To those who are constantly devoted and worship me with power I give the understanding by which they can come to me.
 
We are reading this evening from chapter ten of Bhagvad-Gita.
 
In this verse Bhagvan Shree Krishna reveals specifically who he gives the proper understanding of the absolute truth. Anyone can say that I know Krishna or that I have seen Krishna. Especially here in India when our Guru Maharaj Shrila Prabhupad was preaching for many years pure massetive sanatan dharma in India he found that people were so much distracted by politics and the science and technology of the west that they have forgotten their own spiritual heritage. He was thinking that people of the West take to Krishna consciousness than the people of India may take it very serious. So in the early 70s any of us came to try to assist our Guru Maharaj. And one of the greatest wonders that we all found is almost everyone who try to deliver understanding of Bhagvad-Gita. They would also say I know Krishna, yes I know Krishna. I have seen Krishna. I have been hearing Gita and Mahabharat from my childhood I know Krishna. And some say that Krishna is in my heart, I do not need Guru, I do not sadhus, I do not need shasthra. But here Krishna explains, he only will be himself to who is constantly devoted and worships him. That means to have no material attachments. Bhishmadev explains that love means to be posed our own affection in one object. Krishna explains in the Gita that as long as one has a attachment with the objects of the senses in mind one cannot have real love. And in this verse Krishna is explaining that you cannot know him unless you love him. Krishna reveals himself to devotee who has Bhakti.
 
<___> sloka
 
Only true love and devotion is Krishna reveal himself as He is. Therefore Krishna explains,
 
Sloka
 
The real process of knowing Krishna and that is to become humble, to become very submissive, to accept that I do not know and to approach those who are properly authorized by the parampara system and humbly summit ourselves to hear from them to serve them. This is the proper process. In this world people are cultivated from their early childhood to be very proud. But in spiritual life we must learn how to be very submissive. Arjuna approached Krishna as one who new and therefore Krishna did not speak anything to him. When Arjuna admitted that I know nothing I am fool number one, then Krishna revealed all knowledge to him. So we should not take seriously any quality but humility and devotion in a spiritual process. We are not concerned simply how learned a man may be. Because great learning of the shashtra without humility and devotion is also profession. We do not take seriously attainment of great powers. Because we wait in the scriptures that even demons often have great powers. But humility and devotion are the real poverties of <___>. Detachment from selfish material aspirations and attachment to serving and glorifying Krishna. And it is described in Bhagvat that such rishis their feet are like boats that can carry us across the ocean of material <___>. How was that because they are always holding on to the feet of the supreme personality of godhead. We cannot reach Krishna’s feet directly. But if we can attach ourselves to the lotus feet of those who are completely attached to Krishna then the same affect is achieved. In fact better affect is achieved. Because Krishna explains
 
Sloka
 
Through devotion I can be known an among that I am more pleased with one who serves my devotee and I am pleased with one who serves me directly. In this world there are so many pitfalls to our spiritual progress. This world has been designed by the supreme personality of godhead in such way that those who are sincere who ever for ever make progress and those who are insincere will forever digress in bondage. There are many illusions and so many sufferings and so many temptations that will come into our life. If we are insincere they will take us away from Krishna. If we are sincere the more material energy presents temptations and obstacles the more we helplessly attach ourselves to the lotus of feet of god. Therefore for a person who is sincere about spiritual life the environment is always friendly. Whatever is happening is simply the merciful grace of the lord helping to call me closer to closer to him. But in order to have this vision we have to associate with people who have this vision. Shrila Prabhupad gave use example that during World War II the wives of the American shoulders and the wives of the German shoulders they all went to church while their husbands were in the battle field and prayed to god please bring my husband back in life. Try to understand how crazy these people are. Krishna explains in Gita “Sarvalomaheshwaram” that everything is my property. Everything should be used according to my direction and both of these armies are defending people with the type of ego that want to claim for pridership over what is god. The Americans are saying this is my country. They say in god we trust but this is my country. They trust them as long as he does not interfere. And the Germans at that time they were claiming not only the Germany was their country, but the whole world was meant to be their country. So both sides were refusing to accept the authority in the will of world. And there were fighting over stolen property. Thus like they have two feeds rob a bank and then a fight over who is the proprietor of the money. So they are fighting and they are killing each other and disobedience to the will of god and then are each praying god send my husband back. So of course on both sides many mend died, especially the German side, so the women became <___>. There were thinking what is use of this god. I prayed for my husband and I did not get my husband. This is not devotion. Certainly the nature of this world is there will be so many <___>. Everything is temporary. In fact it is said that this world is a place of death “mrityuloka”. But the devotee understands that whatever happens positive or negative it is all various ways in which Krishna is calling me back home back to god. If we take something negative we get a negative reaction if we see something positive we get a positive reaction. Everything in this world is dependent on our perception. Bhagavad-Gita teaches us how to proceed this world that every minute in such a way that we can progress our spiritual life. We can approach the truth. We are not these material bodies. These bodies are distend without question to old disease death and we burn. Whatever happens to this body it is just the way of this world. But the internal soul within this body that life force that gives light and consciousness to this body is eternal and part of Krishna. Therefore devotees must live according to the tendencies of the soul and by doing so we become purified. We can proceed everything according to Krishna’s will and our consciousness becomes perfect. Krishna reveals himself to he chooses and he is here and explaining who he chooses to reveal himself to. In this regard there is a beautiful story in Chaitanya Bhagvat. It is story of about a bhrahman who was on pilgrimage to all different holy places. And this bhrahman came to the house of Jagannath Mishra. At that time the supreme Lord Krishna who had incarnated as Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was living as a baby child in the house of Jagannath Mishra. Now this brahman he was constantly chanting six silible gopal mantra and he had a beautiful beauty of gopal and a shaligram shila and he would wear them in a cloth around his neck everywhere he would go. His body was their temple. We are building wonderful wonderful temples for our deity, but Krishna accepts whatever love and devotion is offered in whatever situation. This brahman pilgrim had no money he had no fixed place of residence, but he always kept the deity on his own body like a temple. So when he came to Jagannath Mishra’s house, it was seen that he had such pure and devotional poverties. So Jagannath Mishra washed his feet and treated him as a honored guest. And then he asked the Brahman “please let us arrange for your cocking of nice rice prasad today”. So the brahman said whatever you desire. So Jagannath Mishra cleaned the kitchen and brought nice ingredients of vegetables and rice and everything and asked the brahman to cook. So he began to cook very nicely and after the prasad the bhoga was prepared he began to sit in meditation and chant the mantra for Gopal to come and eat the food. Just when he was chanting the mantra little nemi that was Lord Chaitanya’s name at the time, he came up to the plate of food and he took handful of rice and he ate it. And the Brahman cried out “alas alas he has spoiled my offering”. Because as you know you cannot offer anything to Krishna that has first been eaten by anyone else. So everyone in the family looked on as little nemi was eating the rice. And then he ran away and Jagannath Mishra when chasing after him and the people of the house said “please he is only a baby child do not harm him”. He has ruined by guest’s offering. So the brahman was very humble. Nothing happens by chance in this world. This child has spoiled by offering because Krishna wants me to fast today. But Jagannath Mishra and the family members were thinking this is a great offense that you come to our home and you fast, you must cook again please. He said “no no, there is no need I will just take some fruit or whatever you have. No need to cock. Krishna does not want me to eat it is obvious”. But they fell at his feet and begged him please cook again. So Jagannath Mishra cleaned the whole kitchen all over again and brand new ingredients and put everything in order and the brahamn began to cook. Meanwhile Jagannath Mishra said “keep that nemi away from here.” Lock him up. But the lady said “ no no he is with us we will keep him”. So they took him to a separate little house and they were all playing with him. They were passing him from hand to hand and he was so beautiful with his lovely golden complexion that he was just charming their hearts. Nemi they said “how is that you are a brahman and you do not even know where this brahman is coming from by eating food from someone who do not know you can lose your cast. And little nemi said “what I am just a cowherd boy I always eat the offerings of brahman devotees. He was revealing to them who he was, but they loved him so much they could not understand his words. So he was speaking in such loving ways that he intoxicated everyone so much that he left them and they did not know he left. And meanwhile the brahman finished all of his cooking and he began to chant his Gopal mantra and right in front of his eyes there was nemi with the rice in his hand eating it. And he cried “alas alas again he has spoiled my offering”. And this time Jagannath Mishra picked up stick and began to run for nemi. Fathers are like this. Even the father of god. I is that god has father. Krishna says in Gita
 
Sloka
 
Krishna says “ I am the seed giving father of all living entities.” So is it possible that Ram’s father was Dashrath and his mother was Koushalya. Krishna was born of Devaki and Vasudev and later Nanda and Yashodati and Lord Chaitanya Sachidev and Jagannath Mishra were in the role of father. Because when the Lord comes to this world he wants to reveal the exchanges of love to everyone. The process of Bhakti to so powerful that Krishna takes a subordinate position to the love of his devotees. It is Krishna’s leela, Krishna’s pastime that he agrees to accept the role of someone’s child just to enjoy their parental love. So as Jagannath Mishra was chasing after littler nemi with stick nemi ran into a room and closed the door. How is this possible that god is afraid. It is said in Bhagvatam that fear personified is afraid of god. Even Yamaraj himself with folded hands fears the supreme lord Krishna.
 
Hari bola
 
<___> was thinking like this that the supreme lord who destroys all the cosmic manifestation by his mere will who was feared by even the greatest of the demigods is running away from other Yashodha out of fear. Again Krishna performs His wonderful pastimes just to give pleasure to His devotees. Because god is a person. In the ultimate sense god is not impersonal. The impersonal energy of the lord is only an amination from the absolute truth the cause of all causes Krishna who is a supreme person. He is Rasaraj that means He has always <___> to experience the eternal love of his devotees. So for this reason sometimes he becomes the servant of his devotee. Sometimes he cries for his devotees. Sometimes he is afraid of his devotees. This is his pastime of increasing the love of his devotees. After all which is a more intimate form of love, the love between a parent and a child or the lover between a master and a servant. In the western religions they only have the conception that god is the supreme lord and master and we are all his obedient servants. But Vedic literatures give us <___> to higher understandings of god. You can be his friend, you can be his parent, you can be his lover and Krishna arranges such relationships just to increase the facility to love him. This is Bhagvat philosophy. So nemi ran away and he was hiding in the room. Isn’t it wonderful. When we hear about god just destroying creation with thunder balls it is not very attractive. But when we hear about that same person with tears in his eyes trembling and fear running away from his father it is very attractive. Would you rather surrender to such a beautiful form of nemi pandit Krishna who was acting the same way in the house of Nand and Yashodha or surrender to that supreme lord who destroys and creates everything. Krishna reveals these divine pastimes of love just to attract our hearts back to him. So the brahman himself stopped Jagannath Mishra “please he is just a child he is not responsible for his behavior. “ But Jagannath Mishra “ I will teach lesion”. And all the members of the family said “Jagannath Mishra please please.” So he sat with his head down, he was so unhappy that his guest would have to fast. He pleaded please cook again. The brahman said “now it is confirmed Krishna wants me to fast today”. So everyone was very silent. And then Nemi’s brother Vishwaroop who was incineration of Balram entered the room. He was young boy but he was so beautiful and he was the embodiment of all good qualities and he fell at the feet of the brahman and when the brahman saw Vishwaroop’s beauty and good qualities his mouth dropped open and he began to cry. Who is the fortunate person that can have such a lovely and charming son. Vishwaroop explained “my dear brahman, we are so blessed that you have come our house. The whole world is blessed that you travel around. But please understand that we are the most unfortunate if you do not eat nice prasad in our house. And we will be most fortunate if you eat prasad in our house, “so please cook again”. The brahman said it is already after 1:30 in the morning this is not the time to be cooking prasad. Vishwaroop said it is never too late to cook prasad. So he was pleading with him. So the brahman said “yes one more time”. The Jagannath Mishra was very much afraid, about where is nemi. And the young lady said he is fast asleep there is nothing to fear. So the brahman began to cook and Jagannath Mishra was guarding the door with stick that nemi was sleeping in. And just when he completed his cooking by the Lord’s yogamaya potency everyone fell asleep and he began to chant his Gopal manthra calling the lord to come and accept the prasad, the bhoga. He closed his eyes in meditation and when he opened his eyes there was little nemi standing there with the food in his mouth. And he again cried out “alas alas the child has spoiled my offering again”. But at this time everyone was sleeping so nobody could hear. So little nemi was standing with the food in his hand coming and he said “my dear brahman you are calling me to eat and I come to eat and then you become angry what is this?”. You are calling my name and praying please accept this food and I come so why are you becoming so upset. I am that Gopal that you worship with such love and devotion and then right before the brahman’s eyes the little baby nemi transformed into his form of Krishna. This particular manifestation had eight arms. He had the four and four of his arms he had the symbols of Narayan the Kankchal, the Chakra the lotus and the club. And in two hands he was playing his <___>. And with two hands he had a part of butter and he was eating. And behind the beautiful form of Krishna which was headed wonderful blackish complexion lotus eyes and beautiful peacock feather. And wonderful faros flowers decorating his curling black hair and he had a beautiful vaijayantimala and <__>. And a wonderful wonderful dhothi that was yellow and brilliant like lightening and behind him were beautiful Kadamba trees and millions of cows and there were gopies and gopas all around. The whole abode of brindavan dhama was manifested before his eyes. The brahman weeping an ectatic love fell unconscious and when he came to consciousness the lord spoke to him. He said “you are my eternal devotee. Many years ago when the house of Nand Maharaj you also came the same way to cook prasad. And I stolled your offering then too in my form of Krishna. He said I be stow upon you Krishna prema. I am always obliged to fulfill the hearts desires of my devotees. But I order you do not tell anyone what you have seen until after I leave this world. Because Lord Chaitanya was in the role of a devotee to teach people by their example how to be a proper devotee of the lord. And how by tasting the sweetnector of the holy name. Everyone can achieve what we are reading in Bhagavd-Giita of constant devotion and love through the sincere chanting of the holy name of Krishna. This brahman was constantly chanting the name of Krishna. Krishna becomes out of his love subordinate to the love of that devotee who constantly chants his name. And certainly fulfills all the souls desires. So then nemi transformed himself again into his littler baby form and he ran back into the room and pretended to go to sleep. And the brahman was in such <___> he could not control himself. With tears flowing like the river gangues from his eyes he began to take all the rice and smeared all over his body. And he was just crying out very loudly the names of the lord and in this way he woke everyone up. So they all came running they said “what happened what happened?” he said all remembered he is not allowed to tell. He said “nothing happened I am just eating my prasad.” The prasad he was throwing at everyone he was in such <___>. He said this time it was myself and no problems. But that brahman he decided to never leave Navadveep. He stayed in that holy abode and everyday he would go begging but everyday he would come to see the beautiful form of his lord. And he was thinking that the parents the other people of Navadveep they do not know that he is a supreme personality of godhead. If only I could tell them how fortunate they are, but he kept it a secret. And this secrete was very important. Although the scripture is again and again explained how Lord Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the yuga avatar in this age of kali. He wanted to take the role of a devotee to teach us how to live according to these principles of Gita. Krishna explains all the truths of Gita. But in this age of Kali hardly anyone is able to <___> the real essence of what Gita is trying to say. Because this is an age of a religion. Krishna explains
 
Solka
 
A band and all verities of religion and just surrender to me. And Krishna explains how to surrender to him.
 
Sloka
 
So always think of me to become my devotee to worship and offer your homage to me. In this way you will come to me without fail. But today even the greatest scholars of the Gita they interpret the slokas to mean something completely different. Their conclusions are that Gita teaches gyan. Ability to discriminate and analyze material nature and what is brahman. Or they have some impersonal conclusion that by studying Gita you can become god. Or they teach that work is worship. You just work honestly and that is Gita. There are so many innumerable every commentator of the Gita has his own explanation of what is Gita. But nobody cares to understand what Krishna’s opinion is.
 
Sloka
 
Krishna tells Arjuna “only my devotees can understand what is Gita”. So therefore although Krishna spoke the most perfect scripture and all the creation the world could not understand what he meant. So out of his supreme most mercy he incarnated to showed by his example what he has already spoken. How to surrender to Krishna, how to perfect our life and become detached from material enjoyment. How to always remember Krishna and the process he gave was through the chanting of the holy name.
 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
 
 
In this way Lord Chaitanya personally went into the streets and invited everyone to chant the holy names. And through his representatives his devotees his divine mercy formation continues even today. In this way he was very careful only to reveal that he was Krishna to a few chosen persons. If others would find out that he was Krishna and call him god he would hold his ears and say “Vishnu Vishnu please no Jivatma can ever become god.” One time Lord Chaitanya was walking through the beautiful abode of Navadveep and he saw a beautiful a parrot on a tree and seeing the parrot on the tree he immediately began to remember Brindavan Dham. So with great love he turned to the parrot and he said “please my dear parrot chant the holy names of Radha and Krishna.” And the parrot began to chant very loudly “gora gora gora gora gora gora” and lord Chaitanya held his ears “what is this my dear parrot I am humbly requesting you to chant the holy names of Radhna and Krishna, Radha and Krishna the supreme personality of godhead. The eternal bode and eternal destination of all sincere souls please satisfy my heart by chanting the glories of Radha and Krishna and the parrot responded with great tribulation “gora gora gora gora gora gora” <___> name of Lord chaitanya because he had a beautiful golden complexion he was known as “Goranaga” or gora. Lord Chaitanya was very much impressed “I am <___> to hear the glories of Radha and Krishna please please sing the glories and the names the Radha and Krishna and the parrot with great devotion loudly cried out. “gora gora gora gora gora gora” and Lord Chaitanya feeling very much broken hearted not hearing the Radha and Krishna’s glories he asked “why? Why you are doing like this?” so the parrot began to speak he said that Radha and Krishna have both come in the one form of you my lord Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I know quite well that Krishna wanting to taste the sweetness of Radha Rani’s love has appeared with the loving sentiments and the golden complexion of Shree Mridhwa Radharani
 
Sloka
 
That Radha and Krishna have combined into the one form of Shree Gorangamaha. Therefore you are Radha and Krishna therefore I will eternally glorify your holy name” gora gora gora gora gora gora”. So this Krishna consciousness movement is the movement of Lord Chaitanya. It is the practical method by which Krishna is teaching as by his example how to live our life according to the ultimate goal of Bhagavad-Gita and it is very simple. Lord Chaitanya taught a process which is Keval Anadkanda. It is simply joyful to transcend all of the illusions of this bodily concept of life. We simply must remember Krishna. And learn how to serve Krishna in all our end averse. Whatever we do should be an offering to Krishna. This consciousness naturally awakens if we associate with Krishna’s devotees. We learn how to make our home a temple of Krishna. We make our intimate friends devotees of Krishna. We offer our food and take the prasad. We live very pure and simple lives. No illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling, no <___>. These activities incriminate a disease of illusion. If we simply avoid sinful activities have nice satsang with devotees here the glories of the lord and chant his holy names we can become perfect followers of the Bhagavad-Gita. What is ordinarily so difficult to attain Lord Chaitanya has made it easy and joyful. In some Ashrams people are sitting fasting trying to control their mind and senses in silent meditation. But the mind and senses are so powerful in Kaliyuga that shashtra say you cannot succeed by this process. But when you come to Shree Shree Radhagokulnanda’s temple you see everyone smiling, dancing, and loudly with great happiness chanting the holy name
 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
 
Hearing nice philosophy and nice pastimes of lord and taking wonderful prasad, but this process is the most powerful way of awakening our pure consciousness. Therefore shashtra says
 
Sloka
 
That an other ages and other methods were very good, but at this age of kali the chanting of the name of Hari is the only means of salvation. There is no other way, no other way or other way. And we see how these little children they love to chant and even the old old grandmothers and great grandfathers they love to chant. We have educated young students very intelligent scrutinizing our philosophy and they are dancing and chanting and we have nice ladies and housewives and they are also dancing and chanting. And we have hardworking businessman and government servants and farmers they are all chanting and dancing. In the kirtana of the holy name there is no longer differences to do our physical or social conditions. We all become one in spirit, the spirit of love and devotion. The Hari nama <___> movement is only means to raise the consciousness above all sectarian barriers. Here in India today there is so much fighting between casts, fighting between rich and poor, and fighting between men and women and old and young. None only India, but everywhere. And the United Nations and so many <___> social organizations have tried to relieve this great conflict, but none of them have made any success. Even within family there are so many differences. In America which is the direction India is going socially. In America every bedroom of every house has to have its own television. Every family member must have his own television. Because there are so many television shows and nobody wants to watch the same one. There was only one or two televisions everyone would be at they would hate each other. There would be a bitter war fair over which show to watch. So to keep peace you just put a television in every room and everyone is in their rooms trying to enjoy. And there is not even any real association with each other. The young are suspicious of the old and the old think that young are basically useless and they do not know anything. That is what in family what to speak amongst families, what to speak amongst nations. So much of hypocrisy . This is age of Kali Hari Om
 
Sloka
 
This age of Kaliyuga is full of so many false, but there is one and only one blessing in this age of kali. Everything else about the age we are living is a cruise, accept the supreme blessing at anyone who sincerely chants the holy name of Krishna and achieve the perfection of liberation.
 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
 
So we find here tonight people from Australia, people from America, children, babies people of all different casts, all different social groups, people from different states, rich poor everyone is together not thinking about any of these mandain designations. Everyone is simply thinking that we are all the eternal servants of Krishna. We have come to dance, to chant and to take prasad together. And in this way to perfect our lives. One time our Guru Maharaj his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Prabhupad was at a sadhu sammeliya here in India where so many big big Gurus and Sadhus and acharajanas of different lines there were all on a stage giving talks and there were thousands of people and the audions and everyone was assign 5 minutes, but you know what happens when you give up sadhu 5 minutes. Their 5 minutes is not according to clocks. They all feel that we have the best philosophy so what is use of anyone else speaks except me. So each one was speaking long long philosophy and the people and audions were becoming like some of you tonight. Very sleepy, sleepy and bored and one sadhu another next another next another next and the people were ended thinking when will this end. It is not polite to get up and walk out. So Shrila Prabhupad was the most famous of all sadhus that was to speak. He had traveled all around the world and spread sanathan dharma what nobody else had done and he had so many of his disciples so when it came to Shrila Prabhupad’s turn to speak he just had his devotees distribute puris and sugar. So then it is told everyone get up and dance and chant. He told everyone I am sure you are all tired of hearing philosophy just get up and start dancing and chanting and kirtana. Everyone began to chant the holy name
 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
 
Shrila Prabhupad explained to everyone very quickly “in this age of Kaliyuga nobody understands philosophy much. But everyone understands chanting dancing prasad. So after the Kirtana that was end of the program. And there were dozens were great great yogis gurus and sadhus on the stage and everyone was coming to take the dust from the Prabhupad’s lotus feet. Because he gave them Krishna so let us chant and be happy. So this wonderful temple it is very simple but it is actually the most opulent and wealthy place in all of Belgaum. Perhaps in all the world because the real wealth is devotion. It is a simple place, but it is place where the people come for only one reason. People do not come here to show how nice their jewelry is or how nice their car is or how many academic degrees they have. People do not come here for any reason except to glorify Krishna and to awaken their devotion to Krishna. This is place where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhus mercy prevails. Of course Lord Chaitanya’s philosophy is the deepest most profound and precise philosophy in all the world, but its combination is so simple, chant and be happy. So please regularly come to this wonderful temple associate with devotees here wonderful philosophy take these books Shrila Prabhupad they are priceless they transform your life and the life of all your family and friends. Take these books and read them carefully. And come here regularly be with devotees and perform the Yugadham chanting of the holy names.
 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
 
All the pleasure and bless that the so longs for can be attained by simply learning to properly chant Krishna’s holy names. So I think everyone would like to chant Krishna’s holy names. Hari bol Hari bol.