenever some bad

thing is happening in our life, we should understand that the the Lord has some purpose

behind that and that He wants us to learn from that incident and correct our mistakes. We

should remember and have faith that whatever the Lord does in our life is always for

our good.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 8.22.8, Bali Maharaj further continues

pitaamaho me bhavadeeya-sammatah

prahraada aaviskrta-saadhu-vaadah

bhavad-vipakshena vicitra-vaishasam

sampraapitas tvam paramah sva-pitraa

"My grandfather Prahlada Maharaja is famous, being recognized by all Your

devotees. Although harassed in many ways by his father, Hiranyakashipu, he still

remained faithful, taking shelter at Your lotus feet."

Bali Maharaj gives the realization that being faithful and truthful to the Lord is always

beneficial as his own grandfather Prahlad Maharaj, never deterred from devotional service

even when he was punished by his own father. Because of Prahlad Maharaj’s extreme

tolerance, he became famous all over the three worlds. Bali Maharaj is teaching us how to be

faithful and truthful especially in trying circumstances. Bali Maharaja, following in the footsteps
of his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja, remained fixed in his devotion to the Lord, despite the

Lord’s having punished him. To be faithful and truthful when things are going right in material

life is not a great thing. But as soon as we encounter minor difficulties, we loose the faith and

determination. As our Gurudev saysLord Krishna is the only firm shelter because the

Lord is eternal. All other shelters would fade away. In verse 8.22.9, Bali Maharaj talks

about what will be the effect of taking temporary shelter of the material body and its

constituents.

kim aatmanaanena jahaati yo ‘ntatah

kim riktha-haaraih svajanaakhya-dasyubhih

kim jaayayaa samsrti-hetu-bhutayaa

martyasya gehaih kim ihaayusho vyayah

"What is the use of the material body, which automatically leaves its owner at the

end of life? And what is the use of all one’s family members, who are actually

plunderers taking away money that is useful for the service of the Lord in spiritual

opulence? What is the use of a wife? She is only the source of increasing material

conditions. And what is the use of family, home, country and community?

Attachment for them merely wastes the valuable energy of one’s lifetime."

Bali Maharaj says that so called material or temporary shelters will crumble due to influence of

time and ultimately he believes that atma nivedanam, surrendering everything to the

Lord will be the ultimate benefit to a devotee as we are not going to carry anything with

us at the time of death. dharmaanu gogachatti jiva ekah.Only devotional service will go

with the soul. But unfortunately even though we understand, know and realize this, when it

comes into implementation, we are doubtful that if I keep serving the Lord who will take care

of my family and myself. But reality is whatever we are blessed with in this life, be it spouse,

home, children, wealth are all gifts from Supreme Lord. So to use these gifts in His service is

the right thing to do. If we don’t do, then it means if we are simply misusing them and wasting

our life. Srila Prabhupada very nicely says – "Human life is meant for self-realization, not for

increasing unwanted things. Actually, a wife increases unwanted things. One’s lifetime,

one’s home and everything one has, if not properly used in the service of the Lord,

are all sources of material conditions of perpetual suffering under the threefold

miseries (adhyaatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika). " So when we misuse Lord’s

gifts we are bound to face the consequences as well. On the other hand when we use

everything in Lord’s service, we will experience eternal bliss. Whether we want eternal bliss or

perpetual suffering is choice which we need to make.

 By the mercy of Gurudev, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna we will continue the lessons from

the verses 10 and 11 in the next offering in granthraj. As Maharaj says there is thread

throughout the Srimad Bhagavatam verses and we can see how Bali Maharaj’s realisations are

inter connected with each other in a logical sequence.

I humbly request all of you to please pray for me to understand these transcendental gems

and that I atleast try with earnest attempt to practise the same in my life.

Thank you very much.

Your humble servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev,

Sajjanapriya Krishna das,

Abudhabi.

Lessons from Bali Maharaj – Part 3

[granthraj]
BY
SARAVANA KUMAR PAULRAJ

– OCTOBER 3, 2010
DAILY SB/BG 03-October-2010 Sunday
MALA:9 BEAD:065

NITYAM BHAGAVATA SEVAYA SB 1. 2. 18

(Regularly reading/hearing Srimad Bhagavatam or Serving the pure Devotee)

Karma Yoga (Do Your Duty, Leave the result to Krsna) Great (easy to do)

Gnana Yoga Realising Self by controlling senses and mind Very Great (tough)

Bakthi Yoga Realising the Paramatma is Everything and Very Very Great
KC Surrender to Krishna is the Ultimate goal (very easy to do)

We are continuing the topic on "Lessons from Bali Maharaj". The realization of Bali Maharaj on

being arrested by the Lord is nicely expressed in seven transcendental gem of verses spoken

by him in 8 Canto Chapter 22 – Verses 4 through 11. We have discussed verses 4 to 9 in the

previous two offerings on this subject. We saw how Bali Maharaj logically and sequentially

explains his realization and his reasons for surrendering his life to the Supreme Lord Krishna.

We will see the next verse in this offering.

SB 8.22.10

ittham sa nishcitya pitaamaho mahaan

agaadha-bodho bhavatah paada-padmam

 dhruvam prapede hy akutobhayam janaad

bheetah svapaksha-kshapanasya sattama

"My grandfather, the best of all men, who achieve unlimited knowledge and was

worshipable for everyone, was afraid of the common men in this world. Being fully

convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, He took

shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who

were killed by Your own self."

Bali Maharaj is expressing the reasons for surrendering his life to the Lord because there is real

substance in this. How is it? He has got a proof that his grandfather Prahlad Maharaj

surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord and achieved three things.

1. Unlimited knowledge of everything

2. Worshipable for everyone

3. Fearlessness in material existence

1. Unlimited knowledge – agaadha bodhah: In the material world everyone of us wanted

to acquire unlimited knowledge of everything. But we can attain unlimited knowledge only

when we become knowledgeable of the Absolute Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Prahlad Maharaj

attained this position by means of his unflinching devotional service unto the Supreme Lord.

2. Worshipable for everyone – mahaan: We want to be recognized by everybody and

become famous all over the world. People have started creating temples for celebrities who

might be famous in some specific field in this mundane world. But we can become famous in

this world and become worshipable for everyone only if we worship the unlimited Supreme

Lord. Prahlad Maharaj did not glorify anyone, even his own father who was terrorizing the

entire universe. He simply glorified the Lord and the result is that he is glorified for millions of

years, even today.

3. Fearlessness in material existence – akuto bhayam: When we realize our real position

in this material world and that we as the eternal soul, eternal servant of Krishna exist eternally,

then we will be free of the fear of death. Prahlad Maharaj was so transcendentally free from

the bodily conception that even when his father was devising all means and ways to kill him,

he did not budge an inch from his unflinching devotion to the Supreme Lord. The first and

foremost effect of devotional service is that we become free from the fear of material

existence.
We should realize that in the material world we can never acquire unlimited knowledge and

even if we acquire such unlimited knowledge, we can become worshipable only as long as we

are in this world. Once we exit, there is no question of remembrance at all. By the efflux of

time everything is forgotten. We forget our own family members who have passed away after

few years. Assuming that we get good knowledge and fame all over the world, still fearfulness

will be there as to how to retain the knowledge and fame. There is a constant threat attached

to it. We can never become fearless in material existence. Prahlad Maharaj was never fearful

even he was to be dropped off from the cliff by his own father. He had firm faith in the eternal

shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet. Thus by the example of his grand-father, Bali Maharaj is

showing us the importance of surrendering unto the Lord under all circumstances.

We can see the classic example of Srila Prabhupada in the recent history who due to his

unlimited knowledge is still famous all over the world and exhibited complete fearlessness in

the material existence. He was fearless in preaching the Supreme Truth even to the extent of

calling the leaders of the ‘so-called’ society as rascals and animals. He is worshiped 24 hours

around the globe even though he has disappeared from this world 33 years before. Bali

Maharaj’s realization that surrendering everything to the Supreme Lord never goes in vain but

in actuality makes us gain unlimited knowledge, famous and fearless in material existence.

Everyone of us from the core of heart as devotee has to admit that we have the desire of

achieving these three things. Why not we surrender to the will of the Lord following the

footsteps of great Mahajanas like Prahlad Maharaj, Bali Maharaj and Srila Prabhupada?

Krishna willing we will look at the next verse spoken by Bali Maharaj in the ensuing mail on this

subject.

Thank you very much.

Your humble servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev,

Sajjanapriya Krishna das

Abudhabi.
 Power of Holy Names – Part 1 [granthraj]
BY
SARAVANA KUMAR PAULRAJ

– OCTOBER 2, 2010
DAILY SB/BG 02-October-2010 Saturday
MALA:9 BEAD:064

NITYAM BHAGAVATA SEVAYA SB 1. 2. 18

(Regularly reading/hearing Srimad Bhagavatam or Serving the pure Devotee)

Karma Yoga (Do Your Duty, Leave the result to Krsna) Great (easy to do)

Gnana Yoga Realising Self by controlling senses and mind Very Great (tough)

Bakthi Yoga Realising the Paramatma is Everything and Very Very Great
KC Surrender to Krishna is the Ultimate goal (very easy to do)

Following is a humble effort to transcribe one of the Bhagavatam classes given by our beloved

spiritual master Srila Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj on 8 July 1996 in Dubai.

Maharaj recites the below verse and devotees follow after him.

yaa nishaa sarva-bhutaanaam / tasyaam jaagarti samyami

yasyaam jaagrati bhutaani / saa nishaa pashyato muneh

"Simple lyric. Majority of verses in Bhagavad Gita are in this lyric. Now let us see the verse

6.2.8 from Srimad Bhagavatam

etenaiva hy aghono ‘sya / krtam syaad agha-nishkrtam

yadaa naaraayanaayeti / jagaada catur-aksharam

"The Vishnudutas continued: Even previously, while eating and at other times, this

Ajaamila would call his son, saying, "My dear Narayaṇa, please come here."

Although calling the name of his son, he nevertheless uttered the four syllables

naa-raa-ya-ṇa. Simply by chanting the name of Narayana in this way, he sufficiently

atoned for the sinful reactions of millions of lives."

To sing also, you should get into the verse. Otherwise you cannot sing nicely. Lets go to the

word-to-word equivalents.

etena - by this (chanting) – Many times we are asked why we should chant Hare Krishna

Mahamantra. Why not ‘Sree Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Ram’ etc. But I always tell that I am a

fool and when I went to my Guru Maharaj, he said that ‘You are completely duns. So you

simply chant the Mahamantra –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare.

‘ I just obeyed my spiritual master and continued chanting –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. Because I obeyed my spiritual master and chanted –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

, I became completely satisfied. So if you want to be happy please chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. By continuously chanting,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare
, you will be satisfied and then tell others to chant –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. They will be very blissful if they chant continuously. This is the way. There is no difference in

the names of Krishna. But this is the authoritative way given by Srila Prabhupada. So please

repeat

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. There is no wrong in repeating,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare /Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. It is good to obey Prabhupada and chant –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and if you obey him you will always chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama

Hare Hare

. Jai Srila Prabhupada ki Jai. (Gurudev is in complete bliss when he spoke the above words and

made everyone chant the Mahamantra multiple times).

This is how we should chew the words. We just took one word now – etena. Be peaceful. Do not

run. "Shaanta" – This is the main quality of Krishna. You know how much factories He is

running? The whole manifestation. Millions of factories. Not only material manifestation. But

much larger spiritual mainfestation. The whole thing is running on His energy. He is grazing the

cows. Can you imagine? A man with so many factories, going to graze the cows. No. That is the

difference between us and Him. We have limited capacity and He has unlimited capacity. If you

come to Krishna, you should be completely satisfied – completely shaanth. And as soon as you

are shaanth – you stop speaking about anything else. – ‘naanyam vadaami na shrunomi na

cintayaami‘ – See how correct is this? You will be shaanth. And as soon as you are shaanth and

you take a word, you will speak a book about it. Each shloka from Bhagavatam is whole
Bhagavatam. It is non-different. You don’t need to read the 18000 verses. No. Only one verse.

But you get into it and realise it. After realisation, you will develop the qualities of

Krishna and nothing will disturb you.

What is there in material problems? They are going to come anyway. Srila Prabhupada used to

tell a story – One man was waiting near the sea-coast. People asked him "what are you doing?"

He said, "I am waiting to take bath." People replied, "Then take bath. What are you waiting

for?" He said – "No. I am waiting for the waves to stop and then I will take bath". (Maharaj and

devotees laugh.) This way our material existence is like a ocean. Different waves are coming.

You cannot think or tell Krishna – "Wait. I will come after the wave stops." They are going to

come one after the other. It is nature of material existence. We have accepted the material

imprisonment. Janma mrtyu jaraa vyaadhi is there. And apart from this adhyaatmic,

adhibhautik and adhidaivik miseries are there. These seven problems – there is no remedy for

it. Is there any remedy for janma? Is there any remedy for death?You don’t wait for any

peaceful time in this existence. You will never have that. Please with all those

miserable waves, you continue with devotional service and then a time will come

when the waves will not affect you at all. That time we are waiting for. And please pass

on this culture to the younger ones and if you are able to do that successfully, then they will be

happy."

Krishna willing we will hear more nectar from Maharaj in the forthcoming mails.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,

Sudarshana devi dasi.