Peace Formula 1

‘Essence of Bhagavad-gita’ series, Course - 3

‘Self Manager’
(also ‘Basics of Bhagavad gita’)
This course teaches the art of not only managing men, machine,
material, market and money, but managing ones own life by a holistic
approach that combines knowledge of God’s position and practical
application of mantra meditation.

Course 1 : ‘Spiritual Scientist’ (‘Discover your self’)

Course 2: ‘Positive Thinker’ (‘Spirit of Bhagavad gita’)
Course 3 : ‘Self Manager’ (‘Basics of Bhagavad gita’)
Course 4: ‘Proactive Leader’ (‘Secret of Bhagavad gita’)
Course 5: ‘Personality development’ (‘Essence of Bhagavad gita’)

Compiled by: Radheshyam Das, M.Tech., IIT Mumbai

Rekindling Wisdom, Reviving Love

Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE)

ISKCON, 4, Tarapore Road, Pune-1,
Phone: (020) 2633 2328, 2636 1855,
Email: books@voicepune.com, iyfpune@vsnl.com
For audio lectures on topics of this book, please visit us on our websites:
http://BACELectures.com, www.VOICELectures.com
2 Peace Formula

Readers interested in the subject matter of this book are invited by the Vedic Oasis for
Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE) to correspond with our Secretary or Sales Manager
at the following address:
Sales Manager: Krishnakishore das
A-102, Bharati Vihar, Katraj, Pune – 411 046
Phone: +91-020-24306330
Email: krishnakishoredas@gmail.com
Web: www.iskconpune.com
Edited by: Chaitanya Charan das, Bamsigopal das, Haresh Daswani, Krishnan, kundananda das

Cover design by: Jagannath Kirtan das

First Printing: July 2007 / 2000 copies

© 2005, Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE), Pune
All rights reserved.
VOICE Pune expresses its gratitude to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) for the use of verses, purports
and pictures from the books of Srila Prabhupada. All such verses, purports and pictures are © BBT.
Radheshyam das: Radheshyam das brahmacari finished his M.Tech. from IIT, Powai, Bombay
and joined Thermax as a Senior Design Executive. His Krishna consciousness was awakened
by the inspiration of His Grace Devamrita prabhu, his siksha guru and His Holiness Radhanath
swami who initiated him in 1993. The following year he joined ISKCON as a fulltime celibate at
ISKCON, Chowpatty temple for preaching the sublime message of Bhagavad-gita, and was
subsequently deputed to preach at Pune. He began the Youth Forum in Pune in 1996, which
later took shape as in Pune and many other parts of India. His main focus is preaching to youth
and children, and publishing books and notes materials for the preachers of Krishna
consciousness. He was conferred by ISKCON the ‘Global Excellency’ award in 2004 for youth
preaching and ‘Jiva Goswami’ award in 2005 for innovative youth preaching. Besides preaching
at Pune, he travels to oversee the VOICEs at IITKGP, ITBHU-Varanasi, NIT Warrangal, NIT
Suratkal, NIT Jamshedpur, etc. Currently he is the President of ISKCON, Pune and the Director
of VOICE, Pune. This book is a result of his ripe experience in preaching, counseling and guiding
people in Krishna consciousness over a decade.

Cover Page: It is concluded in Bhagavad-gita itself that, “Wherever there is Shri Krishna, the
master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly
be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.” Also it is said, ‘jayas tu Pandu putranam
yesham pakshe Janardhana’ - ‘All victory will go to the Pandavas on whose side the Supreme
Lord Krishna is personally present’. We wish all our readers opulence, victory, extraordinary
power and morality in their lives by reading and applying this book. The back cover of the book
shows a sample of readers and users of the book. Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of
ISKCON is the exponent who presented Krishna conscious knowledge for the suffering
people of Kaliyuga. Thus if the reader finds Krishna consciousness awakened in his or
her heart by reading this book, all glory should be given to Srila Prabhupada.

Published by Radheshyam das, Director, VOICE, Pune. Ph: 2633 2328

 Peace Formula 3

For whom is this book meant?

& For housewives, it is a homestudy course.

& For Youth Forum boys, to be used in weekend meets.
& For Youth Forum girls, to be used in weekend meets.
& For preachers who want to conduct Bhaktivriksha.
& For students or corporate executives who would like to start a ‘Bhagavad-gita
study circle’, or ‘Bhagavad-gita club’, in hostels, companies, housing society, etc.
& For parents, to learn the basics of Hindu religion or Sanatana Dharma, and teach
their children convincingly.
& For Principals of schools or Colleges, to organize weekly classes and invite
students who voluntarily show interest in Personality development and Character
build-up.
& For Temple Presidents, Congregation Leaders and Counselors who want to set up
two one-year Courses in the temple for training the brahmacaris, or congregation
members, before recommending them for first initiation.
& For anybody above 13 years of age, who sincerely wants to know the meaning of
life and obtain knowledge of God, our relationship to God, and our duty towards
Him.

Note : In the past, we have been calling our different groups as BACE (Bhaktivedanta
Academy for Culture and Education). We have recently renamed it as VOICE (Vedic Oasis for
Inspiration, Culture and Education). In future we will be calling our different wings as Boys
VOICE, Girls VOICE, Childrens VOICE, Corporate VOICE, Young couples VOICE, Senior
citizens VOICE etc. This is done for simple understanding of anyone. A detailed note is given in
the Appendix.
4 Peace Formula

Acknowledgements
My first salutations at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Holiness Radhanath
Swami Maharaj and to my grand spiritual master, Founder Acharya of ISKCON, His
Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, for their blessings, inspiration and
empowerment, without which I would have had no substance in my life. Their mercy has
opened my eyes of knowledge and brought me out of the dark region of multiple
philosophies, contradictions, arguments and opinions, and placed me on the path of
unmotivated loving devotional service to the lotus feet of Shri, Shri Radha Kunjabihariji.
I have compiled this book only to show the lucidity, clarity, and beauty of their teachings
coming directly from Lord Shri Krishna in the authorized disciplic succession of
Brahma–Madhva–Gaudiya sampradaya. My respects are also to my siksha gurus – His
Grace Devamrita prabhu, His Grace Radha Gopinath prabhu, His Grace Shyamananda
prabhu, His Grace Govinda prabhu, His Grace Rasaraja prabhu, His Grace Mukunda
Madhava prabhu, and His Grace Kapila prabhu, from whose lectures I have obtained
much of the valuable information that I have presented in this book. My special respects
are to His Holiness Gopalakrishna Goswami, His Holiness Lokanath Swami, His
Holiness Bhaktiswarupa Damodar Swami, His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami, His Holiness
Romapada Swami, His Holiness Bhaktivikas Swami, His Holiness Bhakticaru Swami,
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, His Holiness Mahanidhi Swami, His Hoiness Radha
Govinda Swami, His Holiness Navayogendra Swami, His Holiness Sukadeva Goswami,
His Holiness Vedavyaspriya Swami, His Holiness Bhakti Purushottam Swami, Jananivas
prabhu, and Krishnasmarana prabhu, whose constant encouragement in my preaching
activities inspired me to come up with this publication. Any credit given for this
compilation should be given to all these personalities, since I have but just repeated, like
a child, what I have learnt and assimilated from them.

This book is aims-driven and focused on teaching the concepts through groupwork,
quizzes, dramas, comprehension writing, etc. The credit for this goes to my teachers His
Grace Rasamandala prabhu and His Grace Atul Krishna prabhu, who taught me at
Teachers Training Courses (TTC1, TTC2 and Bhakti Sastri TTC), and whose teaching
completely changed my outlook to learning. I thank His Grace Janmashtami prabhu who
organizes these courses at Shri Mayapur dham.

The book has come out successfully by the sincere efforts of many devotees. Hard
working Bhakta Satish has conceived and designed the fascinating cover page. Bhakta
Hitesh, Her grace Radhika mataji and Her grace Radhapadadhuli mataji have contributed
photos to the cover page. Special thanks are due to Jagannathkirtan prabhu, Bhakta
Arulnath, and Sankirtan Anand prabhu for their unflinching dedication in bringing out
this book by doing all the taxing computer work. Chaitanya Charan prabhu, Bamsigopal
prabhu, Bhakta Haresh, and Mukundananda prabhu deserve special appreciation for their
 Peace Formula 5

valuable proofreading and editing. I express my gratitude to Sundari mataji,

Shrivatsachandra prabhu and Vaishali mataji who gave ideas for improving the book.
My special thanks to Shriman Ramnath Lakshman for his kind contribution in bringing
out this book. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to the many other devotees to whom I
could not pay personal attention and who tolerated me in my busy schedules of preparing
the book. My gratitude to Dr. Jitendra Arya and his ‘Institute of Nature Cure and Yogic
Sciences’, where he offered me a serene atmosphere in the mode of goodness for
completing this work.

Radheshyam Das,
VOICE, Pune.
6 Peace Formula

Introduction
In modern days, people have very little time for joining spiritual courses. When I had
released ‘Essence of Bhagavad gita’ as a jumbosize book, many preachers had difficulty
enrolling candidates for a year-long course. Keeping this in mind, I have now made it
into five small courses. Hope this idea will help preachers set up short-term courses that
will attract hundreds of candidates. Each course has a ‘material name’ and a ‘spirtiual
name’. Thus the participants will be awarded two certificates upon completion of each
course, that they can use in material and spiritual circles.

The Vedic texts are the panacea for all problems, for all times. They give a crystal clear
understanding of all the fundamental and essential truths of life including who we are,
what the true goal of life is, and how we can attain permanent happiness.

The books published earlier were meant for engineering college students. The
congregation, however, always felt a need for a simpler book that would present the
teachings of Srila Prabhupada with simple examples, stories and illustrations. This book
addresses the need of the Congregation devotees as well as the Youth preachers. (The
preacher could make the audience sit in a circle and speak after asking one of them to
read a para; expert preachers may prepare charts, slides or go for interactive discussions
on the themes covered in the book).

For the past several years, the congregation devotees at Pune have been feeling a need for
systematic courses to train and educate them in Siddhanta (philosophy), Sadhana
(regulated spiritual practice), Sadachar (etiquette and behavior) and Seva (devotional
service). To meet those needs we have come up with this course book after referring to
VTE (Vaishnava Training and Education) manual’s approach and MTE (Manor Training
and Education) manual, London, which have thoroughly researched from Srila
Prabhupada’s books on the most essential items to be learnt by a beginner. We have also
referred to VOICE, Pune, syllabus used for training youth over several years now.
We were always looking for some method of evaluation in recommending people for
Diksha or Initiation. When one conducts an interview to evaluate fitness of a candidate
for the first initiation, both the candidate and the interviewer are perplexed. The
candidate is afraid of the interview as to what will be asked? And the interviewer is not
completely sure whether the candidate, who appears to be an average candidate, can be
sent at this stage for initiation. Offering courses like in this book will ensure that the
candidate has been undergoing training for a year or two that he/she has digested the
philosophy over a period of time, and is applying Vaishnava etiquette in everyday life.
Thus, the selection of candidate by President, or the authorities, becomes easy. Those
who do not want to undergo the course, owing to time constraints, etc., but want to go for
 Peace Formula 7

initiation, could be asked to fulfill the basic criteria of Quiz submission, giving the
required Written Tests for these courses and completing the basic requirements.

The preachers, in their respective areas or temples, could invite youths and the
congregation to join the BHAGAVAD-GITA STUDY CIRCLE that can operate once a
week, on a Saturday or Sunday, or a day convenient to the majority of participants. It is
basically a ‘Bhakti Vriksha’ type of group, but using the name ‘BHAGAVAD-GITA
STUDY CIRCLE’ is more appealing to the new people. If youth feel that ‘Bhagavad-
gita’ name may put off the newcomer youths, they could call it as ‘SPIRITUAL
SCIENTISTS STUDY CIRCLE’. The subject most appreciated by great spiritual
scientists like Einstein, Openheimer, etc., is Bhagavad-gita.

Sometimes the facilitation part in ‘Bhakti Vriksha’ meetings becomes a great challenge
for a new preacher who has not yet developed confidence in the philosophy of Krishna
consciousness. This book gradually and systematically develops the subject of
Bhagavad-gita philosophy.

This book has to be used along with ‘Bhagavad-gita As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada, as the
reader will need it for the ‘slokas for memorization’ section, as well as ‘Bhagavad-gita
As It Is Quiz’ section, and to refer to the sloka references given in the lessons marked
with letters ‘BG’.
This book is a crash course on our five-volume edition, ‘Spirituality for Modern Youth’
consisting of: ‘Discover Your Self’, ‘Your Best Friend’, ‘Your Secret Journey’, ‘Victory
over Death’, and ‘Yoga of Love’. As these books are exhaustive, many preachers may
feel that it takes several years to complete them. The teacher could use the above series
as reference books, while the student could use the ‘Essence of Bhagavad-gita’ book for
study and reference.

For ‘Sadhana and Sadachar’ (‘Devotional practice’ and ‘Vaishnava etiquette and
behavior’), we have given the syllabus and reference books. Thus the teacher could
conduct these courses on philosophy blended with practical Vaishnava behavior, to
ensure that the students’ knowledge does not remain theoretical, but is practically applied
and digested.
There are quizzes at the end of each lesson in this book. There are also quizzes based on
‘Bhagavad-gita As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada. This is to ensure that the student gets the
advantage of Prabhupada vani.
About a decade ago, we had brought out a book with the same title for a six-session
course on ‘Essence of Bhagavad-gita’. This book is more exhaustive so as to help
preachers conduct courses for a period of one to two years. One could also pick some of
the titles to give a six-session course.
8 Peace Formula

We will consider our humble efforts successful if this endeavor can assist in fulfilling the
pure desire of our acharyas to flood the entire world with Krishna consciousness.

Radheshyam Das
Director, Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE), Pune
President, ISKCON, Pune.
 Peace Formula 9

Essence of Bhagavad gita

Five short-term Certificate courses
Through Weekly Study Circle

Course books:
1. ‘Essence of Bhagavad-gita’ five courses series, for ‘Siddhanta’ or philosophy
2. Vaishnava Etiquette Manual published by ISKCON, Shri Shri Radha Gopinath
mandir, Near Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 7, K.M.Munshi marg, Chowpatty, Mumbai-
400007 Phone: (022) 2369 7228, rgsevaka@vsnl.net
3. ‘Devotional Practice’ and ‘Vaishnava Culture’, Introductory Course Student
Handbook, Contact: Sita Rama prabhu, Bhaktivedanta Manor, Hilfield Lane,
Aldenham, Watford WD25 8EZ, U.K.

I. Spiritual scientist (Discover Your Self )

Duration: 3 weeks, weekly twice

The course helps one to scientifically discover one’s real identity and one’s
relationship with the Supreme. A material scientist knows only the atom; a spiritual
scientist knows the soul, which is spiritual. This knowledge helps him find goal,
mission and vision of life.
.

1. Introduction to Bhagavad gita Sadhana and Sadachar

2. Material problems, Spiritual solutions topics
3. Getting the eyes of Knowledge
4. Vedas – the privelege of Humanity --------- NIL ------------
5. Science of Soul
6. Different platforms of Worship

II. Positive Thinker (Spirit of Bhagavad gita)

Duration: 4 months, weekly once

This course helps one with the Positive spirit needed to tap the powerful message of
Gita. It helps one to identify a divine guide in your life and to obtain the necessary
qualifications to become a cheerful positive thinker in life by knowing the sublime
truths.

Sadhana and Sadachar topics

1. Identifying my divine guide 1. Practical Devotional Service
2. Spirit of Bhagavad gita 2. Etiquette within the Temple
3. Qualifications of an ideal Disciple 3. Habits and Behavior
4. Reincarnation – fact or fiction? 4. Four Regulative Principles
5. Evolving towards Perfection 5. The Four Don’ts to Freedom
10 Peace Formula

III. Self Manager (Basics of Bhagavad gita)

Duration: 6 months, weekly once

This course teaches the art of not only managing men, machine, material, market
and money, but managing ones own life by a holistic approach that combines
knowledge of God’s position and practical application of mantra meditation.
Sadhana and Sadachar topics
1. Peace Formula 1.Hearing and Chanting
2. Who should be the object of my worship? 2.Deity Worship
3. God and gods 3.Tulasi Worship
4. Is God Personal or impersonal ? 4.Learning Meaning of Morning
program Songs
5. The Art of Self Management 5.Holy Days
6.Serving and Honoring Prasadam
7.Dress and Appearance
8.Missionary Activities
9.Dealing with Parents, Relatives
and Friends

IV. Proactive Leader (Secret of Bhagavad gita)

Duration: 6 months, weekly once

This course prepares one to become a Proactive Leader. All of us at some moments
or the other, become victims to anger, lust and pride and feel sorry for our un-
exemplary behaviour. The Proactive Leader is a thoughtful person who gives a
positive spiritual response, by knowing what is illusion opposed to reality and the
resultant effects of all types of action.

1. The three ropes that bind us Sadhana and Sadachar topics :

2. Surpassing Maya 1. ISKCON’s Cultural Identity and its
3. Our lost home – Kingdom of God connection to the Vedas
4. Karma – the law of infallible justice 2. Varnasrama Dharma
3. Ethics and Morality
4. Sadhana
5. Position of women in Vedic culture
6. Relating to Devotees with Due
Respect

V. Personality Development (Essence of Bhagavad gita)

Duration: 6 months, weekly once

Personality development is not a superficial change. We are generally covered over

superficially by our acquired qualities like Experiences, Abilities, Memories, Learning,
Habits and Beliefs etc. But the innate qualities of the soul like Peace, Love, Truth,
 Peace Formula 11

Happiness, Humility, Tolerance are hidden. When we awaken the innate qualities of
the soul, they come out in the 4 R’s of our life-- in the various Roles that we have to
play, the different Routines that we go through, the Responsibilities we have to
shoulder, and the various Relationships that we care for. The innate qualities are
brought out when one’s personality is truly developed.

1. Essence of Bhagavad gita

2. Creation and Universal Time Sadhana and Sadachar topics :
3. Different types of Yoga system
1. Relating to Seniors, Juniors and
4. Practical Application of Bhagavad gita
Peers
5. Passing the Final Exam
2. Three levels of Devotees
3. Dealings with Guests
4. Offenses to the Vaishnava
5. Twenty-six Qualities of a Devotee

Bhagavad-gita
‘Slokas for Memorization’ Syllabus

Self Manager(Basics of Bhagavad gita) Sloka numbers from

Bhagavad-gita As It Is
Chapter Headings
5.29, 5.12, 16.11, 16.12,
1. Peace Formula 16.21, 9.26, 2.59,2.61-63,
2.69, 9.27, 12.6, 12.7

2. Who should be the object of my Worship? 4.7, 7.16, 7.19

3. God and gods 9.21, 9.22, 10.2

2.12, 4.10, 4.11, 9.4, 9.5,

4. Is God Personal or impersonal?
7.7, 7.24, 12.1, 12.2, 12.5

2.56-72, 3.34, 3.42, 5.22,

5. Art of Self management
6.17, 17.8-10

Method of Evaluation and Reward

1) The marking will be done as follows :

12 Peace Formula

50% weightage for the marks obtained from EBG Course Quiz, BG As It Is Quiz,
Story Quiz, etc.

30% weightage for the Final Exam

20% for Practical lifestyle and behavior, Attendance, Punctuality and

Participation in the weekly classes

2) Certificates could be issued based on the following criteria:

Passing marks : 60%,
Distinction : 80% and above
Honors : 90% and above,
High Honors : 95% and above

Candidates who get 60% and above will receive a Certificate of Recognition.

CONTENTS

Course Syllabus and Slokas for Memorization

Ch. No. Name of Chapter Pg. No.

1 Peace Formula 1
2 Who should be the object of my worship? 35
3 God and gods 63
4 Is God Personal or impersonal? 93
5 Art of Self Management 125
Appendices 167
 Peace Formula 13

Chapter 1

Peace Formula

Chapter Contents
14 Peace Formula

Sr. No. Contents Page No.

The Cause of Unhappiness and Lack of Peace 3
Life in the material world is full of suffering 3
1
Even the heavenly planets are not free from suffering 4
Root cause of our suffering 4

The World of Mirth and Merry 5

2 Story: ‘All that glitters is not gold’ 5
Story: ‘Return of the Prodigal son’ 6
Is The Ambition for Peace and Happiness Wrong?
Proper and bogus Renunciation (Yukta vairagya 8
and Phalgu vairagya) 8
Story: Bhogi, Tyagi and Bhakta
Story: Phalgu vairagi 9
3
Panca tantra Story: 9
‘When the senses go on strike’ 10
Seeking Happiness selfishly through wealth and 10
Resources 11
Seeking Happiness selfishly through sense gratification
Key to Peace and Happiness 13
Path of avidya, advancement in material knowledge 14
4
Culture of vidya, advancement in spiritual knowledge 14
Story: Remove the cataract in the eye, not the eye 14

5 Religion Without Philosophy is Sentimentalism 15

6 Philosophy Without Religion is Mental Speculation 16

The Three-point Peace Formula 17

If God created everything, then who created God? 17
7 God: The Supreme Controller 17
God: The Supreme Proprietor 18
God: The Supreme Enjoyer 20
Individual or GD Task:
21
Learning about Peace Formula
8
Story:
21
‘Akshaya patra’ - ‘The Magic Perennial Food Bowl’

9 Pleasing the Lord leads to Prosperity 24

10 The Secret of Peace and Everlasting happiness 25

 Peace Formula 15

Peace Formula
bhoktäraà yajïa-tapasäà sarva-loka-maheçvaram
suhådaà sarva-bhütänäà jïätvä mäà çäntim åcchati

“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.” [BG 5.29]
* * * *
The Cause of Unhappiness and Lack of Peace

Actually we are all spirit souls and are intended to associate with God in the spiritual sky where there are
innumerable spiritual planets and innumerable spiritual living entities. However, those who are not fit to live
in that spiritual world are sent to this material world. In his Paradise Lost, Milton expresses this very idea.
Although spirit soul, we have voluntarily accepted this material body, and by accepting it, have also accepted
the threefold miseries of material nature.

Life in the material world is full of suffering

Animals cannot understand that they are suffering, but human beings can. One who does not know that he is
suffering is in animal consciousness. Animals may be standing behind a fence to be slaughtered, but they do
not understand this. As human beings, we should be aware of the fact that we are suffering the pains of
birth, old age, disease and death, and we should be inquisitive to know how to avoid these miseries. We
have been suffering from the beginning of our birth when, as a baby, we were tightly placed for nine months
in the womb of our mother. After birth, suffering continues; although a mother may take much care for her
child, the baby still cries. Why? Because he is suffering. Either a bug is biting the baby, or there is pain in the
stomach, or there is some other malady. Whatever may be the case, the suffering goes on. The child also
suffers when he is forced to go to school even though he does not want to. The child does not want to study,
but the teacher gives him tasks anyway. If we carefully analyze our lives, we will find that life is full of
suffering.

A ‘conditioned’ soul is one who is under the influence of maya, which makes him forgetfully think, “I am this
body. This house is mine. These family members, relatives and friends are my everything.” He has
forgotten the fact that he is a spirit soul, eternal servant of God, fallen from the spiritual world. Generally
speaking, conditioned souls are not very intelligent, and therefore they go on suffering without ever inquiring
about the root cause of suffering. If there is a remedy from(for) all suffering, then why should we not take
advantage of it?

Even the heavenly planets are not free from suffering

Every living being desires the topmost level of enjoyment in this material world, and yet everyone is unhappy
here. Within the material world, there are fourteen planetary systems classified as higher, middle and lower
planetary systems. This unhappiness is present even on all the higher heavenly planets, despite longer life
span and higher standards of enjoyment and comfort over there [BG 8.16]. Thus nowhere in the material
world can one avoid the sufferings arising from material nature. In a ‘pustakalaya’ you see books
everywhere, in the ‘Himalaya’ you see ‘hima’ or snow everywhere. Shri Krishna calls the material world
‘dukha alaya’ meaning ‘a place where you find suffering everywhere’, and ‘ashasvata’ meaning ‘temporary’.

Root cause of our suffering

16 Peace Formula

The reason for this suffering is that the spirit soul, being spiritual in nature, can relish spiritual pleasure only
in the service of God. But now he is trying to squeeze out happiness from the material body and material
activities, because he wrongly thinks, “I am this material body; material objects like money, opposite sex,
gold, vast land or property, position, power, control over others, etc., will make me happy.”
The soul cannot get happiness by exploiting material energy, nor by exploiting other living beings, who are
the Lord’s spiritual energy. One energy (soul) cannot enjoy another energy (matter or other souls). Only the
Energetic Lord can truly enjoy; we are only co-operators in His enjoyment, not His competitors, nor
independent enjoyers. When we cooperate in the Lord’s enjoyment, then we automatically achieve unlimited
happiness.

Unfortunately, the living being is trying vainly to obtain his enjoyment from the foreign atmosphere of material
nature. For example, a cricket bat is meant for hitting a ball and a spoon is meant for eating food with. If
one wants to eat food with a cricket bat, he may do so by applying some glue to the end of the bat, try to
pickup the food with the bat and eat it; in the process he may only break his teeth. On the other hand, if one
plays cricket with a spoon instead of a bat, one may sprain his wrist and suffer. In the same manner, the
living being is trying to artificially and foolishly play the role of enjoyer or master, which is not his
constitutional position. This causes his suffering.

The Lord is the Energetic, we are one of His energies. The Lord is the enjoyer, ‘Purusha’; we are enjoyed,
‘prakriti’. Lord is the Master; we are the servants. The Lord is the Supreme; we are subordinate to Him.
The Lord is the Whole; we are only His part meant to serve Him. The material energy is inferior energy of
the Lord as it is unconscious, without any free will, dark, dead and called by the Lord Himself as ‘separated’
energy. The spirit soul is called as ‘superior energy’ of the Lord as it is conscious, endowed with free will,
effulgent associate and part and parcel of the Lord. The soul can dominate matter thinking that he is
superior to matter. But material energy is conducted by Krishna’s will (BG 9.10). Thus when the soul tries to
manipulate matter for his own enjoyment, then material energy entangles him. But when the soul serves the
Lord understanding the Lord’s position as a master, then he can become truly happy. If this principle is
forgotten, then the living entity becomes foolish in chasing the glittering maya, endeavoring to become the
enjoyer, ‘purusha’, in vain. In return maya gives him slaps and kicks to teach him that he is not the enjoyer,
but an insignificant servant of the Lord. One of the famous songs of acharyas has the following quote: ‘jiva
Krishna das, ei vishwas, korle to ar, dukha nai’ - ‘Be convinced that the jiva soul is the servant of Krishna,
then you have no suffering in this world’

The World of Mirth and Merry

While the material world leads everyone to frustration and suffering, the spiritual world is not dry or abstract;
there is variegatedness there. Real life exists in the spiritual world. The material world is just like a perverted
reflection. The following story will illustrate this point nicely.

Story: ‘All that glitters is not gold’

Once upon a time, when a queen was taking a bath, a crow took her valuable necklace and flew away. She
became annoyed and told the king that she wanted the necklace back. The king was ready to get her a new
one, but she demanded that she wanted only the old one at any cost. The king made an announcement that
although the necklace cost only a lakh of rupees, he was ready to offer a gift of five lakh rupees to anyone
who would bring him the lost necklace. All the citizens started frantically searching for the lost necklace in all
corners of the country.

A man had been near a pond all day, struggling all alone, to reach out and touch an object in the pond. A
sage passing by asked him what his problem was. The man with great reluctance spoke out, “Sir, I am
going to request you to help me solve a problem. But if you agree to take only one fifth the profit that I will
get after solving the problem, then I will tell you my problem.” The sage smiled and said, “I need no profit.
Tell me how can I help you.” The man showed the sage the necklace of the queen glowing in sunlight inside
 Peace Formula 17

the pond and told the sage, “At last, after a month of searching, I found the queen’s necklace here. Since
morning I am trying to extract it from the water; but with fishing rod, or stick or my own hand, the necklace is
not coming out. What to do? Do you have any idea?”
The sage stared at the necklace in the water for a while and smiled deeply. Then he took the man a little
distance and pointed to him the top of the tree – the necklace hung on a branch of the tree. The man
jumped in excitement, at once climbed up the tree, picked up the necklace, came down and fell at the feet of
the sage. The sage told him, “My dear son, all that glitters is not gold. The necklace in the water was
glittering although it was simply a perverted reflection. The real necklace was on the top of the tree.
Similarly, maya is glittering although it is simply a perverted reflection of the spiritual world. The real world is
the spiritual world where the Lord and His devotees in their real beauty exist eternally performing unlimited
pastimes.”

The man was amazed to hear this. The sage further continued, “The material world is like the reflection of
the necklace in the water. Thus all glittering maya’s attractions of the material world cannot give tangible
happiness. Those who hanker after flickering material pleasures like wealth/gold, land/property,
woman/man, position or possessions to get enjoyment without reference to God, are like the foolish animal
chasing a mirage in a desert.” This was a great revelation to the man. Although the man got the five lakhs
prize from the king, still he surrendered to the sage and became his disciple. He considered the knowledge
given by the sage to be more valuable than the wealth he acquired as a reward.

Just as the real mango exists in the tree and the reflection of the mango is seen in water, real life and
happiness exists for us in the spiritual world; the material world is only a temporary place with short-lived
happiness. No matter how many times a swimmer dives into the water to get the mango, he will only break
his head; the reflection of the mango can neither be captured, nor can it satisfy anyone.

The sweet relationships of friendships, parenthood and romantic love between the Lord and the souls truly
exist eternally in the spiritual world. In the material world the relationships are changed after every death
and birth. In every life, you have a new mother, new father, new relatives and a new situation.

In the spiritual world, there is no such thing as old age, disease, death, or the pains of birth. Everyone
including the Lord and the devotees have sac-cid-ananda bodies there. Every word is a song; every step is a
dance; all living beings are non-envious and lovable; everyone is absorbed in chanting, dancing and serving
the Lord. If we want to participate in the unlimited happiness, knowledge and eternal life, which constitute
our actual heritage in the spiritual world, we should not waste this life by working hard for sense gratification.
We should accept a life devoted to the cultivation of Krishna consciousness, and then we will get unlimited
happiness. This is the sum and substance of the Krishna consciousness movement. The following story will
illustrate the importance of returning back to Godhead as soon as possible.

Story: ‘Return of the Prodigal son’

Once upon a time, there was a very wealthy man, who owned many
acres of land. He had two sons; the first son was very obedient and
always assisted his father in his work, but the second son was
disobedient. One day, the second son came to his father and told him,
“My dear father, now I have decided to live separately. Give me my
share in property and money so that I may become independent of you,
stay alone and enjoy. I don’t want to live with you any longer.” When the
father heard this, he became very sorrowful. He tried to explain to his
son, “My dear child, it is not possible for you to enjoy alone. You don’t
know how to spend money. You will be cheated by worldly people if you
do so. Please kindly stay in this house with us and do not try to go
away.” But the second son was adamant. He said, “Nothing doing. Give
me my share of money and I will enjoy independently. No more useless
advice and talks.” The father reluctantly agreed, “If you really want to be
alone, how can I stop you?” Then he gave the second son his share of
money. This son took the money and went off to live in a far away place.
18 Peace Formula

Because he had a huge amount of money, he got many friends. When a person has a lot of money, people
will surround him because money is like honey to them. They like to enjoy life in various ways using money.
So, many people became his friends, flattered him, took him to movies, taught him smoking, took him to
drinking parties, and got him entangled in all sorts of vices. When all his money was squandered away on
useless things and he became like a beggar in the street, all his friends deserted him as is often seen in this
world.

The second son thus found himself crying alone in the middle of a street with no shelter, no protection, no
money and not knowing what to do. Finally he approached a wealthy landlord for a job. The landlord told
him, “You have to take care of these hundred pigs by feeding them this low quality wheat flour and you may
also eat the same. That will be your remuneration; do not expect anything more.” Having no other
alternative, the second son agreed. Everyday he would feed the pigs and then he would also eat the same
low quality flour.
After going through this ordeal for several days, the second son started crying at his condition and started
remembering his loving father. He said to himself, “O my dear loving father, you were so kind to me. You
used to give me so many varieties of foodstuffs and so many nice dresses. You used to love me so much.
And I left it all for what? To eat this low quality flour and suffer! What should I do now? If I come back to you,
will you accept me? Even if you don’t accept me as your son, I would still like to come back to you as your
servant. Will you not accept me at least as your servant?” In this way he started thinking about his father in
his mind. Very soon he gave up all reservations and decided to return to his father.

As soon as he entered his village, the villagers rushed to his father to inform him about the return of his son.
When the father heard this he became overjoyed. He immediately arranged for a bullock-cart and rushed to
meet his second son. When the father caught sight of his son, he jumped from the cart, rushed to his son,
embraced him and showered him with tears of love and joy. He seated his son on the bullock- cart and took
him back home. There the father announced to everyone, “Today my son has come back and he will be the
king of this house.” On hearing these words of love from his father, the second son burst into tears, thinking,
“I rejected my father and squandered away all his wealth. Still he loves me so much and wants to give me
respect and honor and love. How great he is!”

This story from the Bible has a deep message for us. We have all come to this world away from our
Supreme Father just like the second son, by disobeying His will. This is the cause of our suffering. Sin
means disobedience to God. Now how can we know whether we are obeying God or disobeying God?

Is The Ambition for Peace and Happiness Wrong?

The first step in serving God is to accept the fact that everything belongs to Him.
Everything is owned by Him, controlled by Him and meant for His enjoyment. We are
His children. If we exploit the material resources for our own enjoyment, the very same
matter will become the cause of our suffering. As soon as we take air, water, grains,
minerals and ores, pearls and stones, etc., from nature, all of which belongs to God, then
we become thieves. When we enjoy them selfishly we become sinful. How can someone
who is a thief and at the same time a sinful person, become happy and peaceful?

Proper and bogus Renunciation (Yukta vairagya and Phalgu vairagya)

Now, if everything belongs to God and nothing belongs to us, then we cannot use
anything or enjoy anything. Does this lead to giving up everything of the world and
going to the Himalayas to become a renunciate? And if one cannot give up everything
 Peace Formula 19

that belongs to God, then does this mean one should go on suffering in the material
world? Is the ambition for peace and happiness wrong?

One need not leave everything, but one has to connect everything to God. Then one can
become happy in life. Krishna consciousness philosophy does not advocate dry
renunciation by giving up the world. Rather, God creates everything in this world, so
that we may use them all in His service, purify our existence and return back home, back
to Godhead. One can use – buildings (temples), buses (to transport and sell books),
computers and printers (to print and publish books), phones (to communicate about God),
planes (to travel and preach about God) – practically everything to broadcast the glories
of God. This principle is called ‘yukta vairagya’, or proper method of renouncing the
things of the world. On the other hand, to artificially renounce the things of the world
without knowing whom they belong to, is called ‘phalgu renunciation’ or bogus
renunciation.
Story: Bhogi, Tyagi and Bhakta
A boy while passing in the street found a purse filled with several thousand rupees. He was
delighted. What should he do with that money? If he goes to a hotel, bar, cinema house, etc. and
spends off that amount, then he is a ‘bhogi’ or a ‘sense enjoyer’. If he observes the money and
thinks that after all it does not belong to him, and throws it away in the street, then he is a ‘tyagi’
or a ‘phalgu vairagi’. If he takes the purse, looks for the identity card of the owner of the purse,
goes to his house and hands over the purse of money to the owner, then he is a ‘yukta vairagi’, or
a proper renunciate. Similarly when we are born, we see so many nice facilities given by God. A
bhogi enjoys them all without thinking of the owner, God. A tyagi renounces them all. But a bhakta
uses all the things of the world to offer service to God.
Story: Phalgu vairagi
Once a great wealthy landlord suddenly got a great feeling of renunciation in his heart. He
converted all his property into gold, silver, precious gems and put it all in a box. He climbed onto
the back of an elephant with the box in hand and loudly proclaimed, “I am renouncing the world. I
am leaving everything.” Saying this he started scattering all the wealth in the street. All people –
rich and poor, old and young, sinful and pious – all picked up as much wealth as they could. Some
of them misused the obtained wealth for sinful purposes. This is foolish renunciation. We have to
know that nothing belongs to us in the first place. Then what do we have to renounce? I cannot
come to your house and say, “I renounce the TV. I renounce the mixer. I renounce the
refriderator” If I do so, you will consider me crazy. Thus ‘bhogi’ and ‘tyagi’ both tread a wrong
path. Only a ‘bhakta’, knowing well that everything belongs to God, uses all the things of the world
to glorify God.

Thus, by using everything in the service of God, the soul also gets happiness. How is
that? When the husband goes to the office, the wife stays at home to do the household
chores. She keeps the house clean, washes his clothes, dries them and keeps them
20 Peace Formula

pressed, cooks for him, keeps the things in order, etc. When the husband returns home,
he feels very happy to see his wife’s services and appreciates her. Who becomes happy?
Both the husband and the wife become happy. Similarly, when the soul renders service
to God, he becomes happy also. This is the only way the soul can attain true happiness,
not by trying to compete with God or act independent of God. In the above example, if
the wife ignores her services at home arguing with her husband, she only becomes
frustrated.

We are constitutionally part-and-parcel servants of God and we can become happy only
by serving Him. This can be likened to supplying food to the stomach. When the part
serves the whole, the part also becomes nourished.
Panca tantra Story: ‘When the senses go on strike’
Once all the senses of the body of a man came together for a meeting. There was a big quarrel
about which part of the body is the most valuable. The eye said, “It is me who sees the food first.
So I am the most important.” The nose said, “O foolish eye! Don’t you realize that it’s me who
smells the food even before you see it?” The teeth said, “What is the use of you people seeing
and smelling. Without me doing the job of crushing, no food can go to the stomach.” But the
tongue said, “You may crush the food, but if the taste is bad, I will reject what is passed by you.
So I am the most important.” The hands said, “It seems all of you people have forgotten me. Am
I not the one who picks up the food and puts it in the mouth?” The leg spoke lastly, “I carry the
whole trunk of the body from place to place where food is kept. Without me all of you are
useless.” The arguments went on for a long time. At the end they all arrived at a consensus: “All
of us are important. But there is one useless person who does not do any work; but we are all
working so hard to please him – the stomach! Come let us all go on strike. Why should we please
this person by feeding him when he is just in one place sitting and enjoying?”

The stomach did not say anything. When they all went on strike and did not supply food to the
stomach, gradually the legs became weak; they started trembling. The hand lost all its power and
potency to do any work. The eyes were reeling. They all came together for a meeting and decided,
“If we don’t serve the stomach, then we only suffer. It is better that we serve him and become
nourished ourselves.” When all the parts of the body co-operated in supplying food to the
stomach, then the whole body became nourished.

In the above Panchatantra story, the stomach is compared to God; all the different senses
are compared to the living entities, which are parts and parcels of God. Constitutionally
we are servants of God and serving Him with our heart and soul alone can bring us peace
and happiness.
Seeking Happiness selfishly through Wealth and Resources
 Peace Formula 21

In the modern atheistic world, everyone is caught up in a rat race

of cut-throat competition for accumulating more and more money,
because with money one can buy sense gratification. From the
highest executive in his skyscraper office down to the coolie in the
street — all are working with the thought of accumulating wealth,
legally or illegally. Actually to work for one’s self-interest is
both unlawful and destructive.

Wealth is worshiped and is referred to as Mother Lakshmi, or the goddess of fortune. It is

her position to serve Lord Narayana, the source of all the naras, or living beings. The
naras are also meant to serve Narayana under the guidance of the goddess of fortune,
Lakshmiji. The living being cannot enjoy the goddess of fortune without serving
Narayana, and therefore whoever desires to enjoy her wrongly will be punished by the
laws of nature. These laws will make sure that the money itself will bring about
destruction instead of peace and prosperity.

The demon Ravana wanted to enjoy the Lord’s property, Mother Sita and he stole Her
and took Her to Sri Lanka. But Lord Rama’s very dear servant, Hanuman went to Sri
Lanka, met Mother Sita, set fire to Sri Lanka, and made all facilities for Lord Rama to
kill Ravana and bring back Sita. All the wealth and resources of this world represent
Mother Sita and are meant for the service of Lord Rama. Those who are devotees like
Hanuman engage everything in the service of the Supreme Lord, and encourage other
people to do the same. Those who are demons like Ravana try to exploit the natural
resources for their own sense gratification and never care for the authority of the
Supreme Lord. Very soon, such demons will be vanquished by the force of time and
everything will be seized from them at the time of death.

The laws of nature do not allow us to accept more money than is required for proper
maintenance. There is ample arrangement by the law of nature to provide every living
being with his due share of food and shelter, but the insatiable lust of human beings have
disturbed the arrangements set forth by the Almighty Father of all species of life.

• There is abundant salt available in the ocean. Anyone can collect any amount of salt
from this natural storehouse, but we cannot consume more than what we need. If we
take more salt, we spoil the food, and if we take less salt our food becomes tasteless.
On the other hand, if we take only what we require, our food is tasty and we are
healthy.
22 Peace Formula

• In proportion to the people’s unlawful desires, their accumulated money is taken away
by the agents of illusory energy in the shape of medical practitioners, lawyers, tax
collectors, societies, etc.

Seeking Happiness selfishly through Sense gratification

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita [BG 5.22] that the sense gratificatory pleasures are
the sources of misery. They are short-lived. Those who are true yogis are not attracted
by sense pleasures, which are the causes of continuation of birth and death.

Nobody will die without smoking or drinking; nobody will

starve without eating beef, which is a product of killing an
innocent cow. But people are still attached to these things, due
to uncontrolled senses. They do not know that they are
preparing themselves for a ghastly future. Maya’s allurements
to the soul are like a bait put by someone to trap a rat in a cage.
The foolish rat does not know that the eatable, though appearing
to be kept for his pleasure, is the cause of his own death. The
foolish conditioned soul, while seated in a youthful body,
commits sins that lead him to suffer birth after birth, not
knowing that sense gratification is nectar in the beginning, but
poison at the end.

The more one is addicted to material pleasures, the more one is entrapped by material
miseries. For instance, one should not eat beyond his quota. As soon as one becomes
addicted to eating opulent foods uncontrollably, then one has to face the misery of
diseases due to overeating. If one has not learnt to control the mind and senses to subdue
lust, then one should be ready to be put in a shameful situation. Lusty men are not only
looked down upon like dogs; sometimes they are handed over to the police. Sometimes
the senses drive them so mad that they end up doing something that brings them and
others untold physical or mental sufferings.

The position of a person whose mind and senses are uncontrolled becomes pitiable. On
one side the tongue is pulling him to arrange for tasty food; then thirst drags one to get a
suitable drink. Simultaneously, the sex organs clamor for satisfaction, and the sense of
touch demands soft, sensuous objects. The belly harasses one until it is filled, the ears
demand to hear pleasant sounds, the sense of smell hankers for pleasant aromas, and the
fickle eyes clamor for pleasing sights. Thus the senses, organs, and limbs, all desiring
satisfaction, pull the living entity in many directions.
 Peace Formula 23

All these senses go astray in all directions due to the uncontrolled mind. A foolish man
who has no knowledge of the science of the soul or God, falls prey to bad habits like
smoking, drinking or drugs, to free himself from suffering; but he is inviting more
suffering than ever before. In modern times we can practically see the suffering of people
in the form of stress, depression, suicide, etc., due to uncontrolled mind and senses. We
can earn money, but not happiness. We can purchase costly medicines, but not good
health. We can buy luxuries, but not peace of mind. There is no peace and happiness in
accumulation of wealth, or possessing comforts or luxuries. The real secret of happiness
is a controlled mind that is gradually achieved through a regulated God-conscious way of
life.

Given below is a chart illustrating practical ideas to apply the principles that we learnt
above.

A Practical solution: Do not try to enjoy beyond your quota allotted by God
Thus one should accept only his quota of

• food (vegetarian food offered to God, not non vegetarian or unauthorized foods, not overeat),
• property (not encroach upon others property knowing that everything belongs to God),
• wealth (honorably earned wealth, a portion of which is offered to the Lord’s service),
• work (that is not related to irreligious principles such as meat eating, gambling, intoxication, illicit sex ),
• endeavor (that is not done out of greed for wealth and honor but in divine consciousness),
• spouse (married as per religious principles and not maintaining some illicit relationship),
• residence (that is God centered and not too greedy to increase prestige by one’s possession of bungalows or vast
tracts of land),
• position or post (remembering that it is offered by God, thus using it to serve others in the mood of a
servant of God and not indulge in politicking for increasing influence and power, and followers for self
aggrandizement),
• domination (not indulge in animal slaughter, abortion, etc.),
• sleeping (six hours sleep to be healthy enough to serve God, not oversleep unnecessarily),
• recreation (accept that which is favorable to Krishna consciousness, avoid cinema magazines, unholy
movies, etc.),
• sports (to keep body healthy in service to God and not for attracting opposite sex, or to spend time idly),

and learn to be satisfied, understanding well that the Supreme Lord, father of all living beings, has allotted
the resources for the benefit of all living beings, not to satisfy only our lust or greed.
24 Peace Formula

Key to Peace and Happiness

The material world is like a prison-house where all of us have been placed due to our
desire to be independent of God, just as a disobedient citizen is placed in a jail. The
government provides for the food, clothing, shelter and medication of the prisoners, but
there is also suffering in a prison-like breaking stones, or hard work so as to reform the
inmates. And just as a prisoner who obeys the laws of the government is soon freed from
the prison, similarly those people who obey the laws of God by following the scriptures
can soon be freed from all suffering and return back to the spiritual world, our lost home.
One has to know these facts and act wisely to get out of the prison of the material world.
There are two paths, one leading to repeated birth and death, and the other leading to the
Kingdom of God.

Path of avidya, advancement in material knowledge

The path of avidya, or advancement of material knowledge
for sense gratification, is the path of repeated birth and
death. Modern man is trying to increase luxuries more and
more, hoping that they will alleviate the miseries of life.
But he is unaware that the greed of the conditioned soul
afflicted with enjoying mentality cannot be overcome by
material luxuries, taking to drugs, or man-woman
relationships. It is like increasing the material fever from
102-degree Fahrenheit to 107-degree Fahrenheit. We
should not increase the material fever but reduce it to 98.6
degree Fahrenheit. Of course scriptures do not say, you
bring it down to zero. Sense gratification cannot be
brought to zero. We have to allow the senses to accept only
the quota as mentioned in the previous heading – food,
property, wealth, etc. – and that is 98.6 degree Fahrenheit.
Thus one can make a program for remaining God conscious by simple living and high
thinking and prepare for a happy future.

Sense enjoyment in the diseased material condition must be restricted as far as possible.
For example, a doctor may restrict a typhoid patient from eating oily items like pooris or
pakoras. When the disease is cured and one becomes healthy, then one can eat all types
of foodstuffs. But if a patient becomes greedy to eat oily items during sickness due to his
uncontrolled mind, then he only aggravates his disease and makes the situation worse.
 Peace Formula 25

Modern man, ignorant of the soul, is making loud propaganda of material enjoyment in
various ways – maintaining organized slaughter houses to kill millions of innocent
animals to satisfy the palate; maintaining casinos for gambling; indulging in wine and
drugs that ruin the body, mind and sometimes even one’s life; illicit sexual relationships
leading to deadly diseases, etc. These are detrimental to the body and the soul. These are
not enjoyments but sufferings, perceived as enjoyment by the foolish living entity in his
diseased state of consciousness.
Culture of vidya, advancement in spiritual knowledge
In reality the soul is neither the enjoyer, nor the proprietor or controller. He is simply a
part-and-parcel, a cooperator and servant of the Lord. The more we try to enjoy in this
world, forgetful of God, the more we invite suffering. Real sense enjoyment is possible
only when the disease of enjoying mentality is removed.

Story: Remove the cataract in the eye, not the eye

There is sometimes a misunderstanding amongst people that one has to destroy the mind, senses
and ego altogether and become ‘shoonya’ or void; only then will there be peace.

This is similar to what an uncle told the father of a boy afflicted by cataract, “You kill him; he won’t
feel the problem in the eye anymore. Finish the whole problem”. The Buddhists similarly say that
if you become desireless, senseless, formless, emotionless then you can become peaceful. So
they feel you have to become zero and negate everything.
Another friend of the father told him, “Don’t kill him; but pluck out the eye that is causing the
problem.” The Mayavadis or impersonalists deny the form, identity and senses of the soul
because they think that the senses are causing us to increase the enjoying mentality by taking
different births. They want to destroy the senses, mind, and become peaceful in ‘om shanti shanti
shantih’ in impersonal brahman, devoid of all activity.
A learned doctor (an ideal Vaishnava spiritual master) said, “Neither is there a need to kill the boy,
nor do we need to pluck the eye. All you need to do is to simply operate and remove the cataract
in the eye. Then the boy will suffer no more.” In the same manner, the soul has spiritual senses
with which he serves the Lord joyfully in the spiritual world. But in the conditioned stage, the
spiritual senses are covered by temporary material senses that cause us unlimited suffering in the
material world. By taking to the process of Krishna consciousness, one can purify the senses, cure
the malady of enjoying mentality and become free from the fever of material enjoyment.

One has the right to preserve the body by supplying whatever is needed for one’s
sustenance, as was mentioned in the earlier example of accepting optimum quantity of
salt (one’s quota). This is accepted (please refer to ‘tena tyaktena bhunjita’ – Isopanishad
Mantra 1) to keep the body and soul together, so that one can peacefully pursue spiritual
life, and successfully return back to Godhead.
26 Peace Formula

Why do people not surrender to God and give up their enjoying mentality?
Religion Without Philosophy is Sentimentalism
Most people don’t have proper knowledge about God and so they neither disbelieve in
Him, nor have complete faith in Him. Even those who profess to be theists maintain some
faith only due to:

• Fear of the unknown: Some people practice some set of religious principles due to
some superstitious fears that they may face some dangers or inauspiciousness if they
do not fulfill some religious rituals or formularies.
• Considerations of mundane piety: Some people feel ‘good’ to display their
religiosity for others to see. They perform sacrifices for name and fame. They may
like to be seen or called by others as pious. Some follow family traditions out of
orthodoxy.
• Social pressure: For example, we find some people engaged in the so-called worship
of Kali or Ganesh due to social pressure. They celebrate pompous festivals in which
rock music is played, and where people of similar social status come together to share
food and drinks with no discussion whatsoever about God or the purpose of life.
How unfortunate it is – blatant enjoyment in the guise of religion!
• Family tradition or habit from childhood: Though they are certainly better than
the downright atheists who deny the existence of God, their ignorance in the matter of
a scientific understanding of God will make them follow some set of principles
without knowing their meaning. Owing to poor understanding of God, they get
swayed away by allurements of maya like the comforts and luxuries of modern life
and forget the actual goal of life, which is to go back to Godhead

Thus Srila Prabhupada said, “Religion without philosophy is sentimentalism or

fanaticism; Philosophy without religion is mental speculation.” We can see that a
superficial understanding about God is not of much use. We should have proper
knowledge of the science of God so that we can develop a deep-rooted faith and lead a
pure life of principles that will eventually bring us to the point of seeing God face to face.
Philosophy Without Religion is Mental Speculation
Many so-called philosophers have concocted speculative theories about God, which were
born from the fertile imagination of the few grams of their brain substance. Some of the
theories are “God is Light”, “God is the imagination of man”, “God created this
complicated universe, but when He was unable to control it, He ran away out of
frustration”, etc. Many philosophers come, speculate and go, leaving behind bogus
theories, which increase the confusion of the masses and take them further away from
God.
 Peace Formula 27

Some impersonalists speculate, “ I am God” or “Everyone is God”; but when they suffer
from a toothache, they can do nothing about it except moan in pain. And when they get
the urge to respond to the calls of nature, they cannot control themselves even for a
moment; they have to run helplessly to respond. God is the supreme controller. How then
can He come under the control of a toothache or the call of nature? We are tiny living
entities who are not God, but eternal servants of God.

The Vedantists who pound on the table and argue on the topic of God are no better than
armchair speculators who do no practical devotional service to God. Their debates are no
better than someone licking a honey bottle from the outside to taste the honey. Their dry
philosophy without the religious formularies of devotional service is simply mental
speculation. They are confused and are expert in making the masses confused and
bewildered.

The Three-point Peace Formula

If God created everything, then who created God?

In this world, everything and everyone has some source. For
example, you were born from a father; he had a father; and he
also had a father. In this way, if one goes to the root of all
existence, one will come to God. Thus, one can understand
that God is the Supreme Father of every living entity.

Somebody may ask, “Who created God?” Actually God was

never created. Because we are inside the domain of the
universe where the time factor is present, our bodies are
subjected to old age, dwindling and death. Thus the souls in
the material world are placed in millions of material bodies
like plants, animals, humans or demigods, one after another.
These material bodies are created and destroyed again and
again. God exists outside the time domain; He has been
existing eternally and will continue to exist eternally. In the
search for the source of one object after another, God is the
source of everything. His body remains pure and spiritual, not
subject to change. Thus God is never created; because He is
the source of everything. In fact, the definition of God is,
‘janmady asya yatah’- the one from whom everything
emanates. ‘anadir adir govinda sarva karana karanam…’ -
28 Peace Formula

“Govinda, Lord Krishna, is the cause of all causes, but He Himself has no other cause.”
(Brahma Samhita 5.1)

Now, if we can know Him and see Him, we can ask, “O God, How can I get out of all
these sufferings?” God is watching our movements exactly like a rich man is watching
the movements of fish in his mini-aquarium; the fish may not be aware of him, but he is
aware of their movements.

God: The Supreme Controller

God is the controller of all controllers. He is not controlled by anybody. “tam isvaranam
paramam mahesvaram” - “The Supreme Lord is the controller of all other controllers.”
‘Isvara’ means controller. Even an ant may be the controller of a long queue of ants. A
person may be the controller of a family, school, college, industry, state or country. But
our range of control is very limited like the range of movement of a cow tied to a pole.
We cannot control even the aging of our own body or the troubles of the raging mind.

All of us are controlled by somebody above us, but God is the ultimate controller of all
controllers: ‘ishwara parama krishna…’

Once a villager wanted to serve the greatest person. He approached the mayor of his town and
asked to give him some service. While serving the mayor he noticed the mayor giving tax money to a
visitor. He asked who the visitor was, and the mayor told him that the visitor was a representative of
the Governor. The man asked, "Is the Governor greater than you?" “Oh yes, he is greater than me”,
the mayor said. "Then I want to serve him", said the villager. The mayor appreciated the villager's
honesty and recommended him to the Governor. The villager served the Governor for some time.
Then one day a visitor arrived accompanied with horsemen. The Governor welcomed the visitor
graciously and treated him with great respect. When he had a chance the villager asked the
Governor who the visitor was. "He is the king's viceroy", said the Governor. "And who is the king?”
the man asked. "He is the ruler of the whole land, he is very great", said the Governor, "Is he
greater than you?” asked the man. "Oh yes, I am just his servant.” “Then I want to serve him”, said
the man. The villager was talented; so the Governor sent him to the king for his pleasure.

The man served the king for some months, and then one day the king asked him to get the chariot
ready. A great sage had arrived in the kingdom and the king wanted the advice of the sage to rule
the kingdom. The villager watched as the king approached the saintly person and offered respect.
The king then sat and listened to the sage’s discourse for sometime. Then, as the king was preparing
to return to his palace, he villager approached the sage and asked if he were the greatest person.
The sage said, “No, I am only a menial servant.” "So please tell me who is the greatest person"
"To find the greatest person you must go to the temple of Narayana”, the sage told him.

Without a moment's delay the man set off walking. It was evening when he arrived and the temple
doors were closed. The man knocked on the door for a long time. Finally the temple priest came and
told him to go home and return the next day. Not having any place to go the man lay down by the
 Peace Formula 29

gate and went to sleep. The next morning, just before sunrise, some brahmanas from the nearby
village passed the temple and saw the man sleeping. They noticed that the covering on the man’s
body was one of the deity's chadars. "He is a thief", they said. In anger they woke the man and
asked him from where he had got the chadar. The man was mystified and told them that he did not
know where the chadar had come from. The brahmanas then tried to open the temple door and
discovered that it was locked. They then realized that Lord Narayana himself had placed the chadar
over his servant to keep him warm while he slept. The brahmanas then asked the man where he
came from, and he told them his story. The man was then accepted into the temple and trained to
serve the deity. In this way the man came to serve the greatest person.

God: The Supreme Proprietor

The real proprietor of a place is one who owns the place for all time to come and no one
else can usurp his proprietorship. We can easily see that everything we possess in this
world is temporary. Then how can we claim to be proprietors? Although an ant may
imagine that it is the owner of a hole in the floor, but simply a bucket of water thrown on
the hole can finish its ownership. If we are staying in a rented flat, we may be living
peacefully; but as soon we refuse to pay the rent, the problem begins.

Tenants are thrown out after eleven months of contract. Even if we own a house on
paper, can we actually claim proprietorship of the house? No. A real life example
illustrates this point. A few years ago, the government made an announcement, “We are
making a ring road. All the houses lying on the route of the ring road should be vacated.”
And these people were given replacement houses in some remote place. Does that mean
that the government is the proprietor? No. Even governments keep changing. For
example, in the last few centuries, the Indian government has changed from the Mughals,
to the Britishers, to Indians of various parties.

Moreover, our proprietorship of anything is only in the mind; it has no actual connection
with the thing we claim to possess. For example, two men may fight in the train for the
same seat, or two brothers may fight for the same piece of land and kill one another; they
come and go, but the seat and the land both remain there unaffected. Thus, it is clear that
we are not the proprietors of anything.
Everything in this world belongs to the person who has
originally created it, viz., God. This is confirmed in the
Isopanishad (Mantra 1) ‘isavasyam idam sarvam’ -
“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe
is controlled and owned by the Lord.” How the Lord is the
proprietor of everything can be easily understood through an
example. Take, for example, our dwelling, which is made of
earth, wood, stone, iron, cement and so many other material
things. We must know that we cannot produce any of these
building materials ourselves. We can simply bring them
30 Peace Formula

together and transform them into different shapes by our labor. A laborer cannot claim to
be a proprietor of a thing just because he has worked hard to manufacture it. Similarly
we cannot claim proprietorship over anything because everything comes from nature,
which was created by God.
Srila Prabhupada explains the illusory nature of our claims of proprietorship: Just like a
father gives fighting children some toy, “Now it is yours. Play. Don’t fight with the other
child”, similarly the Supreme Father has given us, “Now this is your America. This is
your India.” Nothing belongs to the American or the Indian; everything belongs to God.
Hence God alone is the proprietor of everything that exists for all time – past, present and
future. King Bali was proud of his proprietorship of the three worlds. Lord Vamanadev
came as a dwarf brahmana and took over the whole proprietorship simply by taking His
three steps. What to speak of small time proprietors like Alexander, Napoleon
Bonaparte, etc.?

God: The Supreme Enjoyer

The enjoyer of an activity is one who gets the
ultimate benefit of that activity. The only true
enjoyer is God as is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita
(5.29): ‘bhoktaram yajna tapasam’. “I am the
ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and
austerities.” For example, the owner of a hotel is an
independent enjoyer and his servants, the waiters,
are dependent enjoyers; the profit goes to the owner
and the waiters get a fixed salary and food thrice a
day. The servants and waiters cannot be happy
independently. In the same way God is the supreme enjoyer; we are dependent on Him
for our enjoyment.
Also a person can be truly considered to be an enjoyer only when he himself does not
have to do any work. Even by this definition, God alone is the enjoyer as stated in the
Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.8) : na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. “The Supreme
Personality of Godhead has no work to do.” Krishna also says in Bhagavad-gita (3.22) :
na me parthasti kartavyam trishu lokeshu kincana. “O son of Prtha, there is no work
prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems.” For example, I met a man
working with Tata steel company and asked him, “Where is your owner?” He replied,
“We have not seen him for the past six months. He may be in London or in Sweden.”
The owner is a free bird; he owns all the property and enjoys. One can also enjoy if one
co-operates with him. If one does not cooperate one has to go out of the company.
 Peace Formula 31

Similarly God is the supreme enjoyer. Although we may try to

enjoy, we derive only flickering pleasure. This is because we,
living entities, are all parts of God. Our enjoyment comes by
serving our master, God.
The branches, leaves, fruits, etc. of a tree get nourishment by
watering its root. Similarly we can achieve true happiness only
by serving God with love, understanding Him to be the
ultimate enjoyer. So, we have the propensity to love, but we do
not know where our loving propensity should be reposed so
that we can be happy. The proper object of love is revealed in the Shrimad Bhagavatam
[4.31.14]:

yathä taror müla-niñecanena tåpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaçäkhäù

präëopahäräc ca yathendriyäëäà tathaiva sarvärhaëam acyutejyä

"If you water the root of a tree, the water is distributed to the branches, leaves, twigs,
fruits, flowers—everywhere. Or, if you put food into the stomach, the energy is
distributed all over the body. Similarly, if you love Krishna, then everyone becomes
satisfied." Krishna, God is the root of all existence: ‘aham sarvasya prabhavah’ [BG.
10.8], ‘janmady asya yatah’ [SB 1.1.1]). But the cause of our suffering is that we are
neglecting to water the root by leading our lives in forgetfulness of God.

Individual or GD Task: Learning about Peace Formula

If you are in a classroom, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you are
reading this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. The following pastime is on
‘akshaya patra’, a vessel that gave perennial supply of food while the Padavas were in the forest.
The Pandavas, their devoted wife Draupadi, and their mother Kunti were all great devotees of
Lord Krishna. They had complete faith that Shri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
and that everything rests on Him and is controlled by Him. In the pastime given below, Lord Shri
Krishna not only protected His devotees of the Pandava family, but proved to the whole world
that He is the Supreme Enjoyer of all sacrifices, ‘bhoktaram yajna tapasam’ [BG5.29]. If He is
satisfied, then the whole world will be satisfied. Read the story carefully. Each member of your
group can read one section given below. Discuss the answer for the 18 questions inserted in
between the story amongst yourself and answer the questions on a separate sheet. Submit your
answers along with the EBG Quiz: 11 answers. Remember to mention on the top of your sheet
‘Lesson 11: Peace Formula, Individual or Group Task’ along with your name or name of group
members.

‘Akshaya patra’ - ‘The Magic Perennial Food Bowl’

(adapted from ‘Mahabharata’ by Krishna Dharma)
32 Peace Formula

D
uryodhana thought continuously of ways by which he might harm the Pandavas. He consulted with
his brothers and Karna, trying to devise means for overcoming his brothers before they returned
from the forest. While he was considering different plans, the ascetic Durvasa happened to visit the
city. He had with him ten thousand disciples and he came to the royal palace asking for food for all
of them. The sage was famous for his anger; if he were not served properly, he would quickly curse the
offender. He would also test his hosts to the limits of their patience, wanting to see if they adhered to their
religious obligations under all circumstances. Fearing that some incompetent servant would bring his curse
upon them, Duryodhana served Durvasa personally. With all the humility and gentleness he could muster, he
carefully ministered to the sage’s every request, acting just like a menial servant.

Durvasa was unpredictable. Sometimes he would demand that a meal be prepared immediately, but when it
was fetched he would go away to bathe. He would then return after a long time and say, “I will not eat now.
I am no longer hungry.” He would rise at midnight and call for food and other attentions, often criticizing the
food and service he received. Duryodhana served him without complaint and remained attentive to the
rishi’s every wish. Durvasa was pleased with the prince. Just before leaving he said, “You have served me
well. I will grant you a boon. Ask from me whatever you desire. If it is not opposed to religion, I will satisfy
you at once.”
Q1: What was the constant anxiety of Duryodhana?
Q2: What is Durvasa muni famous for? How would he test his hosts to the limit of their patience?

Duryodhana felt as if he had received new life. He had already conferred with his counselors as to what
boon he should request if Durvasa should ask him. Thus he replied, “O Brahmin, just as you have been my
guest, so you become the guest of Yudhisthira in the forest. He is accomplished and well behaved and he is
a great king, the best and eldest of our family. He therefore deserves to receive your blessings. You should
go to him when his entire family has finished eating and are preparing to rest. You will then be well-received
by those pious men.”

Durvasa replied, “I will do as you ask.” He then left with his disciples, heading for the Kamyaka.
Duryodhana punched the air in joy. The Pandavas would never be able to receive Durvasa and his many
disciples properly after Draupadé had eaten. They would have no way to feed ten thousand Brahmins without
the magic vessel they had received from Surya. Surely Durvasa would curse them, and a rishi’s curse could
never fail.

Duryodhana ran to his friends. “Our plan has succeeded!” he cried. “The Pandavas are doomed.” He
embraced Karna, who said, “By good fortune you have fared well and fulfilled your desire. By good fortune
your enemies are cast into an ocean of misery, difficult to cross. Through their own fault they now face
great danger.” Laughing and clasping each other’s hands, Duryodhana and his counselors rejoiced.

Q3: What was the intention of Duryodhana behind asking Durvasa to go to the Pandavas?
Q4: Duryodhana always wanted to trouble the Pandavas. A demon always wants to harass
devotees of God. Can you think of two more examples?

Some days later, Durvasa arrived at the Pandava camp just after Draupadé had eaten. Leaving his disciples
on the outskirts of the camp, he walked in alone and appeared before the brothers. They all immediately
stood with joined palms. Seeing the famous rishi standing before them, they fell to the ground in respectful
 Peace Formula 33

obeisance. Yudhisthira offered Durvasa an excellent seat and worshipped him with all attention. Durvasa
then said, “I am here with my ten thousand disciples and we need to eat. We have been walking all day and
are hungry. O King, please arrange for our food. We shall first take our bath and then return for the meal.”
Yudhisthira said, “So be it,” and Durvasa left for the river with his disciples. After he had gone, Yudhisthira
expressed his alarm. How could he possibly feed that many people? Draupadé had already eaten and the
mystical vessel would not yield more until morning. Yudhisthira asked his wife if she could do anything.
Draupadé, who always thought of her husbands’ welfare, began to contemplate the problem. Her only hope
was prayer. The princess thought of Krishna and prayed, “O Krishna, Lord of the universe, O destroyer of
Your devotees’ difficulties, O unlimited and all-powerful one, please hear my prayer. You are the refuge of
the helpless, the giver of endless boons to all beings, the unknowable and all-knowing Supreme Person.
Kindly protect me. I seek Your shelter. O Lord, as You formerly saved me from Dushashana in the assembly,
so please save me now from this difficulty.”
Q5: Why did Yudhisthira express his alarm?
Q6: What was the only hope of Draupadi? Did you ever face a situation in your life, where
everything fell apart and your only hope was to fall flat on the Lord’s feet and pray to Him?
Q7: Mention the six different ways by which Draupadi offered her salutations to the Lord.

Krishna was in His palace at that time with Rukméni. That mysterious person, whose movements are
unknown to all, heard Draupadé’s prayers. Within a few moments He was standing before Draupadé, who
fell at His feet with tears in her eyes. “O Krishna, we face a great danger from Durvasa’s curse. What can
be done?”

Krishna smiled. “I will do whatever can be done, but I too am hungry. Please feed Me first and after that I
shall do whatever is required.”

Ashamed, Draupadé replied, “My lord, the vessel given by the sun god remains full until I have eaten. I have
already taken my meal and now it will not give more food.”

“This is no time for joking,” said Krishna. “Quickly fetch the vessel and show Me.”

Draupadé brought the dish before Krishna and He examined it closely. In one corner He found a particle of
rice and vegetable stuck together, and He ate it at once, saying, “May Lord Hari, the soul of the universe, be
satisfied with this food and may the Lord of all sacrifices be pleased.”

Krishna then turned to Sahadeva and said, “Go quickly and bring the ascetics here and feed them.”

The Pandavas looked around fearfully. There was no sign of food. But they had faith that Krishna would not
let them down. Sahadeva left for the river to find Durvasa and his disciples.
Q8: If the Pandavas were in Kamyaka and Krishna was in Dwaraka, how could he hear
Draupadi’s prayers?
Q9: With no food prepared, Krishna asked the Pandavas to call Durvasa and his 10,000
disciples. How could the Pandavas agree with Krishna?

At the river the innocent Durvasa was expecting Yudhisthira to have prepared a meal for him and all his
followers, but suddenly he felt as if he had just consumed a large meal. He looked at his disciples. They too
34 Peace Formula

appeared full and were rubbing their stomachs and belching. Looking at each other, the ascetics realized
that none of them felt like eating at all!

Durvasa said to his disciples, “We have uselessly made Yudhisthira prepare a meal for ten thousand men
and done him a great wrong. Will not the Pandavas destroy us by looking upon us with angry eyes? O
Brahmins, I know Yudhisthira to be possessed of great powers. He is devoted to the feet of Lord Hari and I
fear such men. They can consume us with their anger as fire can consume a bale of cotton. Let us therefore
depart quickly from this place before they see us again.”

Although he was a powerful mystic yogé, Durvasa knew that his power was nothing compared to that of
those devoted to the Supreme Lord. He recalled a previous incident when he had upset another devotee of
the Lord. At that time he had been placed in great difficulty and had almost lost his life.

Without another word Durvasa came out of the river and walked swiftly away from the Pandavas’ camp. His disciples
fled away in all directions, keeping well clear of the Pandavas.

Q10: What fear did Durvasa express to his disciples?

Q11: How did Durvasa know that his power was nothing compared to the devotees of Krishna or
Vishnu. Which is that “previous incident” and who was that “other devotee”? If you did not
know it before, you may ask your teacher.
When Sahadeva arrived at the river he found no one there. A few water pots and pieces of cloth were lying
around, but there was no sign of the ascetics. He searched around and came across other Brahmins who
informed him that Durvasa and his followers had left suddenly. Sahadeva went back to his brothers and
gave them his report. Yudhisthira was worried. “The ascetics will come back in the dead of night and
demand their meal,” he said fearfully. “How can we escape from this great danger created by destiny?”

Krishna smiled. “O Yudhisthira, you need not fear. Durvasa and his disciples have fled, afraid of your ascetic
power. Those who are always virtuous need never fear danger. With your permission I shall now return to
My home.”

Yudhisthira replied, “O Krishna, as persons drowning in a vast ocean are saved by a boat, so we have been
saved by You.”

Krishna left and the Pandavas surrounded their chaste wife, thanking her for her presence of mind in
praying to Krishna. They discussed the incident among themselves. The incident seemed to have been
arranged by the Kauravas. Fortunately, Krishna was always there to save them no matter what danger they
faced.
Q12: According to Shri Krishna, who need not fear any danger?
Q13: How did Yudhisthira express his thanks to Shri Krishna?
Q14: What did the Pandavas thank Draupadi for?
Q15: How did the Pandavas surpass all dangers?

Thus when that Supreme Enjoyer is pleased, then the whole universe becomes pleased : ‘yasmin
tushtam jagat tushtam’. Lord Shri Krishna proved this when He ate a small particle of rice and
 Peace Formula 35

vegetable from the akshaya patra (bowl that supplies perennial food) and made Durvasa and all
his thousands of disciples feel fully satisfied. Now, none of us can imitate what Lord Shri Krishna
did. Can any of us eat a grain and say, “Now I am pleased; now whole universe will be pleased”?
Only a joker can play a joke like that. Only if a person possesses the attributes of being the
supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the supreme controller, can he be said to be God.
Shri Krishna proved by His actions that He is the Supreme Godhead in various situations as the
one we just learnt.
Pleasing the Lord leads to Prosperity
Srila Prabhupada writes, “Since Maharaja Yudhisthira was under the protection of the ajita, the infallible
Lord, as above mentioned, the properties of the Lord, namely the rivers, oceans, hills, forests, etc., were all
pleased, and they used to supply their respective quota of taxes to the King. The secret to success is to
take refuge under the protection of the Supreme Lord. Without His sanction, nothing is possible. To strive
for economic development by our own endeavors on the strength of tools and machinery is not enough. The
sanction of the Supreme Lord must be there otherwise, despite all instrumental arrangements, everything
will be unsuccessful. The ultimate cause of success is the daiva, the Supreme. Kings like Maharaja
Yudhisthira knew perfectly well that the king is the agent of the Supreme Lord to look after the welfare of
the mass of people. Actually the state belongs to the Supreme Lord. The rivers, oceans, forests, hills,
herbs, etc., are not creations of man. They are all creations of the Supreme Lord, and the living being is
allowed to make use of the property of the Lord for the service of the Lord. Today's slogan is that
everything is for the people, and therefore the government is for the people and by the people. But to
produce a new species of humanity at the present moment on the basis of God consciousness and
perfection of human life, the ideology of godly communism, the world has to again follow in the footsteps of
kings like Maharaja Yudhisthira or Paréksit. There is enough of everything by the will of the Lord, and we can
make proper use of things to live comfortably without enmity between man and animal or between man and
nature. The control of the Lord is everywhere, and if the Lord is pleased, every part of nature will be
pleased. The river will flow profusely to fertilize the land; the oceans will supply sufficient quantities of
minerals, pearls and jewels; the forest will supply sufficient wood, herbs and vegetables, and the seasonal
changes will effectively help produce fruits and flowers in profuse quantity. The artificial way of living
depending on factories and tools can render so-called happiness only to a limited number at the cost of
millions. Since the energy of the mass of people is engaged in factory production, the natural products are
being hampered, and for this the masses are unhappy. Without being educated properly, the masses are
following in the footsteps of the vested interests by exploiting natural reserves, and therefore there is acute
competition between individuals and nations. There is no control by the trained agent of the Lord. We must
look into the defects of modern civilization by comparison here, and should follow in the footsteps of
Maharaja Yudhisthira to cleanse man and wipe out anachronisms. [SB 1.10.5 purport]
Q16: Read the three underlined and BOLD lettered portions of the above para and give one
example for each from your own experience.
Q17: Read the three BOLD lettered portions of the above para and give one example for each to
show what has happened because that principle/statement is not understood by modern
man .
Q18: Why is there an acute competition between individuals and nations?

The Secret of Peace and Everlasting happiness

36 Peace Formula

If we want peace in this world, we must give up our grabbing and enjoying mentality.
Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita (3.9) that one who offers everything to Him
as a sacrifice (yajna) is not bound by karma. So if we do not enjoy beyond our God-given
quota, we can attain peace within our mind and can assist in creating peace within this
world. Therefore the three-point peace formula given by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-
Gita (5.29) to Arjuna is that only a person who understands Shri Krishna to be:

the Supreme Enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities,

the Supreme Proprietor of all planets, and
the Supreme Friend of all living beings,

can attain real peace.

In the Vedic culture, people loved God with their hearts and souls. I have practically
witnessed it in my school days, how at Shri Rangam as well as at other Shri Vaishnava
temples, they celebrate the festivals for the Lord. The Lord comes in various ‘vahana’ or
‘carriers’ like Garuda, Elephant, Hanuman, Pushpa vahan, etc. They read out the account
of the donations received by the temple and how the money was spent. The Lord goes on
a palanquin to supervise the temple property, lands as well as to bless the common people
living in that holy place. When the gorgeously decorated Lord comes on such processions
there will be nicely decorated elephants, professional musicians playing ‘nadaswaram’ - a
sweet instrument, mridangam, Vaishnavas singing the holy names followed by the Lord,
and the brahmanas chanting the Vedic mantras behind the Lord. People very eagerly take
darshan, offer obeisances, offer coconut, fruits, flowers, aratik, etc. They accept the lamp
offered to the Lord as well as the Prasadam of the Lord with great reverence. Sometimes
they celebrate ‘Theppam’, a boat festival in which the Lord is taken on a joy ride in the
boat.

What do we learn from all these? People clearly understood and practiced the ‘Peace
formula’ : the Lord is the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme Proprietor and the heart-to-heart
friend of every living being. Many of the things that are mentioned in the previous
paragraph are prevalent in practice even today in many temples of India without
knowledge of why those rituals are done. Thanks to the great revolutionary preacher
Srila Prabhupada, who gave us the sound philosophy of the Vedas in a way modern man
can understand the spirit and purpose behind them. He also established Deity worship in
temples, conducting Rath yatra processions, Harinam processions, celebrating festivals
like Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Ram Navami, etc. By his mercy, even in cities like
London over 80,000 people visit our temples on Janmashtami days to offer their love,
devotion and worship to the Lord.
 Peace Formula 37

* * * * *

‘Self Manager’, Quiz : 1

Peace formula

Part A (to be answered by All)

Answer the following questions in TWO or THREE sentences on a separate sheet: (10 x 2 =
20 marks)

1. Compare the following points from the Prodigal son’s story to the actual condition of
the soul:
i) the son going away from the father; ii) the son indulging in drinking, smoking and
similar habits; iii) the son eating low quality flour; iv) son wanting to return to his
father; and v) the father’s love.
2. What is wrong with people’s ambition for happiness? Explain with an example.
3. When does one become a thief? When does one become sinful?
4. A sadhu says he cannot even touch money or anything material. Which type of
renunciation is this? What is your understanding of proper and improper
renunciation?
5. What happens when one does not endeavor to control his mind and senses?
6. Identify and give reasons for the ones given below that are beyond the quota allotted
by God for humans:
i) Working for Make-do-all-rot Beef Hotel
ii) Business of producing Black Star cigarettes
iii) A married man having an affair with his female secretary in the office
iv) Having a party for celebrating success with friends at Brute Beer Bar
7. What is the difference between the path of Vidya and Avidya?
8. When is real enjoyment possible? What is a cataract compared to?
9. What are the solutions suggested by Buddhists, Mayavadis and Vaishnavas for
achieving Peace?
38 Peace Formula

10. Are we creators or enjoyers? Explain your answer with the example of the owner of
a multi-national company.

Part B (only for married and Below 50 years)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. Can you cite an example of a family practicing some sort of religion for social image?
2. What lesson did you learn from the story of a villager wanting to worship the greatest
person?
Part C (only for College students)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. If God created everything, who created God in the first place?
2. Why can’t the Vedantists understand God?
 Peace Formula 39

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Quiz : 1

Peace Formula

Answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences on a separate sheet: (1 x 108
= 108 marks)

Syllabus for the following Quiz: Bhagavad-gita As It Is 5.29, 3.30, 5.11-12,

16.11-22, 9.26-27, 12.6-7, 2.57-72

1. Till when is it not possible to achieve peace in the world either individually or
collectively? (5.29)
2. What are the living entities trying to do in illusion? (5.29)
3. What is the three-point peace formula that this sloka is offering for the people
suffering without peace of mind? Give one example (that you have learnt from
Prabhupada’s books or EBG or from devotees) for each point that you may use to
preach to a newcomer to Krishna consciousness. (5.29)
4. Why did the Lord order Arjuna to fight as if He were a military commander? (3.30)
5. Who is called ‘adhyatma cetas’? (3.30)
6. What example is giving in this purport that helps us to realize that nothing in this
world belongs to us, but everything belongs to Krishna? (3.30)
7. What is Srila Rupa Goswami’s suggestion to those who may worry that they have to
work in the material world? (5.11)
8. How can one apply oneself completely to Krishna’s service? (5.11)
9. How can we identify a person in bodily consciousness? (5.12)
10. Who cannot have peace? (5.12)
11. What is the secret of Krishna consciousness? (5.12)
12. What do the demoniac consider as their ultimate goal of life? (16.11-12)
13. What are the beliefs of a demoniac person regarding rebirth? (16.11-12)
14. When is the plan making business of a demoniac person finished? (16.11-12)
15. Why does a demoniac person ignore the Supersoul in his heart? (16.11-12)
40 Peace Formula

16. Why does a demoniac person act regardless of consequences? (16.11-12)

17. List four things to show how a demoniac man is influenced by money? (16.16)
18. When someone is wealthy, what should he think ideally? What does a wealthy
demoniac man think about his wealth? (16.16)
19. What is the demoniac man’s understanding of the theory of Karma? (16.16)
20. Explain the mechanism of how the enmity between nations builds up? (16.16)
21. What are the preachings of the demoniac? (16.16)
22. What does a demoniac person think about himself? (16.16)
23. Why is a comparison made between Ravana and the modern scientists? (16.16)
24. What is the destination of such demoniac people? (16.16)
25. What causes the demoniac to disregard scriptures? (16.17)
26. What role does the demoniac play in connection with religion? (16.17)
27. What do the common men and the foolish consider the demoniac person’s
proclamation of greatness? (16.17)
28. Sometimes the demoniac even take to the renounced order. But what is their
philosophy? Why do they propose such false things? (16.17)
29. What are the things that make a demoniac person envious? What is the result of that
envy? (16.17)
30. What does a demoniac person think about himself? What is the result of such
thinking? (16.17)
31. Whom does a demoniac person try to cut down? Why? (16.17)
32. After death, how does one get a particular type of body in the next life? (16.19)
33. What is the fate of demons? What are the characteristics of such demons? (16.19)
34. Is God all merciful in casting the demons down and down into lower and lower
species like cats, dogs or hogs? (16.19)
35. What is the greatest good fortune a demon can achieve from God? Give three
examples of those who achieved that good fortune? (16.19)
36. Having understood about demoniac life, we may now be afraid that we should not
follow the path of demons. But what is the beginning of demoniac life? (16.21)
 Peace Formula 41

37. How dangerous are the three enemies: Lust, Anger and Greed? (16.21)
38. What happens to a person who has freed himself from the three vices? (16.22)
39. What is the purpose of Vedic literature describing, “If you do this action, you will get
that reaction”? What is that method based on? (16.22)
40. Where is the liberation of the conditioned soul guaranteed? (16.22)
41. What is the only qualification required to achieve the spiritual abode? (9.26)
42. Who can be barred from Krishna consciousness? (9.26)
43. From whom does Krishna not want any kind of offering? (9.26)
44. Which word is repeated more than once in this verse? Why? (9.26)
45. Which qualifications cannot induce Krishna to accept some offering? (9.26)
46. What items should not be offered to Krishna? Why? (9.26)
47. Who are the people who are eating only sin? (9.26)
48. Who cannot comprehend this verse of Bhagavad-gita? (9.26)
49. What is the nature of the Lord’s senses? (9.26)
50. How can we confidently say that the Lord has to have senses? (9.26)
51. Explain the absolute nature of Krishna with an example. (9.26)
52. What is the prime duty of every living being? (9.27)
53. Why does Krishna demand the fruits of our work, food, offering, austerities, etc.?
What difference will it make: a) for Him, b) for us? Answer this question based on
your understanding of philosophy. (9.27)
54. What is life’s mission of a devotee? (12.6-7)
55. What is one essential difference between a yogi going to another planet and a devotee
going to the spiritual world? (12.6-7)
56. Give two examples to show how the Lord mercifully delivers His devotees from this
material world, and how a devotee need not be in any anxiety about this. (12.6-7)
57. What should a devotee not do? What is the specific benediction of devotional
service? (12.6-7)
58. What consciousness helps one to be situated in ‘samadhi’? (2.57)
42 Peace Formula

59. What is the test of a yogi? (2.58)

60. How can one know how a yogi is situated? (2.58)
61. What is the nature of the senses? (2.58)
62. How should a yogi or a devotee deal with the senses? (2.58)
63. When is it not possible to be firmly fixed in Krishna consciousness? (2.58)
64. Should a devotee suppress the senses? Explain with an example. (2.58)
65. What is sense restraint compared to? (2.59)
66. What is the comparison between the following with the practice of ashtanga yoga:
(a) a patient’s hatred for restrictions in eating, (b) taste for eatables? (2.59)
67. What is the difference between ashtanga yoga and bhakti yoga with reference to
attraction for the sense objects of the material world? (2.59)
68. Why do even great sages fall victim to maya’s allurements? (2.59)
69. What is the best solution to control the mind and senses? (2.60)
70. What example is given in the purport to explain the state of a person completely
satisfied in Krishna consciousness with no attraction for material things? (2.60)
71. What lesson did you learn from the example of Yamunacarya and Ambarish
maharaja? (2.60)
72. How did Durvasa Muni lose control of his senses? How did Ambarish Maharaja
emerge victorious? (2.61)
73. Write three lessons that you have learnt by understanding all the engagements of
Ambarish Maharaja given in the form of a Shrimad Bhagavatam verse and translation
in this purport? (2.61)
74. What is Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, the great acharya’s remark? (2.61)
75. What is the aim of real yoga? What is a waste of time? (2.61)
76. What happens to one who is not Krishna conscious? (2.62)
77. Is engaging senses in service of the Lord just a casual option provided for the people
in general? Give reasons for your answer. (2.62)
78. Give an example to show that even demigods are not exempted from the influence of
sense objects. (2.62)
 Peace Formula 43

79. How could Haridasa Thakura pass the test of Mayadevi herself? (2.62)
80. What is the conclusion of the purport in one sentence? (2.62)
81. Whose renunciation is considered ‘phalgu’ or less important? (2.63)
82. Explain with an example why an impersonalist cannot enjoy life? (2.63)
83. What is the result of artificial renunciation? (2.63)
84. Although a devotee may be attached to the sensual things of this world, what action
gives him the strength to cope with the demanding senses? (2.64)
85. What is the cause of disturbance in our mind? (2.66)
86. Who can bring about peace? (2.66)
87. Explain the phrase, ‘make a show of peace’ in the purport. Who does it? Why do
they do it? What is their true position? (2.66)
88. What is the correct technique for controlling the mind? (2.67)
89. How can the dangerous senses, which are like enemies, be curbed? (2.68)
90. When is one established in intelligence? How should one practice that art? (2.68)
91. What is ‘night’ for materialistic persons? (2.69)
92. What does a materialistic person dream about? What is the result of his dreams? 2.69)
93. How is an introspective man different from a materialistic person? (2.69)
94. How long will the sense gratificatory desires torment our hearts? (2.70)
95. What is the proof of a Krishna conscious man? (2.70)
96. Who all are unhappy because of unfulfilled desires? (2.70)
97. If a devotee does not even desire liberation from material bondage, then what does he
desire? (2.70)
98. What makes a devotee attain perfect peace, while others remain disturbed? (2.70)
99. Give two definitions of desirelessness. What is the common notion that common
people have about desirelessness? (2.71)
100. Why did Arjuna fight the battle of Kurukshetra? (2.71)
101. Is it possible to empty our hearts of all desires? What is the solution? (2.71)
44 Peace Formula

102. How is a materially desireless person able to give up proprietorship of everything in

this world even up to the point of liberation? (2.71)
103. What two things according to Prabhupada are the basic principles of real peace?
(2.71)
104. How long will it take us to become Krishna conscious? Explain with an example.
(2.72)
105. What is the Bhagavad-gita’s teaching that is different from the Buddhist philosophy?
(2.72)
106. If someone is engaged in devotional service, what is it equivalent to? (2.72)
107. What is the difference between the material world and the spiritual world? (2.72)
108. Give the quote from the Bhagavad-gita with translation that says that devotional
service of the Lord is the liberated stage. (2.72)

* * * * *
Peace Formula 45
46 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Chapter 2

Who should be the Object

of My Worship?
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 47

Chapter Contents

Page
Sr. No. Contents
No.
Worship According to Propensities 37
Puranas for people in the mode of ignorance 38
1
Puranas for people in the mode of passion 40
Puranas for people in the mode of goodness 40
Individual or GD Task: Learning about who
41
is Supreme?
2
Story: A Sage’s expedition in search of the
41
Supereme.

3 Difference between Krishna and Vishnu 44

Discovering the Roots: Is Krishna an avatar

4 45
of Vishnu?
Who is the Ultimate God? 48
God: One Person Called by Different 48
5 Names
Who is that God? 48
God is one who is full in Six Opulences 49
Individual or GD task:
51
Learning about Who is Krishna?
6
Story: Markandeya rishi reveals
51
Krishna’s True Identity
7 Krishna, Christos, Christ 56
48 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Who should be the Object of My Worship?

mattaù parataraà nänyat kiïcid asti dhanaïjaya
mayi sarvam idaà protaà sütre maëi-gaëä iva

TRANSLATION
O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are
strung on a thread. [BG 7.7]
* * * *
Worship According to Propensities

Have you ever wondered why people worship so many gods? And amongst so many of
them -- Ganesh, Kartikeya, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Krishna, etc., who is actually God?
Can we worship anybody? Or are we supposed to worship everybody? Very few
fortunate, intelligent people like you think of these questions in life; others just go on
with their routine rituals without much understanding.
Everyone is situated in a particular mode - goodness, passion
and ignorance - and is attracted to a particular type of lifestyle
and worship according to the mode in which one is situated.
People in different modes are given different types of worship
directed towards different demigods. The Upanishads say,
‘nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam’ - ‘The
Supreme Lord is only one, but the living entities are many
although both are eternal and conscious’. Thus God is one, but
demigods are many. It is important to know who is that
ultimate God, who are the demigods, and the differences
between them. With this scientific knowledge, we can worship
the Supreme with full confidence. Otherwise, people fear, “If I
worship one demigod, then the other demigods may become
angry with me due to my neglect of them!”

A man in the mode of goodness (sattva-guna) is characterized by happiness (sukham) and

knowledge (jnanam). He is generally wiser than others. He can see how, by not
following the laws of God, one has to suffer. He leads life in accordance with the
injunctions of the scriptures, and avoids sinful habits like meat eating, gambling,
intoxication and illicit sex. He has a sense of happiness because he is more or less free
from sinful reactions. The representative type is a brahmana. Poets and philosophers
also fall in this category.
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 49

The mode of passion (rajo-guna) is characterized by ‘sanga’ - the attraction between

man and woman and ‘trishna’ - hankering for honor and prestige in society. As long
as one is hankering after honor and sex, he has to work very hard. Such people attach
too much importance to decorating the body, and so ignore to inquire about the meaning
of life.

The mode of ignorance (tamo-guna) is characterised by sleep (nidra), laziness (alasya)

and madness (pramada). This mode is just the opposite of the mode of goodness. In the
mode of ignorance, one cannot understand what is what. A man in ignorance is very
lazy and has no interest for spiritual life. Such a man is always addicted to
intoxicants and sleeping. In the mode of ignorance whatever one does is good neither
for him nor for anyone else. Such people consider filling their bellies and enjoying the
senses to be the ultimate goal of life.

According to Matsya Purana, among the eighteen Puranas, there are six Puranas for
people in each of the modes.

(1) The Puranas for people in the mode of ignorance, which recommend worship of
Shiva and Durga, are Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda and Agni Puranas.
(2) The Puranas for people in the mode of passion, which recommend worship of
Brahma and other demigods, are Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya,
Bhavishya, Vamana and Brahma Puranas.
(3) The Puranas for people in the mode of goodness, which recommend worship of Sita-
Rama, Laxmi-Narayana and Radha-Krishna, are Vishnu,
Garuda, Narada, Padma, Varaha and Bhagavata Puranas.

1) Puranas for people in the mode of ignorance

These Puranas glorify and recommend worship of Shiva and

his consort, Durga. Lord Shiva, in charge of mode of
ignorance in material world, is always accompanied by his
material energy – goddess Durga, or goddess Kali. There is
a popular picture of goddess Kali in which she wears a
garland composed of the heads of the asuras, and holds in
her left hand a captured head and in her right hand a great
khadga (chopper) for killing asuras. Great wars are symbolic
representations of Kali’s devastation of the asuras and are
actually conducted by goddess Kali. Asuras try to pacify the
goddess Kali or Durga, by worshipping her in material opulence, but when the asuras
become too intolerable, goddess Kali does not discriminate in killing them wholesale.
Lord Shiva’s duty is very dangerous because he has to employ the energy of goddess
50 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Kali or Durga. In another popular picture the goddess Kali is sometimes seen standing
on the prostrate body of Lord Shiva, which indicates that sometimes Lord Shiva has to
fall down flat in order to stop goddess Kali from killing the asuras.

Since Lord Shiva controls the powerful material energy

(goddess Durga), worshippers of Lord Shiva may
sometimes attain very opulent positions within this material
world, but goddess Durga keeps all living entities chasing
after material benefits in the darkness of ignorance. In
contrast, a Vaishnava, or a worshipper of Lord Vishnu,
does not hanker for material opulences like wealth,
position, name, fame, power, dominion over others etc
knowing them to be temporary and perishable, but desires
only to make progress on the path back home, back to
Godhead. Since a devotee has nothing to do with any kind
of material possession, he does not come under the control
of goddess Kali, or the goddess Durga.

Because Lord Shiva is always merciful, his name is Ashutosha. Generally those who are
very fond of material prosperity approach Lord Shiva for such benedictions. Thus, the
living beings situated in the mode of ignorance, perform severe austerities (e.g. Vrikasura
cut flesh from his own body and offered it in fire sacrifice to invoke the presence of Lord
Shiva), and also ask for ghastly boons in order to cause harm to oneself and others (eg.
Vrikasura’s desire to have a boon by which he could crack the head of anyone whom he
touched).

Devotees of Lord Vishnu, however, have no desire for such benedictions, and Lord
Vishnu does not give His devotees benedictions that would cause disturbance to the
whole world.

A few real-life examples illustrate what worship in the mode of ignorance is.
• If you visit Kankeshwar (Lord Shiva's temple close to Bombay) you will find sadhus smoking
charas. Even if you suggest to them that a sadhu should be free from intoxicants, they will
smile at you and quote extensively from Shaivite scripture to prove that the devotees of Shiva
must take intoxicants to worship Him properly! They will further say that on Maha
Shivaratri, the taking of ‘bhang’ is an essential part of the celebration.

• According to tantric worship, the worshippers of Durga are required to have the five M's:
maams (meat), matsya (fish), madira (liquor), maithuna (sex), and mura (parched rice) to
worship her properly.
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 51

These forms of (regulated) worship are the only means by which degraded minds can be
enticed to glorify God. If this kind of regulation is not prescribed for them, such people
are anyway going to indulge in such sinful activities day in and day out. If anyone in such
mode of ignorance agrees to follow such basic regulation (like having these undesirable
items only on Maha-Shivaratri) as given in the scriptures, he will be considered saintly in
his society, and others will be inspired to follow him.

And when those in the mode of ignorance follow these forms of worship they gradually arrive at a
higher state of consciousness. In the Vedic scriptures, it is advised that animal sacrifice should be
performed to please Kali. This injunction is for those who are in the mode of ignorance and are
addicted to meat-eating. It is designed to wean them from this habit. The sacrifice of a goat to
goddess Kali may be performed only once a month on amavasya (the moonless night). The
worshiper of Kali has to personally cut the throat of a goat while chanting a mantra in its ear.
The mantra means: ‘My dear goat, in this life I sacrifice you to goddess Kali, in the next life you
may do the same to me.’ On performing this sacrifice several times even the most demoniac
worshiper of Kali will wake up. As he realizes that he is creating terrible future suffering for
himself, spiritual wisdom dawns. In this way arriving at a higher consciousness he abandons the
consumption of meat.
Just as this method of worship elevates those who are in the mode of ignorance, similarly
the Puranas give methods of worship for elevation of those who are in the modes of
passion and goodness. Thus we see that the Vedic scriptures are scientifically designed
by God to gradually elevate all followers to spiritual perfection.

(2) Puranas for people in the mode of passion

These glorify and recommend worship of Brahma and other
demigods. Hiranyakashipu wanted to lord over the whole universe
and bring all the demigods under his control. For achieving this
position and honor, he performed severe penances for Lord Brahma
by not drinking even a drop of water for hundred celestial years, and
standing with arms raised while his whole body was eaten by worms
and insects and only his bones were left. Such is the desire for honor
and position of a person in the mode of passion.

(3) Puranas for people in the mode of goodness

These recommend the worship of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna or Lord Rama. Worship
of Krishna or Vishnu or Rama is performed by simply offering tulasi, flowers, fruits or
water with love as recommended by Lord Krishna Himself in Bhagavad-gita [BG 9.26].
The most essential ingredient needed is only love or devotion. If one has nothing to
offer, one may even offer anything to the Lord in the mind with love.
52 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Individual or GD Task: Learning about Who is Supreme?

If you are in a classroom, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you
are reading this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. The following pastime
can help us appreciate who is fit to be worshipped and why. Read the story carefully.
Each member of your group can read one section given below. Discuss the answer for
the questions inserted in between the story amongst yourselves and answer the questions
on a separate sheet. Submit your answers along with the EBG Quiz: 13 answers.
Remember to mention on the top of your sheet ‘Lesson 13: Who should be the object of
my worship?, Individual / GD Task’ along with your name or names of group members.

Puranic Story: ‘A Sage’s Expedition in Search of the Supreme’

(Adapted from the Krishna book, chapter entitled “The Superexcellent Pastimes of
Krishna)

L ong, long ago, there was an assembly of great sages on the bank of the river Sarasvati, and they
performed a great sacrifice of the name Satra. In such assemblies, the great sages present usually
discuss Vedic subject matters and philosophical topics, and in this particular meeting the following
question was raised: The three predominating deities of this material world, namely, Lord Brahma,
Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, are directing all the affairs of this cosmos, but who among them is the
Supreme? After much discussion on this question, the great sage named Bhrgu, the son of Lord Brahma,
was deputed to test all three predominating deities and report to the assembly as to who is the greatest.

Q1: What was the job assigned to Bhrgu by the sages?

Q2: What is Bhrgu’s relation with Brahma?

Being thus deputed, the great sage Bhrgu Muni first of all went to his father’s
residence in Brahmaloka. The plan decided upon by the sages was for Bhrgu to
test which of the predominating deities possesses the quality of goodness in full.
Therefore, when Bhrgu Muni reached his father, Lord Brahma, because he wanted
to test whether he had the quality of goodness, he purposely did not offer his
respects to his father, either by offering obeisances or by offering prayers. It is the
duty of a son or a disciple to offer respects and recite suitable prayers when he
approaches his father or spiritual master. Lord Brahma was very angry at his
son’s impudence, and was even prepared to condemn Bhrgu by cursing him, but
because Bhrgu was his son, Lord Brahma controlled his anger.

Q3: How did Bhrgu test Brahma?

Q4: What is the duty of a son or disciple?
Q5: How did Brahma respond to Bhrgu’s behavior?
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 53

After testing Lord Brahma, Bhrgu Muni went directly to the planet Kailasa, where Lord Shiva resides. Bhrgu
Muni happened to be Lord Shiva’s brother. Therefore, as soon as Bhrgu Muni approached, Lord Shiva was
very glad and personally rose to embrace him. But when Lord Shiva approached, Bhrgu Muni refused to
embrace him. “My dear brother,” he said, “you are always very impure. Because you smear your body with
ashes, you are not very clean. Please do not touch me.” When Bhrgu Muni refused to embrace his brother,
saying that Lord Shiva was impure, the latter became very angry with him. It is said that an offense can be
committed either with the body, with the mind or by speech. Bhrgu Muni’s first offense, committed towards
Lord Brahma, was an offense with the mind. His second offense, committed towards Lord Shiva by insulting
him, criticizing him for unclean habits, was an offense by speech. Because the quality of ignorance is
prominent in Lord Shiva, when he heard Bhrgu’s insult his eyes immediately became red with anger. With
uncontrollable rage, he took up his trident and was prepared to kill Bhrgu Muni. At that time Lord Shiva’s
wife, Parvati, was present. She fell down at the feet of her husband, and with her sweet words she talked
him out of killing Bhrgu Muni.
Q6: What type of offense did Bhrgu commit with Shiva?
Q7: What incited Lord Shiva’s anger? Which quality in Shiva evoked anger?
Q8: How was Bhrgu Muni’s life spared?

After being saved from the anger of Lord Shiva, Bhrgu Muni went
directly to the planet Svetadvipa, where Lord Vishnu was laying on a bed
of flowers, accompanied by His wife, the goddess of fortune, who was
engaged in massaging His lotus feet. There Bhrgu Muni purposely
committed the greatest sin by offending Lord Vishnu by his bodily
activities. The first offense committed by Bhrgu Muni was mental, the
second offense was vocal, and the third offense was corporal. These
different offenses are progressively greater in degree. An offense
committed within the mind is a positive offense, the same offense
committed verbally is comparatively graver, and when committed by
bodily action it is superlative in offensiveness. So Bhrgu Muni committed
the greatest offense by kicking the chest of the Lord with his foot in the
presence of the goddess of fortune. Of course, Lord Vishnu is all-
merciful. He did not become angry at the activities of Bhrgu Muni, for
Bhrgu Muni was a great brahmana. A brahmana is to be excused even if he sometimes commits an offense,
and Lord Vishnu set the example. Yet it is said that from the time of this incident the goddess of fortune,
Lakshmi, has not been very favorably disposed towards the brahmanas, and therefore, because the goddess
of fortune withholds her benedictions from them, the brahmanas are generally very poor.
Q9: How did Bhrgu offend Lord Vishnu? What is the nature of the offense? Which among the
three offenses committed by Bhrgu was the most severe?
Q10: How did Lord Vishnu respond to Bhrgu? Why did he respond in that manner?
Q11: Why are the brahmanas generally poor?

Bhrgu Muni’s kicking the chest of Lord Vishnu with his foot was certainly a great offense, but Lord Vishnu is
so great that He did not take it very seriously. Instead of being angry or cursing Bhrgu Muni, Lord Vishnu
immediately got up from His bed and offered respectful obeisances to the brahmana. He addressed Bhrgu
Muni as follows: “My dear brahmana, it is My greatest fortune that you have come here. Please, therefore,
sit down on this cushion for a few minutes. My dear brahmana, I am very sorry that when you first entered
My home I could not receive you properly. It was a great offense on My part, and I beg you to pardon Me.
54 Who should be the Object of My worship?

You are so pure and great that the water, which washes
your feet, can purify even the places of pilgrimage.
Therefore, I request you to purify the Vaikuntha planet
where I live with My associates. My dear great sage, I
know that your feet are very soft, like a lotus flower, and
that My chest is as hard as a thunderbolt. I am therefore
afraid that you may have felt some pain by kicking My
chest with your feet. Let Me touch your feet to relieve the
pain you have suffered.” Lord Vishnu then began to
massage the feet of Bhrgu Muni.
The Lord continued to address Bhrgu Muni. “My dear
lord,” He said, “My chest has now become sanctified
because of the touch of your feet, and I am now assured that the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, will be very
glad to live there perpetually.” Another name for Lakshmi is cancala, indicating that she does not stay in one
place for a long time. Therefore, we see that a rich man’s family sometimes becomes poor after a few
generations, and sometimes we see that a poor man’s family becomes very rich. Lakshmi, the goddess of
fortune, is cancala in this material world, whereas in the Vaikuntha planets she eternally lives at the lotus
feet of the Lord. Because Lakshmi is famous as cancala, Lord Narayana indicated that she might not have
been living perpetually by His chest, but because His chest had been touched by the feet of Bhrgu Muni, it
was now sanctified, and there was no chance that the goddess of fortune would leave. Bhrgu Muni,
however, could understand his position and that of the Lord, and he was struck with wonder at the behavior
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of his gratitude, his voice choked up, and he was unable to
reply to the words of the Lord. Tears glided from his eyes, and he could not say anything. He simply stood
silently before the Lord.
Q12: Write three point wise responses of Lord Vishnu when Bhrgu kicked the Lord on His chest?
Q13: What is the nature of Goddess of fortune, Lakshmi called as canchala in the material world
and in Vaikuntha?
Q14: What did Lord Vishnu say about Bhrgu Muni kicking His chest in connection with canchala?
Q15: After the divine speech of Lord Vishnu, what happened to Bhrgu Muni?

After testing Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, Bhrgu Muni returned to the assembly of great sages
on the bank of the river Sarasvati and described his experience. After hearing him with great attention, the
sages concluded that of all the predominating deities, Lord Vishnu is certainly the greatest. In Shrimad
Bhagavatam these great sages are described as brahma-vadinam. Brahma-vadinam means those who talk
about the Absolute Truth but have not yet come to a conclusion. Generally brahma-vadi refers to the
impersonalists or to those who are students of the Vedas. It is to be understood, therefore, that all the
gathered sages were serious students of the Vedic literature but had not come to definite conclusions as to
who is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead. But after hearing of Bhrgu Muni’s experience in
meeting all three predominating deities—Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu—the sages concluded
that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Truth, the Personality of Godhead.
It is said in Shrimad Bhagavatam that after hearing the details from Bhrgu Muni, the sages were astonished
because although Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva were immediately agitated, Lord Vishnu, in spite of being
kicked by Bhrgu Muni, was not agitated in the least. The example is given that small lamps may be agitated
by a slight breeze, but the greatest lamp or the greatest illuminating source, the sun, is never moved, even
by the greatest hurricane. One’s greatness has to be estimated by one’s ability to tolerate provoking
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 55

situations. The sages gathered on the bank of the river Sarasvati concluded that if one wants actual peace
and freedom from all fear, he should take shelter of the lotus feet of Vishnu. If Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva
lost their peaceful attitude upon a slight provocation, how could they maintain the peace and tranquility of
their devotees? As for Lord Vishnu, however, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that anyone who accepts Lord
Vishnu or Krishna as the supreme friend attains the highest perfection of peaceful life.
The sages thus concluded that by following the principles of Vaishnava-dharma one becomes actually
perfect, but if one follows all the religious principles of a particular sect and does not become advanced in
understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, all such labor of love is fruitless. To execute
religious principles means to come to the platform of perfect knowledge.
Q16: What did the sages conclude after hearing from Bhrgu Muni about his whole expedition?
Q17: What type of spiritualists were these sages? What is the difference in their understanding
before and after Bhrgu Muni’s experience with the three prominent Deities of the Universe?
Q18: How can we estimate one’s greatness? Give an example.
Q19: What should a person aspiring for peace and freedom from fear do?
Q20: What did the sages conclude?

Thus from the Puranas, (histories) it is very easy for anyone to understand that one has to
ultimately elevate oneself to the pure worship of Krishna or Vishnu. Often people raise
a doubt whether Krishna is supreme or Vishnu is supreme. The scriptures declare that
Vishnu is an expansion of Krishna.
Difference between Krishna and Vishnu
When the Lord is at home, Vrindavan, He is Krishna. When the Lord is in the office,
taking up the duties of creating the universes and maintaining them, then He expands as
Vishnu. When the Lord is in His natural mood in Vrindavan, He does not carry any
weapons; rather He carries a flute to play and enchant His devotees. He enjoys
multifarious loving pastimes with His eternal associates such as cow herding, wrestling,
singing and dancing.

The difference between Krishna and Vishnu is like the difference between a Army
Officer at home and on duty. At home, an Army Officer wears simple homely dress like
dhoti. He plays with his children just like a child. He may even carry his child on his
back like an elephant. But when he goes on duty, he takes on a serious role – wearing the
official uniform with stars and color strips, wearing belt, army cap and shoes, carrying a
gun -- though he is the same person.
Similarly, when Krishna expands as Maha Vishnu, He takes on a sober role of creating
millions of universes. Vishnu carries conch, lotus, mace and disc unlike Krishna. Thus
in one sense, Krishna and Vishnu are non-different. Still it should be understood that
Vishnu is an expansion of Krishna. The mood in which they reciprocate with Their
devotees is also different.
56 Who should be the Object of My worship?

While the relationships of Krishna’s devotees with Him is very intimate, the relationships
of Vishnu or Lord Rama’s devotees is on a platform of awe and veneration. Some
practical examples are Garuda, Hanuman who serve in awe and reverence Lord Vishnu
and Lord Rama respectively. The cowherd girls and boys and elderly men and women
of Vrindavan serve Lord Shri Krishna in spontaneous love.

From time to time, the Lord descends to the material world and He is then referred to as
an avatar. Evidences regarding the genuine avatars of the Lord are found in the revealed
scriptures. Sometimes people think that Krishna is one among the ten avatars
(incarnations) of Vishnu. But a more complete understanding is that Krishna is the source
of all the Vishnu forms including Maha Vishnu, Garbhodakashayi Vishnu and
Kshirodakashai Vishnu.

There are twenty-four lila avatars, like Matsya avatar, Kurma

avatar etc., and all these avatars originate from Krishna. This is
mentioned in Shrimad Bhagavatam (1.3.28): ete camsa kala pumsa
krishnas tu bhagavan svayam…. “All the lists of the incarnations of
Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or
parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.”

In the Vedic literature names like Narayana and Vishnu may be

found more frequently than the name Krishna. This is because
such names refer to the Lord’s activities in relation to the
material creation (i.e. “Vishnu” means “all-pervading”, and
“Narayana” means “the shelter of all living entities”) But Krishna never takes any part in
creation, maintenance or annihilation. He always remains aloof from all these and is
always merrily playing in His own abode.

Discovering the Roots: Is Krishna an avatar of Vishnu?

Let us observe the following verses that declare Krishna to be the origin of everything
and the Supreme Personality of Godhead:

(1) The Maha-Upanishad (1) states:

eko vai näräyaëa äsén na brahmä na éçäno näpo nägni

samau neme dyäv-äpåthivé na nakñaträëi na süryaù sa

“In the beginning of the creation there was only the Supreme Personality Narayana. There was
no Brahma, no Shiva, no fire, no moon, no stars in the sky, no sun.”
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 57

(2) In the Varaha Purana, it is said:

näräyaëaù paro devas tasmäj jätaç caturmukhaù

tasmäd rudro 'bhavad devaù sa ca sarva-jïatäà gataù

“Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and from Him

Brahma was born, from whom Shiva was born.”

(3) The verse continues:

näräyaëäd brahmä jäyate, näräyaëäd prajäpatiù prajäyate,

näräyaëäd indro jäyate, näräyaëäd añöau vasavo jäyante,
näräyaëäd ekädaça rudrä jäyante, näräyaëäd dvädaçädityäù

"From Narayana, Brahma is born, and from Narayana, the patriarchs are also born. From
Narayana, Indra is born, from Narayana the eight Vasus are born, from Narayana the eleven
Rudras are born, from Narayana the twelve Adityas are born."

(4) Now having established Narayana as the source of Shiva, Brahma, Indra and others,
we can see how even Lord Narayana is
sheltered in Shri Krishna. In other words, Shri
Krishna is the original Narayana. The
following verse was spoken in the presence of
Shri Krishna by Bhishmadeva when he was on
his arrow bed surrounded by the Pandavas and
other great personalities from all over the
universe.

eña vai bhagavän säkñäd ädyo Narayanaù pumän

mohayan mäyayä lokaà güòhaç carati våñëiñu

“This Shri Krishna is no other than the inconceivable, original Personality of Godhead. He is the
first Narayana, the supreme enjoyer. But He is moving amongst the descendants of King Våñëi just
like one of us and He is bewildering us with His self-created energy.” [SB 1.9.18]

Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to this verse: “...Bhishmadeva is one of the
twelve mahajanas who know the principles of transcendental knowledge. The
impersonalist Sankara also corroborates his confirmation of Lord Sri Krishna’s being the
original Personality of Godhead. All other acharyas have also confirmed this statement,
and thus there is no chance of not accepting Lord Shri Krishna as the original Personality
of Godhead. Bhishmadeva says that He is the first Narayana. This is also confirmed by
Brahmaji in the Bhagavatam (10.14.14). Krishna is the first Narayana. In the spiritual
58 Who should be the Object of My worship?

world (Vaikunta) there are unlimited numbers of Narayanas, who are all the same
Personality of Godhead and are considered to be the plenary expansions of the original
Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. The first form of Lord Shri Krishna first expands
Himself as the form of Baladeva, and Baladeva expands in so many other forms, such as
Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva, Narayana, Puruna, Rama and
Narasimha. All these expansions are one and the same Vishnu-tattva, and Shri Krishna is
the original source of all the plenary expansions. He is therefore the direct Personality of
Godhead.….” [SB 1.9.18 Purport]

The Narayana Upanishad (4) also states: brahmanyo devaki-putrah “The son of Devaki,
Krishna, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Also, Lord Krishna has been mentioned
in the Chandogya Upanishad as Devaki-nandan Krishna and also in the Rig-Veda and
innumerable other scriptures.

Also we find Shri Krishna expanding into Narayana form(s) in pastimes:

• Brahma-vimohan lila (Krishna’s cowherd boy forms into
Narayanas)
• Akrura taking Krishna and Balarama to Mathura
• Krishna’s birth in Kamsa’s prison
• Krishna expanding into Vishwarupa form or Vishnu form
etc.
• Maha Vishnu stealing brahmana’s children to get darshan
of Krishna

On the other hand, we do not find Lord Vishnu expanding

into many Krishna forms in any pastime. These and many
other evidences can help us understand how Lord Shri
Krishna is the summum bonum and Lord Narayana is one of His expansions.

Who is the Ultimate God?

God: One Person Called by Different Names

By definition, God is the Supreme Being. There is no one equal to or greater than God in
any quality, attribute or characteristic. For each of His qualities, God has a name. For
example, the substance water may be called as ‘neeru’, ‘jalam’, ‘thanneer’, ‘paanee’,
‘water’, etc., by people who speak different languages; but the substance is the same.
The sun may be called as ‘sun’ by an Englishman, as ‘sooraj’ by a Hindi speaking
person, and as ‘soorya’ by a Sanskrit speaking person. Yet when they speak these
various names, they all refer to the same object – the sun.
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 59

Similarly, God is called by different names like: ‘Jehovah’ meaning ‘The Almighty’,
‘Allah’ meaning ‘The Greatest’, ‘Rama’ meaning ‘The Reservoir of All Pleasure’, and so
on by different people according to their cultures, languages, etc. All these names
undoubtedly refer to the same supreme person - God, but each of these names refer only
to a specific quality of God.

Who is that God?

Now why did we consider only Hindu gods? What about Allah or Jehovah or gods of
other religions?

If we look back at the history of various religions of the world, Islam started about 1300
years ago, Christianity about 2000 years ago, and Buddhism about 2500 years ago. The
Bhagavad-gita, on the other hand, was spoken about 5000 years ago. Within Bhagavad-
gita Lord Krishna informs Arjuna that he had already spoken the Bhagavad-gita to
Vivaswan, presiding deity of the sun planet at least 120,400,000 years ago and in human
society it has been present for over two million years [BG 4.1]. The Vedas are the oldest
body of wisdom coming from the dawn of creation through word of mouth, written down
about 5000 years ago by Krishna Dvaipayana Vyas for the benefit of people in the age of
Kaliyuga. Sanatana dharma being the oldest religion, it encompasses wisdom to suit the
nature and the inclination of people who range from morally degraded to the spiritually
exalted. Sanatana dharma does not refer to any sectarian process of religion. It is the
eternal function of the eternal living entities in relationship with the eternal Supreme
Lord.

In the Bible, Jesus calls himself the son and representative of God. In the Koran,
Mohammed calls himself a prophet or a messenger of God. The question therefore begs
itself: who is God? Only God Himself knows this answer completely, and therefore we
should hear from Him. In the Bhagavad-gita, which is the summum bonum of all Vedic
literatures, Lord Krishna declares Himself to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and He specifically asserts His supremacy over the well-known gods or demigods of the
Vedic pantheon.

Unfortunately, many people think of Lord Shri Krishna as an ordinary person, while
some admit that He was an extraordinary person with great mystic powers! But actually
according to Bhagavad-gita and other scriptures, Lord Krishna is neither an ordinary
person nor an extraordinary person. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
supreme controller, the supreme proprietor, the supreme enjoyer, the one whom no one
can ever equal or surpass in any aspect.
60 Who should be the Object of My worship?

God is one who is full in Six Opulences

(You may refer to the chapter ‘Krishna-the all attractive’ in our book ‘Your Best Friend’ for more information
on this topic)

Srila Prabhupada writes in his compilation, ‘Science of Self Realization’ (chapter 1c) as
follows:

Parasara Muni, a great sage and the father of Vyasadeva, who compiled all the Vedic literatures,
gave the following definition of God:
aiçvaryasya samagrasya véryasya yaçasaù çriyaù
jïäna-vairägyayoç caiva saëëäà bhaga itiìgana (Vishnu Puräëa 6.5.47)
Parasara Muni thus defines Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as one who is full in
six opulences—who has full strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty, and renunciation.

Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the

proprietor of all riches. There are many rich men in the Wealth
world, but no one can claim that he possesses all the
wealth. Nor can anyone claim that no one is richer than
he. We understand from the Shrimad Bhagavatam,
however, that when Krishna was present on this earth He
had 16,108 wives, and each wife lived in a palace made of
marble and bedecked with jewels. The rooms were filled
with furniture made of ivory and gold, and there was
great opulence everywhere. These descriptions are all
given vividly in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. In the history of human society we cannot find anyone
who had sixteen thousand wives or sixteen thousand palaces. Nor did Krishna go to one wife one
day and another wife another day. No, He was personally present in every palace at the same
time. This means that He expanded Himself in 16,108 forms. This is impossible for an ordinary
man, but it is not very difficult for God. If God is unlimited, He can expand Himself in unlimited
forms, otherwise there is no meaning to the word unlimited. God is omnipotent; He can maintain
not only sixteen thousand wives but also sixteen million and still encounter no difficulty, otherwise
there is no meaning to the word omnipotent.
These are all attractive features. We experience in this material world Strength
that if a man is very rich, he is attractive. In America, for instance,
Rockefeller and Ford are very attractive because of their riches. They are
attractive even though they do not possess all the wealth of the world.
How much more attractive, then, is God, who is the possessor of all
riches.

Similarly, Krishna has unlimited strength. His strength was present from the moment of His birth.
When Krishna was only three months old, the Putana demon attempted to kill Him, but instead she
was killed by Krishna. That is God. God is God from the beginning. He does not become God by
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 61

some meditation or mystic power. Krishna is not that type of Renunciation

God. Krishna was God from the very beginning of His
appearance.
Fame Krishna also has unlimited fame. Of
course, we are devotees of Krishna and
know of Him and glorify Him, but apart
from us, many millions in the world are
aware of the fame of the Bhagavad-gita. In all countries all over the world
the Bhagavad-gita is read by philosophers, psychologists, and religionists.
We are also finding very good sales with our Bhagavad-gita As It Is. This is
because the commodity is pure gold. There are many editions of the
Bhagavad-gita, but they are not pure. Ours is selling
more because we are presenting the Bhagavad-gita as it is. The fame of the Beauty
Bhagavad-gita is Krishna's fame.

Beauty, another opulence, is possessed unlimitedly by Krishna. Krishna

Himself is very beautiful, as are all His associates. Those who were pious in
a previous life receive an opportunity in this material world to take birth in
good families and good nations. The American people are very rich and
beautiful, and these opulences are a result of pious activities. All over the
world people are attracted to the Americans because they are advanced in
scientific knowledge, riches, beauty, and so on. This planet is an
insignificant planet within the universe, yet within this planet, one
country—America—has so many attractive features. We can just
imagine, then, how many attractive features must be possessed by God,
who is the creator of the entire cosmic manifestation. How beautiful He
must be—He who has created all beauty.

A person is attractive not only because of his beauty, but also because of
his knowledge. A scientist or philosopher may be attractive because of his Knowledge

knowledge, but what knowledge is more sublime than that given by

Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita? There is no comparison in the world to such knowledge.
At the same time, Krishna possesses full renunciation (vairagya). So many things are working
under Krishna's direction in this material world, but actually Krishna is not present here. A big
factory may continue to work, although the owner may not be present. Similarly, Krishna's
potencies are working under the direction of His assistants, the demigods. Thus Krishna Himself is
aloof from the material world. This is all described in the revealed scriptures.

God, therefore, has many names according to His activities, but because He possesses so many
opulences, and because with these opulences He attracts everyone, He is called Krishna. The
Vedic literature asserts that God has many names, but "Krishna" is the principal name.
62 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Individual or GD Task: Learning about Who is Krishna?

If you are in a classroom, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you are
reading this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. The following narration from
Mahabharata, illustrates clearly the Supreme Position of Shri Krishna. Those who have doubts
about Krishna’s Supremacy should hear pastimes like this, where great saintly personalities like
Narada or Markandeya rishi establish the true facts for everyone to know. In the following
narration Markandeya rishi without any hesitation, reveals how he was put in a state of great
difficulty during ‘pralaya’, or dissolution of the universe, and how he came across the Lord of
everyone and everything face to face. He concludes that the Supreme Truth, the cause of all
causes, who he saw was none other than Shri Krishna Himself. Now what more testimony is
needed to understand the Supremacy of Shri Krishna? Read the story carefully. Each member of
your group can read one section given below. Discuss the answer for the questions inserted in
between the story amongst yourselves and answer the questions on a separate sheet. Submit your
answers along with the EBG Quiz: 13 answers. Remember to mention on the top of your sheet
‘Lesson 13: ‘Learning about who is Krishna? Individual or Group Task’ along with your name
or name of group members.

Markandeya rishi reveals Krishna’s True Identity

(adapted from ‘Mahabharata’ by Krishna Dharma)

Shri Krishna visits the Pandavas at Kamyaka forest

W hen the Pandavas were at Kamyaka forest, Krishna and Satyabhama came to visit.
Krishna knew they had returned to the Kamyaka by His inconceivable powers. The
Pandavas were overjoyed to see their well-wishing friend. With tears in their eyes they
rose up to greet Him. Krishna got down from His chariot and bowed at Yudhisthira and
Bhima’s feet, as well as the feet of Dhaumya and the Brahmins. He embraced Arjuna and accepted
the twins’ obeisances. Satyabhama embraced Draupadi, and when she and her husband were
comfortably seated among the Pandavas, they all began to converse.
Arjuna told Krishna of everything that had transpired with him since their last meeting. He then
inquired after Krishna and His family’s welfare, asking about his wife Subhadra and their son
Abhimanyu. Krishna assured him that all was well. Turning to Yudhisthira He said, “O King, the
wise assert that righteousness is superior to winning kingdoms, and to cultivate righteousness,
asceticism is necessary. In strict obedience to truth you have performed your duties and you have
thus conquered both this world and the next. You are not addicted to sensual pleasures, nor do
you act out of selfishness. Although you have won opulent kingdoms and been surrounded by
luxury, you have not swayed from your practices of charity, truthfulness, asceticism, religion,
forgiveness and patience.”
Yudhisthira bowed his head modestly as Krishna continued. “Who but you, O Dharmaraja, could
have tolerated the outrage toward Draupadi? There can be no doubt that you will recover your
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 63

kingdom in due course. When your vow is fulfilled and the thirteen years have passed, we shall do
everything in our power to chastise the Kauravas.” Krishna spoke kindly to Draupadi, saying that
it was by good fortune she had obtained such virtuous men as her husbands.
When Krishna fell silent, Yudhisthira said, “O Kesava, there is no doubt that You are our highest
refuge. We are always under Your protection.”

Q1 : What is superior to winning kingdoms? Who appreciates it? How can we cultivate it?
Q2 : What quality of Yudhisthira touched the heart of Krishna, that He glorified him immensely?
Q3 : What was Yudhisthira’s consciousness about himself and his family members?
Q4 : Did you observe how Shri Krishna behaved with different Pandavas differently? Write down
your observations. What did you learn from this? If Krishna is God, then why does He have
to behave in this way towards the Pandavas? Is He not supposed to just give blessings to
them?

Markandeya Rishi and Narada visit to bless the Pandavas

Then they saw Markandeya Rishi approaching. That immortal sage, who appeared like a youth of
no more than sixteen years, was cheerful, dressed only in a loincloth and holding a water pot. The
Pandavas, Krishna, and all the Brahmins stood to offer respect, then offered Markandeya a seat of
honor. After he had been worshiped with arghya and presented with sweet water and forest fruits,
Krishna said, “We all wish to hear your most excellent words. Kindly narrate to us the ancient
histories of virtuous kings and rishis, replete with moral and spiritual instruction.”

At that moment, Narada also arrived and was received. He too wished to hear Markandeya speak
in Krishna’s presence. With those two personalities sitting amid the Pandavas and the numerous
Brahmins, it seemed as if the sun and moon were seated together in the presence of the planets.
Everyone waited for Markandeya to speak. They all knew that the sage had lived since the
beginning of the material creation and was therefore acquainted with countless histories of great
sages and kings. The Supreme Lord Narayana had personally instructed him, and thus he
possessed profound spiritual understanding.

Q5 : How was Markandeya rishi respectfully received?

Q6 : How did it appear when Markandeya and Narada were sitting amongst others? Now what
is so special about their presence?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Yudhisthira asked, “Please tell me, O highly learned one, how a man receives the results of his
own deeds. I am mystified upon seeing how I have been deprived of my kingdom while
Dhrtarastra’s sinful sons prosper. Does one receive the results of his actions during the same life,
or do they visit him only in a later existence? How do the results of a man’s acts follow him after
death? Where do they repose when he gives up his body?”
Markandeya remained silent for a moment. He looked around at the concourse of people
assembled in the forest clearing. It seemed as if Yudhisthira were still in Indraprastha, seated in
64 Who should be the Object of My worship?

his assembly hall. Raising his right hand, the sage then replied, “The embodied soul travels from
life to life as a result of his own acts, good and bad. At no time is the soul without a body as long
as he remains within this world trying to enjoy his senses. The soul is covered first by a subtle
body made of mind, intelligence, and false ego. The subtle body carries the recollection of every
experience the soul has ever had, and thus assumes various gross material forms. Yamaraja
controls all of this. Indeed, Yamaraja keeps track of every soul within the material universe. He is
empowered by the all-knowing Supreme Soul who resides in the heart of every living being. Thus
does Yamaraja award all beings what they deserve. He never makes a mistake in this regard.”
Markandeya paused to allow his listeners to absorb what he was saying. “Some men enjoy in this
life but not in the next, some in the next but not in this, and others in both. Some men enjoy neither
in this life nor in the next.
“A wealthy man who spends this life in pleasure will suffer in the next; an ascetic who forgoes
pleasure in this life will enjoy in the next; those who marry and live pious lives as householders,
performing sacrifice and giving charity, enjoy both in this life and the next; but the foolish man who
follows no scriptural injunctions suffers continuously life after life.”
“As far as you brothers are concerned, you are virtuous and have been born only to fulfill the gods’
purposes. You are great devotees of the Supreme Lord and thus cannot be affected by karmic
reactions. Your apparent setback will ultimately lead to your everlasting fame and happiness. You
will be glorified in the world of men, and at the end of your lives, you will attain the highest
abode.”
Yudhisthira reflected on the sage’s reply. Then he asked, “O learned sage, in this world our lives
are dedicated to the Brahmins. If it pleases you, kindly tell us about a Brahmin’s greatness and
glory.”

Q7 : Explain how is Yudhishthira’s question meaningful?

Q8 : What did Markandeya rishi say about the subtle body?
Q9 : If Yamaraja is a demigod, then how is he able to know about the sins of all living entities?
Q10 : In what duty does Yamaraja never commit a mistake?
Q11 : How does a pious householder enjoy life?
Q12: Who suffers now in this life as well as in the future lives?
Q13: To which category did the Pandavas belong to out of the three mentioned?
Q14: What specialty of the Pandavas did Markandeya highlight?
Q15: For what purpose were the Pandavas born? What would be their future?

Markandeya’s unforgettable personal encounter with the Absolute Truth

In response the rishi recounted numerous ancient histories. His audience was rapt in wonder. He
also described the creation of the universe, which he had personally witnessed, and the nature of
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 65

the destruction that occurs at the end of Brahma’s day, a period of millions of years. He described
how he had floated on the causal water out of which creation occurs, as it rose and covered the
lower and middle planets. At the end of that inundation, he had seen a wonderful child lying on a
banyan leaf.

“I was struck with amazement. I could not understand how a child could have survived when the
entire universe was destroyed. The boy was effulgent and His face was as beautiful as the moon.
His eyes resembled full-blown lotuses and His body was a blackish color. He lay there smiling and
sucking His toe. Then on His chest I saw the mark of srivatsa and thought that it must be Vishnu,
although I could not be sure. As I approached Him He said, ‘My child, I know you are eager to rest.
O Markandeya, enter My body and rest awhile. I am pleased with you.”
“When the boy addressed me I lost all sense of my identity and forgot my material designations.
He opened His mouth and I felt myself drawn into it. Suddenly entering His stomach I beheld the
whole earth with all its cities and kingdoms. I wandered about for some time, seeing all the
familiar sights, including the Ganges and her tributaries, the Himalayas, and the forests in which I
had performed ascetism. I also saw the race of celestials headed by Indra, as well as the races of
ksatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras.”
“Although I wandered about within that boy’s body for a long time I never did find its limit.
Confused, I began to worship the Supreme Lord with my thoughts and words. Suddenly, I found
myself emerging again and once more I saw Him lying on the banyan leaf. I worshipped that
immeasurably powerful being who had swallowed up the entire universe, and I placed my head at
His feet. I asked Him who He was and about His purpose. Why was He lying there with the
universe held in His body?”
“The child spoke in such a way that my material illusions were completely dispelled. He told me
that He was the original Supreme Person from whom everything emanates and into whom it enters
at its end. I was amazed to hear Him speak of His own glories. He is known as Vishnu, Narayana
and Hari, but He possesses innumerable other names. That all-knowing personality then told me
that I should remain within His body until Brahma again awoke and recreated the universe. He
disappeared from my sight and I found myself back within the varied creation I had seen within
Him.”

Q16 : Read BG 8.17-19 and find out what happens at the end of Brahma’s day. Write it down in
five sentences.
Q17 : What wonderful thing did Markandeya find at the end of inundation (pralaya)?
Q18 : What were the reasons for Markandeya’s amazement?
Q19 : What guess did Markandeya make? What was the basis for his guess?
Q20 : What all did Markandeya find inside the child’s stomach? Relate this with the experience
that Mother Yashoda had once with Shri Krishna. Write down that pastime within five
sentences.
Q21 : Why did Markandeya consider the child to be an immeasurably powerful being?
66 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Q22 : What three questions did Markandeya pose to the child?

Q23 : What happened to Markandeya when the child began to speak?
Q24 : What all did the child say about Himself?

Markandeya reveals Shri Krishna’s true Identity

Finishing his narration, Markandeya looked across at Krishna. “King Yudhisthira, that lotus-eyed
boy whom I saw at the end of the creation has now appeared as Krishna. He has become your
relative and friend. Without doubt you should know Him to be the ancient Supreme Person, the
inconceivable Hari, and the original Personality of Godhead. He granted me the boon that my
memory would never fail and that my death would come only when I wanted it. Seeing Krishna
sitting here wearing a yellow silken garment, I am remembering that boy. Do not doubt that it was
He whom I saw in the waters of devastation. O hero among men, this entire creation rests within
Him even as air rests within ether. Take refuge in Krishna, for there are none superior to Him.”
Hearing the rishi’s words, the Pandavas bowed down before Krishna. Krishna smiled gently and
spoke comforting words to them. He glanced affectionately at Markandeya, who gazed back at
Krishna with love.
Yudhisthira, along with his brothers, worshipped Markandeya. Then the rishi took his leave.
Narada also left at that time, ascending into the skyways.

Q25 : What great secret did Markandeya reveal to Yudhisthira at the end of his narration?
Q26 : What two boons had the Supreme Lord granted to Markandeya rishi?
Q27 : What did Markandeya ask the Pandavas not to doubt?
Q28 : What instruction did Markandeya give to the Pandavas? How did the Pandavas respond?
Q29 : How did Krishna respond to the Pandavas?
Q30 : How did Krishna respond to Markandeya rishi’s narration? What do you learn from all these
exchanges of the Lord with His devotees?
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 67

Krishna, Christos, Christ

In 1974, near ISKCON's center in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, Srila

Prabhupada and several of his disciples took a morning walk with Father
Emmanuel Jungclaussen, a Benedictine monk from Niederalteich
Monastery. Noticing that Srila Prabhupada was carrying meditation beads
similar to the rosary, Father Emmanuel explained that he also chanted a
constant prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful unto us." The following
conversation ensued.
Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the word Christ?
Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning
"the anointed one."
Srila Prabhupada: Christos is the Greek version of the word Krishna.
Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting.
Srila Prabhupada: When an Indian person calls on Krishna, he often says, "Kåñöa." Kåñöa is a
Sanskrit word meaning "attraction." So when we address God as "Christ," "Kåñöa," or "Krishna," we
indicate the same all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Jesus said, "Our Father,
who art in heaven, sanctified be Thy name," that name of God was "Kåñöa" or "Krishna." Do you
agree?
Father Emmanuel: I think Jesus, as the son of God, has revealed to us the
actual name of God: Christ. We can call God "Father," but if we want to
address Him by His actual name, we have to say "Christ."
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. "Christ" is another way of saying Kåñöa, and "Kåñöa" is
another way of pronouncing Krishna, the name of God. Jesus said that one
should glorify the name of God, but yesterday I heard one theologian say
that God has no name—that we can call Him only "Father." A son may call
his father "Father," but the father also has a specific name. Similarly, "God"
is the general name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose specific
name is Krishna. Therefore whether you call God "Christ," "Kåñöa," or "Krishna," ultimately you are
addressing the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Father Emmanuel: Yes, if we speak of God's actual name, then we must say, "Christos." In our
religion, we have the Trinity: the Father, son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe we can know the
name of God only by revelation from the son of God. Jesus Christ revealed the name of the father,
and therefore we take the name Christ as the revealed name of God.
Srila Prabhupada: Actually, it doesn't matter—Krishna or Christ—the name is the same. The main
point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God
in this age. The easiest way is to chant the Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Rama and Krishna are
68 Who should be the Object of My worship?

names of God, and Hare is the energy of God. So when we chant the Maha-mantra, we address
God together with His energy. This energy is of two kinds, the spiritual and the material. At
present we are in the clutches of the material energy. Therefore we pray to Krishna that He may
kindly deliver us from the service of the material energy and accept us into the service of the
spiritual energy. That is our whole philosophy. Hare Krishna means, "O energy of God, O God
[Krishna], please engage me in Your service." It is our nature to render service. Somehow or
other we have come to the service of material things, but when this service is transformed into the
service of the spiritual energy, then our life is perfect. To practice bhakti-yoga [loving service to
God] means to become free from designations like "Hindu," "Muslim," "Christian," this or that, and
simply to serve God. We have created Christian, Hindu, and Muhammadan religions, but when we
come to a religion without designations, in which we don't think we are Hindus, or Christians, or
Muhammadans, then we can speak of pure religion, or bhakti.

* * * * *

‘Self Manager’, Quiz: 2

Who should be the object of my worship?
Part A (to be answered by All)

Answer the following questions in TWO or THREE sentences on a separate sheet : (10x 2
= 20 marks)
1. Whom should we worship – the Supreme or demigods? Give reasons.
2. Write the Sanskrit word with equivalents for the characteristics of one in goodness,
passion and ignorance.
3. What is the difference between the results achieved by worshippers of Shiva/Durga
and worshippers of Lord Vishnu?
4. What is the unique position of a devotee in relation to goddess Durga?
5. What type of worship is performed by living beings situated in the mode of
ignorance? What type of boons do they ask?
6. What do devotees of Lord Vishnu desire and what does Lord Vishnu not do while
offering boons?
7. How is worship of Krishna or Vishnu performed?
8. What do you find as the most convincing point that helps you appreciate the
difference between Shri Krishna and Vishnu?
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 69

9. Give three point wise reasons why Krishna is the source of Vishnu also?
10. There are people in this world also who possess great beauty, great riches, great
strength, etc. Why can we not we consider them as God?

Part B (only for married and Below 50 years)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences : (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. Refute the following statement: ‘Worship of Ganesh, Durga, Shiva, Vishnu,

Krishna is all same’
2. How can Saivite puranas prescribe indulging in such sinful and irreligious acts like
drinking, eating meat, taking bhang or similar intoxicants, etc?

Part C (only for College students)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences : (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. How can Krishna be considered famous?

2. How is Krishna or Vishnu worship simple, pure and superior to the worship of other
demigods?
70 Who should be the Object of My worship?

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Quiz : 2
Who should be the object of my worship?

Syllabus for the following Quiz: Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.20, 7.23, 9.24, 10.3, 10.6-
8, 10.12-14, 10.41-42, 11.51-54

Answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences on a separate sheet: (1 x 60 =

60 marks)
1. If somebody argues with you, “Don’t think only demigod worshippers have material
desires. Even devotees also have attraction for maya’s allurements”, what will be
your answer? (7.20)
2. I have material desires and I feel I am probably in the mode of ignorance or passion.
Should I look for Puranas meant for people in ignorance or passion? What is the
recommendation of Shrimad Bhagavatam? (7.20)
3. Those who are not devotees of the Lord, what do they think by comparing the
Supreme Lord and demigods? (7.20)
4. What is the verdict of Chaitanya Charitamrita in regard to the Supreme Truth? Give
the quote and translation. (7.20)
5. How does a pure devotee behave in relation to demigods and the Supreme Lord?
(7.20)
6. Where does a demigod worshipper go? (7.23)
7. After all scriptures say that all demigods are different parts of the body of the
Supreme Lord. Then why cannot one get the benefit by worshipping demigods
instead of worshipping the Supreme Lord? (7.23)
8. What do people in ignorance believe? (7.23)
9. What do the Vedas say about the relationship of brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaishyas, and
shudras in relation to the body of the Supreme Lord? (7.23)
10. Whose knowledge is perfect? (7.23)
11. Why does this verse call the demigod worshippers as ‘alpa medhasam’ - ‘less
intelligent people’? (7.23)
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 71

12. What is the destination of a pure devotee who is engaged in devotional service of the
Supreme Lord? (7.23)
13. What all are unlimited in connection to the Supreme Lord? (7.23)
14. What is Yajna? What is Varnasrama dharma meant for? (9.24)
15. Why do people fall down to material existence? (9.24)
16. Who is the most successful spiritually realized person among those who are trying to
elevate themselves to the platform of spiritual realization? (10.3)
17. Compare the word ‘aja’ or ‘unborn’ used in the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita,
and the same word used in this verse. (10.3)
18. How can Krishna be understood to be different even from the great demigods like
Brahma or Shiva? (10.3)
19. What happens to one who understands that Shri Krishna is different from everything
that is created? (10.3)
20. Compare the verses 9.11 and 10.3. How is ‘foolishness’ of 9.11 verse expressed here
in a different way? (10.3)
21. Which actions become free from the reactions of pious and impious activities of this
material world? (10.3)
22. Who is a sannyasi and who is not? (10.3)
23. How did Brahma learn how to create? (10.6)
24. Who is called Pitamaha? What is the meaning of ‘Prapitamaha’ word used in this
verse? Who is Prapitamaha? (10.6)
25. Who cannot engage in devotional service? (10.7)
26. Is it enough to know, ‘God is great’? What else does one need to know? What is the
advantage of knowing it? (10.7)
27. How can Krishna be called as the forefather of all forefathers? People think Krishna
is some cowherd boy, or politician, or King of Dwaraka, who existed some five
thousand years ago. (10.7)
28. What is required to increase one’s interest in loving devotional service of the
Supreme Lord? (10.7)
72 Who should be the Object of My worship?

29. Is it necessary to go so deep into the philosophy of knowing about God with so much
detail? Why can’t I just fall in love with Krishna simply by drinking the nectar of the
beauty of Krishna’s Deity? (10.7)
30. What do all Vedic literatures agree with? Give one evidence of this Truth from the
Vedas. (10.8)
31. Who considers Krishna to be an ordinary man, not knowing Him properly? (10.8)
32. What is Prabhupada’s instruction to those who want to become firmly situated in
Krishna consciousness? (10.8)
33. Is it enough to accept Krishna as the Supreme God? What is the symptom of one
who has truly accepted this fact? (10.8)
34. What is clear in this verse? Who is given an opportunity? (10.12)
35. Which ignorance is removed by discharge of devotional service? (10.12)
36. What do the Vedic injunctions affirm about knowing the Supreme Lord? (10.12)
37. How can one become purified from all sinful activities? (10.12)
38. What is the pre-requisite for understanding Bhagavad-gita? (10.12-13)
39. What is the obstinate conviction of the proud academic scholars? (10.12-13)
40. Which people can not understand Krishna? Who alone can understand Krishna?
What should we do to understand Krishna? (10.14)
41. When can we understand the essence of Bhagavad-gita? (10.14)
42. Give some examples of opulent, beautiful and glorious creations that you see around
you in nature. What does it remind you of? What should they remind us of
according to this verse? (10.41)
43. How are all wonderful things able to even exist in the very first place? (10.42)
44. Why is worship of demigods thoroughly discouraged in Bhagavad-gita? (10.42)
45. What is the advantage of studying different descriptions of the opulences and
expansions of Krishna’s energy? (10.42)
46. What gives an indication that the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be
originally in the two-handed form? (11.51)
47. How does this verse prove that those who deride Krishna are ignorant of His divine
nature? (11.51)
 Who should be the Object of My worship? 73

48. Who is doing the greatest injustice to the innocent masses? (11.51)
49. There is one argument repeated twice in this purport for a thorough emphasis. What
is it? (11.51)
50. What is the analogy that Srila Prabhupada uses to glorify the verses of Bhagavad-
gita? (11.51)
51. How can the universal form of Lord Krishna be seen? What is needed for seeing the
two-handed form of Krishna? (11.52)
52. Where is the evidence that proves that even demigods are eager to see the two-
handed form of Shri Krishna? (11.52)
53. Which understanding and behaviour is considered nonsensical? (11.52)
54. What understanding do those who use a material process for studying Krishna get
about Him? (11.52)
55. What do they ultimately conclude wrongly? (11.52)
56. What are the materialistic and speculative calculations about Krishna? (11.52)
57. What is the transcendental process for knowing Krishna? (11.52)
58. Who can see Krishna? What do Vedic literatures say in this connection? (11.52)
59. Give the conclusion of the purport of this verse in one sentence? (11.52)
60. For whom is it impossible to even begin to understand Krishna? Why was the
universal form with thousands of heads and hands shown if Krishna’s two-handed
form is the ultimate form of God? What kind of response did Arjuna show about the
universal form? Why? (11.54)

* * * * *
74 Who should be the Object of My worship?
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 93

Chapter 3

God and gods

94 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Chapter Contents

Page
Sr. No. Contents
No.
Krishna - The Supreme Personality of Godhead 65
God has no equal or superior 65
1 God is not bound by any work 66
God is always God 66
Only the envious class of people deride Shri Krishna 67
Story and GD: ‘Can God be captured?’ 67
2
Krishna's Supremacy Confirmed by Three Authorities 71
God and the Demigods 72
Are all demigods different forms of God? 72
3
Is worship of any god of our choice all right? 72
Do all paths not lead to the same goal? 73
Understanding the Position of God, His Expansions and the 74
Living Entities
Jiva Tattva 74
4
Shambhu Tattva 75
Vishnu Tattva 75
Shakti Tattva 76
Individual or GD Task: Learning about Shiva’s position 77
5 Story: Lord Krishna Delivers Lord Shiva 77
Shiva’s Position from Scriptural References 81
Relationship of Krishna and the Demigods
83
If Krishna is God who can award the spiritual kingdom,
84
why do people go to demigods?
Does not Krishna award material benedictions to His
85
6 devotees ?
Medium of exchange in Krishna worship and demigod
85
worship
If Demigod Worship is condemned, why do the Scriptures
86
prescribe it?

7 What is the Right Way to Approach the Demigods? 87

 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 95

God and gods

yänti deva-vratä devän pitèn yänti pitå-vratäù
bhütäni yänti bhütejyä yänti mad-yäjino ’pi mäm
TRANSLATION
Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the
ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such
beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me. [BG 9.25]
Krishna - The Supreme Personality of Godhead
God has no equal or superior
The Upanishads say: na tat samas chabhyadhikas cha drishyate - “This means that no
one is equal to or superior to God.” Lord Krishna says, mattah parataram nanyat -
“There is no truth superior to Me.” Lord Krishna proves His supremacy over all
demigods by performing various pastimes with different demigods or expansions. Some
of them are listed below:
• Displaying His universal form in which the whole universe was present
• Displaying the whole universe within His mouth when He was a small child
• Lifting Govardhan Hill with the small finger of His left hand, when He was only 7
years old
• Bringing the sons of the brahmana from Maha Vishnu
• Defeating Lord Shiva in battle when he sided with Banasura
• Bewildering the first created living being, Brahma
• Bringing the sons of His guru Sandipani muni from Yamaloka
• Giving shelter to Agnideva to consume the Khandavaprastha forest
• Bringing His father back from the demigod Varuna
• Subduing the pride of the king of gods, Indra
You may refer the book ‘Krishna-the Supreme Personality of Godhead’ by Srila
Prabhupada for more details on these pastimes.
In all of the encounters with demigods, Krishna was always respected and adored by the
demigods like Shiva, Brahma, Indra, Varuna, Yama, etc. As said in Shrimad
Bhagavatam (12.13.1) : ‘yam brahma varunendra rudra marutah stunvanti divyai stavaih’
- ‘Lord Krishna is always praised by exalted personalities like Brahma, Varuna, Indra,
Rudra, Maruts through the chanting of transcendental hymns and recitation of the Vedas’.
Interestingly, Krishna never fails in any of His attempts with any of the demigods, simply
because He is God. Even when He ran away from the battle once after defeating
Jarasandha seventeen times, He slipped off for an important appointment with Rukmini.
96 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

This is not a defeat for the Lord but a display of His love for His devotees. The proof is
that He later defeated Jarasandha very easily. Thus there is no one who is equal to or
superior to God, Shri Krishna.
God is not bound by any work
Another characteristic of God is that He is not obliged to do work: ‘na tasya karyam
karanam ca vidyate’. In the material world, when a man is considered very important, he
always has a great number of things to do. The President of the U.S. is considered to be
the supreme man in the country, but as soon as there is some disturbance in Central
Europe, he immediately has to call a meeting to consider how to deal with the situation.
But in Vedic literatures, however, we find that God has nothing to do. He joyfully
performs pastimes with His devotees without any obligations or duties to be fulfilled. A
family man may have some sweet moments with his wife, children, parents, relatives or
friends. But to enjoy these few moments of love and security, he has to toil hard ten or
twelve hours a day in bringing food, arranging a shelter or home, earning money for
running the household, raising children, to pay bills of electricity, doctor, lawyer, rent,
water supply, etc. The Supreme Lord has no obligations to anyone.
Story: ‘God has no obligations, no duties’
In this respect it is interesting to note that once a European gentleman came to Calcutta
and visited various temples. He noted that, in the temple of goddess Kali, the deity had a
very ferocious form, with a chopper in her hand, cutting off the heads of demons and
wearing them as garlands. In other temples he saw the Saraswati deity, goddess of
learning with the Vedas in her hand reading them. In a temple of Lord Shiva, he found Lord
Shiva with trident in his hand with drums tied to it, ready for the ‘thaandav nrtya’, the dance
he performs before cosmic dissolution. In every temple he saw the Deity engaged in similar
activities, but when he came to the Radha-Krishna temple, he felt at last he could achieve
the goal of his long journey. He said to a friend with great satisfaction, "I find that in this
temple there is God." When asked how he concluded this, he said, “In every temple I saw
that the deity was doing something, but here I see that God is simply playing a flute and
enjoying Himself. As He has nothing to do, He obviously must be God." This is a very
intelligent conclusion; indeed, it is the Vedic conclusion.
God is always God
There are some impersonalists who propagate a bogus philosophy that the guru is God,
and the disciple also will very soon become God if he practices sadhana sincerely by
‘accepting’ guru to be God. Thus the blind master, along with blind disciples, with the
false hope of becoming God – all fall in the blind well of ignorance, leading to hell. The
most foolish hope these people maintain is that, by meditation and austerities, one can
become God.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 97

God is always the Supreme. God never has to meditate to become God. Nowadays, it is
becoming fashionable for people to claim that they are becoming God by meditation. In
other words, they say that God meditates and, by His meditation, He becomes God. This
is all nonsense. God is God, He was always God, and He will always be God. Even as an
infant in the lap of His mother Krishna is God, as He killed the Putana demoness. Even as
a child, He showed the whole universe in His mouth. No meditation, austerity or
penance was required for Him to become God. While Krishna is playing with His
cowherd boyfriends, He is God; He sucked the forest fire in a moment and lifted
Govardhan hill with His tiny left-hand finger. While He is dancing, He is God; while He
is fighting at Kurukshetra, He is God. On the Kurukshetra battlefield He showed the
Vishwarupa darshan that is beyond measure. While He is married to His queens, He is
God; and while He is speaking, He is God. He speaks such words of wisdom as
Bhagavad-gita that will be read, heard and sung for all time to come. That is the meaning
of Krishna being God.

Only the envious class of people deride Shri Krishna

But despite so much evidence proving that Krishna is always God, still there is a class of
people who consider Him to be an ordinary person. In this connection, Lord Krishna says
in the Bhagavad-gita that only fools cannot understand Him to be the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the source of all creation.
avajananti mam mudha manushim tanum ashritam
param bhavam ajananto mama bhuta-maheshvaram
“Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My
transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.”[BG 9.11]
This is vividly illustrated in a pastime from the Mahabharata :

Story and GD: ‘Can God be captured?’

Before the Kurukshetra war, out of love for His devotees, the Pandavas, Lord Krishna took
the humble role of a peace messenger to go to Duryodhana. He proposed to Duryodhana,
“The Pandavas have now finished their term in the forest, as per your conditions. Therefore
it is your duty to return Hastinapur back to them.” When Duryodhana refused, Krishna made
another proposal, “If you don’t want to part with Hastinapur, give the Pandavas at least five
villages so that they may rule. After all, they are kshatriyas; therefore they cannot live by
any way other than by ruling.”
Duryodhana was not ready to give them enough land to even put the tip of a needle through.
He was bent upon war to destroy the Pandavas, so that he could rule the whole world
without any enemies. All the Kuru elders – Bhishma, Vidura, Dhrtarashtra and great sages
like Narada, Markandeya gave him good advice. But all good advice could not change the
98 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

foolishness of Duryodhana.
Instead of changing his opinion, Duryodhana made a plot to capture the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna so that the Pandavas would have no support.
GROUP ACTIVITY: The following section, taken from ‘Mahabharata’ by Krishna Dharma
prabhu proves that those who are envious of the Lord will only offend the Lord and invite
their own destruction. They are blind to see the glories of the Lord that are as obvious as
the sun in the sky. The Teacher can divide the class into four groups and allot the four
topics given. Each group can form a circle. Read the following section loudly taking turns
for each para, and discuss with your friends about ONE of the following items: a) Attitude of
envious people like Duryodhana towards Krishna b) Krishna’s supremacy and prowess c)
Nature of devotees like Vidura d) Why Krishna’s humanlike form bewilders the fools. After
GD, write down five or six salient points of your discussion and write them in big letters on a
flip chart. Now one member of each group can come to the stage and present those points
for about ten minutes each. The teacher can add or explain after each presentation.
Leaning across to Krishna, Satyaki whispered, “I think Duryodhana will now try to seize You. He
has taken a contingent of warriors out of the hall with him. I am sure he will try to take Your life. O
Keçava, this wicked man has lost all sense of propriety.”

Krishna smiled and reassured Satyaki. “Do not fear, My friend. All the kings on earth together
could not capture Me. Speak to Dhrtarastra and see what he decides should be done.”

Satyaki addressed the old king. “It seems your foolish son intends to make good his threat to
capture Madhava. O leader of men, he and his evil counselors, overpowered by desire and anger,
seek to do something exceedingly mean. Yet they cannot possibly succeed any more than children
can take hold of blazing fire.”

Vidura had also noted Duryodhana’s intentions. Rising from his seat he said, “O King, your sons’
time has come. They are preparing to do something which cannot be done. Even so, it is sinful
beyond all limits to even contemplate it. Standing against Krishna, they will die like worms falling
into a fire. He will send them all to Yamaraja’s abode as a lion destroys a flock of sheep.”

Krishna laughed. “Let them try! Maybe this is how this problem will be solved. But do not worry. I
will not do anything for which I can be censured. Although I could slay them all outright, I will not
do so. In any event, they have already been killed by their own sinful desires. By coveting
Yudhisthira’s wealth they have weakened themselves and will soon be ruined. O King, let
Duryodhana do as he likes.”

When Krishna stopped speaking, Dhrtarastra’s voice boomed through the court. “Bring my wicked
son here at once and bring his ministers with him. I will again try to bring him to the path of
righteousness.”
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 99

Once again Duryodhana was brought back into the hall. He entered with Karna and Dushashana
just behind him. Again he strode across the hall and took his place.

Dhrtarastra was angry. “O you of inhuman conduct and extreme sinfulness, having as your support
only men of small deeds, you want to perpetrate an act which is too difficult to accomplish and
which is heinous beyond limit. Like a child wanting to hold the moon, you desire to capture the
lotus-eyed Krishna. All virtuous men would condemn you. Anyway, it is not possible for you to carry
this through. Even the gods could not take Keçava as prisoner. O fool, give up your absurd notions
and come to your senses immediately.”
Duryodhana was seething with anger. He said nothing. He had already ordered his men to come
into the hall as soon as Krishna rose to leave. Everyone else may be afraid of the Yadava, but he
was not. The prince glanced across at Krishna, who sat smiling and at ease. Soon everyone would
see just how strong He was.
Vidura, clearly remembering how the Kurus had violated Draupadi, could not stand the thought of
Krishna receiving similar treatment in the same hall. He spoke again, trying one last time to
influence Duryodhana.
“O Bharata, listen as I remind you once more of the many demons who have tried and failed to
overpower Krishna. The hugely powerful Naraka, who was son of the Earth goddess herself, lived
for thousands of years surrounded by his vast forces. Krishna killed him easily. He also destroyed
the five-headed Mura, who struck fear into the hearts of the gods. When He was a child He killed
Putana and the evil wizards Arishta and Dhenuka. When He was seven years old He held
Govardhana Hill aloft with one hand.” Vidura named various other Asuras and kings whom
Krishna had defeated. Finally, he said, “Krishna is the doer of everything. He is the cause of all
causes. From Him comes all power and opulence. He can do anything without the least effort. O
Duryodhana, you do not understand Govinda. His prowess is incomparable and it will reduce you
and your followers to ashes. Attempting to take Him prisoner is ludicrous.”
Krishna looked at Duryodhana. “O Kaurava, out of folly you think Me to be alone and vulnerable. O
one of small intellect, see now as I show you the truth. Here are all the Pandavas, the Vrishnis,
and the Andhakas. Here too are the gods, the Adityas, Rudras, Vasus, and great rishis.”
Duryodhana could take no more. He jumped up and pointed at Krishna. “Seize Him now!” At once
his soldiers began running into the hall from all its entrances. With swords and bows ready they
closed in on Krishna.
Krishna laughed and as He did, His body suddenly flashed like lightning. He began to grow in size
and various gods issued from Him. Brahma sprang from His forehead and Shiva from His chest.
The Lokapalas sat on His arms and Agni appeared from His mouth. Then Indra and the Maruts
appeared along with hosts of Gandharvas, Yaksas and Raksasas. From His two eyes came
Balarama and Arjuna, who stood on His left and right sides. Behind Him stood Yudhisthira, Bhima,
and the twins, and behind them were the Vrishnis and Andhakas, headed by Pradyumna. Krishna’s
mace, discus and club weapons appeared, blazing brilliantly. His pores emanated light, sparks and
clouds of smoke.
100 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

The sight was too frightening. Almost everyone in the assembly closed their eyes. Only Bhisma,
Drona, Vidura and Santana were able to look upon Krishna as He manifested His universal form.
The rishis also gazed upon Him, folding their palms and offering prayers. The sky resounded with
celestial drums and flowers showered from the heavens into the hall.
Sanjaya described the event to Dhrtarastra, who said, “O Krishna, You are ever doing good for the
world. Therefore, it is right that You should bless me with the eyes to see Your form. O best of the
Yadavas, I pray for the sight to see You.”
“O Kuru leader, let your eyes have sight,” Krishna replied, and immediately Dhrtarastra could see
Him standing within the great hall. He also saw numerous gods approaching Krishna and
worshipping Him with Vedic mantras.
Outside the hall a fierce wind blew. Huge waves moved over the ocean and thunderclaps
reverberated in the sky. The earth trembled.
The hall was in a tumult. Krishna withdrew His mystical form and again assumed a two-armed
form. Taking permission from the rishis, He left the hall, holding the hands of Satyaki and
Kritavarma. The rishis, headed by Narada, rose from their seats and vanished––their minds
astonished. Dhrtarastra again became blind and he sat in silent amazement.

As Krishna left, the Kurus followed Him with folded hands, like the gods following Indra. Only
Duryodhana and his ministers remained seated. They were struck with wonder and unable to do or
say anything. Their plan to capture Krishna was obviously futile.

Thus, inspite of having the personal darshana of the all-attractive form of Shyamsundara
Krishna, and inspite of beholding Krishna’s awesome universal form, still Duryodhana
could not understand the greatness of Krishna. This is a practical example of how the
living entities who are envious of Krishna can never understand Him. They deride him
blindly out of foolishness and continue to suffer the pangs of material miseries without
taking the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

Krishna's Supremacy Confirmed by Three Authorities

In the tenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita Arjuna proclaims the

Supremacy of Krishna in the following verses :
Arjuna uvaca
param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan
purusam sasvatam divyam adi-devam ajam vibhum
ahus tvam rsayah sarve devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah svayam caiva bravisi me
sarvam etad rtam manye yan mam vadasi kesava
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 101

na hi te bhagavan vyaktim vidur deva na danavah

“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, and the greatest. All the great sages like Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa
confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. O Krishna, I
totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the demigods nor the demons, O
Lord, can understand Your personality.” (BG 10.12-14).

After hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna accepted
Krishna as parama brahma, the Supreme Brahman. Every living being is Brahman, but
the supreme living being or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supreme
Brahman. Param dhama means that He is the supreme rest or abode of everything,
pavitram means that He is pure, untainted by material contamination, purusam means
that He is the supreme enjoyer, divyam, transcendental, adi-devam, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, ajam, the unborn, and vibhum, the greatest, the all-pervading.

Now one may think that because Krishna was the friend
of Arjuna, Arjuna was telling Him all this by way of
flattery. But Arjuna, just to drive out this kind of doubt
from the minds of the readers of Bhagavad-gita,
substantiates these praises in the next verse when he
says that Krishna is accepted as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead not only by himself but by
authorities like the sages Narada, Asita, Devala,
Vyasadeva and so on. These are the great personalities
who distribute the Vedic knowledge as it is accepted by
all acharyas.

Therefore Arjuna tells Krishna that he accepts whatever He says to be completely perfect.
sarvam etad rtam manye: “I accept everything You say to be true." Arjuna also says that
the personality of the Lord is very difficult to understand and that He cannot be known
even by the great demigods. This means that the Lord cannot even be known by
personalities greater than human beings. So how can a human being understand Shri
Krishna without becoming His devotee?
God and the Demigods
Are all demigods different forms of God?
There is a great misconception about the gods or demigods of this material world, and
men of less intelligence, although passing as great scholars, take these demigods to be
102 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

various forms of the Supreme Lord. Actually, the demigods are not different forms of
God, but they are God’s different parts and parcels. God is one, and the parts and parcels
are many. The Vedas say, nityo nityanam: God is one. isvarah paramah krishnah. The
Supreme God is one—Krishna – and the demigods are all living entities (nityanam)
endowed with different grades of material power to manage this material world. They
cannot be equal to the Supreme God – Narayana, Vishnu or Krishna. The demigods are
all servants of the Vishnu tattva.

In the Vedic scriptures, anyone who thinks that God and the demigods are on the same
level is called an atheist, or pashandi. Even the great demigods like Brahma and Shiva
cannot be compared to the Supreme Lord. In fact, the lotus feet of the Lord are honoured
by powerful demigods like Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. (….Shiva virinci nutam…
Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.5.33). Similarly in the Rig Veda(1.22.20), it is said: om tad
vishnum paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah “The lotus feet of Lord Vishnu are the
supreme objective of all the demigods.” Also in the Shrimad Bhagavatam (12.13.1), it is
said, yam brahma varunendra rudra marutah stunvanti divyai stavai…. “All the
demigods like Brahma, Varuna, Rudra and the Maruts glorify Krishna with choice
poetry.”

Is worship of any god of our choice all right?

Most people think ‘All gods are equal’ or ‘You can worship
any god; you’ll go to the same destination’ or ‘I am god, you
are god, everyone is god’. But actually these are all
misconceptions. One should clearly understand the difference
between the positions of the demigods and Lord Krishna.
Without a proper understanding of this subject, one can never
attain the perfection of life.

In this connection, some people quote,

akaashath patitam toyam yatha gacchati sagaram
sarva deva namaskarah keshavam prati gacchati

“Just as a drop of water falling from the sky ultimately goes to the ocean, in the same
way all worship performed for all the demigods ultimately goes only to Lord Keshava
(Krishna).”

On the basis of this verse, such people claim, “Whether we worship Shiva, Brahma,
Ganesh, Vishnu or Krishna, it is all the same. Ultimately everything goes to the
Brahmajyoti or the impersonal Absolute Truth.” If the claim of such people has any
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 103

substance, then the verse should read as follows: “sarva deva namaskarah brahmajyoti
prati gacchati." But the actual verse mentioned above clearly distinguishes between
“sarva deva” (all demigods like Shiva, Karttikeya, Ganesh) and “keshavam prati………”
(Lord Shri Krishna). This shows that Lord Keshava, or Krishna, has a unique position
above all the other demigods. Although it is true that all our offerings to the demigods are
meant actually for the pleasure of Krishna, still they are not a direct offering of love to
Krishna. Worshipping the various demigods is like watering the branches, leaves, twigs,
etc., of a tree, whereas worshipping Lord Krishna directly is like watering the root of the
tree.
Do all paths not lead to the same goal?
Nowhere in authentic scriptures is it said that one will ultimately reach the same goal by
doing anything or worshipping anyone. Such foolish theories are offered by self-made
“spiritual masters” who have no connection with the parampara. Any common man can
very easily understand that a person can reach his destination only when he has
purchased a ticket for that destination. A person who has purchased a ticket for Calcutta
can reach Calcutta, but not Bombay. But the so-called spiritual masters say that any and
all paths will take one to the supreme goal. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna without any
trace of confusion declares what happens to different people in the following verse:
yänti deva-vratä devän pitèn yänti pitå-vratäù
bhütäni yänti bhütejyä yänti mad-yäjino ’pi mäm

“Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who
worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take
birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.” [BG 9.25]

Understanding the Position of God, His Expansions and the Living

Entities

Srila Prabhupada writes, “In the Vedanta sutra, the living entities of different gradations are
compared to candles or lamps with different candle power. For example, some electric bulbs have
the power of one thousand candles, some have the power of five hundred candles, some the power
of one hundred candles, some fifty candles, etc., but all electric bulbs have light. Light is present in
every bulb, but the gradations of light are different. Similarly, there are gradations of Brahman.
The Vishnu svamsa expansions of the Supreme Lord in different Vishnu forms are like lamps, Lord
Shiva is also like a lamp, and the supreme candlepower, or the one-hundred-percent light, is
Krishna. The Vishnu-tattva has ninety-four percent, the Shiva-tattva has eighty-four percent, Lord
Brahma has seventy-eight percent, and the living entities are also like Brahma, but in the
conditioned state their power is still dimmer. There are gradations of Brahman, and no one can
deny this fact.” [SB 4.1.15]
104 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

The percentage given above is based on the number of qualities possessed by these personalities.
A jiva or soul possesses 50 qualities. Lord Shiva possesses 55 qualities. Lord Vishnu possesses
60 qualities. And Shri Krishna possesses 64 qualities. The four qualities that only Shri Krishna has
are: (1) He is able to manifest wonderful pastimes; (2) He is expert at transcendental flute playing;
(3) He is surrounded by loving devotees; (4) He possesses unparalleled personal beauty.
[Information from TLC14]

JIVA TATTVA: All the living entities like Brahma, Indra,

Vayu -- the demigods and humans, animals, birds,
aquatics, reptiles, plants, etc., fall in the category of Jiva
Tattva. Brahma is one of the living entities, but due to
his devotional service he is very powerful. Brahma is a
post, as much as the position of Prime Minister of India
is a post. Brahma lives for a very long period, as much as
311 trillion 40 billion years.

There are crores of demigod-engineers who manage the

affairs of this universe, e.g., – Indra is in charge of rainfall,
Vayu is in charge of wind etc. Indra is the king of the
demigods. One may ask what is the need for so many demigods? Can’t everything in
nature happen by itself? Even a small experiment conducted in our laboratory requires
such expert monitoring and control. It would be a childish and unintelligent idea to think
all things in nature happen by themselves. There are demigod-engineers for controlling
every activity happening in nature.

SHAMBHU TATTVA: Shambhu (Shiva) is an expansion of

Lord Krishna, but is subservient to the Lord; The difference
between Krishna and Shiva is like the difference between milk
and curd. So Shambhu (Shiva) cannot be called a jiva; He is
superior to jivas, but yet partakes of the nature of a separated
portion of Govinda. He is the controller of tamo guna (mode of
ignorance) and is called as the topmost Vaisnava (devotee of the
Lord): ‘Vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh’. The essential difference
is that Lord Shiva has a connection with material nature, but
Vishnu or Krishna has nothing to do with material nature. In
Brahma Samhita [Text 45] it is mentioned:

ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh

yah sambhutam ai tatha samupaiti karyad govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 105

“Just as milk is transformed into curd by the action of acids, but yet the effect curd is
neither same as, nor different from, its cause, viz., milk, so I adore the primeval Lord
Govinda of whom the state of Shambhu is a transformation for the performance of the
work of destruction”.

VISHNU TATTVA: The Vishnu incarnation is the master of

the mode of goodness within each universe and is in no way in
touch with the influence of material nature. Although Vishnu
is equal to Krishna, Krishna is the original source. Vishnu
is a part, but Krishna is the whole. In Brahma Samhita the
example is given of an original candle, which lights a second
candle. Although both candles are of equal power, one is
accepted as the original, and the other is said to be kindled
from the original. The Vishnu expansion is like the second
candle. He is as powerful as Krishna, but the original Vishnu
is Krishna. All the expansions of Krishna like Vishnu, Rama,
Narasimha, Varaha, Matsya are all in the category of Vishnu
Tattva. Brahma Samhita [Text 46] explains:

diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya dipayate vivrta-hetu-samana-dharma

yas tadrg eva hi ca Vishnutaya vibhati govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

“When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in a different
position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful as the original candle.
Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda (Krishna), expands Himself in
different forms as Vishnu, who are equally luminous, powerful and opulent. Let me
worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda”.

SHAKTI TATTVA: Just as Krishna is the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, Rukmini is the supreme
goddess of fortune, Maha-Lakshmi. According to the authority
of the Chaitanya-Charitamrita, the expansion of Krishna and
that of Srimati Radharani are simultaneous: Krishna expands
Himself into various Vishnu-tattva forms, and Srimati
Radharani expands Herself into various Shakti-tattva forms, by
Her internal potency, as multiforms of the goddess of fortune
[Krishna Book, chap 52].

Krishna and Yogamaya appeared as brother and sister—the Supreme Powerful and the supreme
power. Although there is no clear distinction between the Powerful and the power, power is
106 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

always subordinate to the Powerful. Those who are materialistic

are worshippers of the power, but those who are
transcendentalists are worshippers of the Powerful. Krishna is the
Supreme Powerful, and Durga is the supreme power within the
material world. Actually people in the Vedic culture worship both
the Powerful and the power. There are many hundreds and
thousands of temples of Vishnu and Devi, and sometimes they are
worshiped simultaneously. The worshipper of the power, Durga, or
the external energy of Krishna, may achieve all kinds of material
success very easily, but anyone who wants to be elevated
transcendentally must engage in worshipping the Powerful in
Krishna consciousness…….Krishna told Yogamaya, “Since you
will appear as My contemporary sister, and since you will quickly
satisfy desires for sense gratification, people within the world will
worship you with all kinds of valuable presentations: incense, candles, flowers and offerings of
sacrifice. People who are after materialistic perfection will worship you under the different forms
of your expansions, which will be named Durga, Bhadrakälé, Vijayä, Vaiñëavé, Kumudä, Caëòikä,
Kåñëä, Mädhavé, Kanyakä, Mäyä, Näräyaëé, Éçäné, Çäradä and Ambikä.” [Krishna Book, chap 2].
In the Brahma-saàhita (5.44) there is this statement: “såñöi-sthiti-pralaya-sädhana-Saktir ekä,
chäyeva yasya bhuvanäni bibharti Durga.” The mäyä-Sakti, Durga, is in charge of såñöi-sthiti-
pralaya, creation and dissolution, and she acts under the direction of the Supreme Lord, Shri
Krishna. (mayädhyakñeëa prakåtiù süyate sa-caräcaram [Bg. 9.10]).
So, Brahma, Lord Shiva and Shakti are all obedient servants of the Supreme Lord, and the Supreme Lord as
Vishnu is an expansion of Krishna.

Individual or GD Task: Learning about Shiva’s position

If you are in a classroom, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you are reading
this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. As stated in Shrimad Bhagavatam (12.13.16):
‘vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù’ : Lord Shiva is the best of the Vaisnavas, the devotees of Lord
Krishna. Indeed, he is one of the Mahajanas, the twelve authorities on Vaishnava philosophy
(svayambhür näradaù çambhuù kumäraù kapilo manuù, etc. [SB 6.3.20]). Lord Krishna is always
prepared to help all the Mahajanas and devotees in every respect (kaunteya pratijänéhi na me
bhaktaù praëaçyati [Bg. 9.31]). The Shrimad Bhagavatam describes the pastime of Lord Krishna
saving Lord Shiva from Vrikasura. Read the pastime carefully. Each member of your group can
read one section given below. Discuss the answer for the questions inserted in between the story
amongst yourselves and answer the questions on a separate sheet. Submit your answers along
with the EBG Quiz: 12 answers. Remember to mention on the top of your sheet ‘Lesson 14 : God
and gods, Individual or GD Task : Learning about Shiva’s position’ along with your name or name of
group members.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 107

Lord Krishna Delivers Lord Shiva

Vrikasura’s ambition
Once there was a demon Vrikasura who wanted to get a benediction from Lord Shiva. He
therefore went to Kedaranatha and ignited a sacrificial fire to please Lord Shiva. After
igniting the fire in the name of Shiva, he began to offer his own flesh by cutting it from his
body, in order to please Lord Shiva.
Although Vrikasura continued his sacrifice for six days, he was nevertheless unable to
personally see Lord Shiva to ask for a boon, which was his objective. On the seventh day,
the demon Vrikasura decided that he should cut off his head and offer it to satisfy Lord
Shiva. Thus he took bath in the nearby lake, and without drying his body and hair, he
prepared to cut off his head.
Lord Shiva’s compassion
When the demon was thus preparing to cut off his head, Lord
Shiva became very compassionate. This is natural compassion.
Even if a common man sees someone preparing to commit
suicide, it is his duty to try to save him. He does so
automatically. There is no need to appeal to him. Therefore
when Lord Shiva appeared from the fire to check the demon
from committing suicide, it was not a very great favor to him.

Q1 : Why is Vrikasura’s readiness to sacrifice even his head

to Lord Shiva not glorified?
Q2 : Find out the name of Lord Shiva which indicates that he is ‘quickly pleased’.
Q3 : Penance or Austerities can be in the mode of goodness, passion or ignorance.
Vrikasura’s penance could be considered in which mode? Why?
The ultimate motive of Vrikasura demon
The demon was saved from committing suicide by the touch of Lord Shiva; his bodily injuries
immediately healed, and his body became as it was before. Then Lord Shiva told the demon,
"My dear Vrikasura, you do not need to cut off your head. You can ask from me any
benediction you like, and I shall fulfill your desire. I do not know why you wanted to cut off
your head to satisfy me. I become satisfied even by an offering of a little water." Out of
compassion and sympathy, Lord Shiva then prepared to give him any benediction he liked.
When the demon was offered this facility by Lord Shiva, he asked for a very fearful and
abominable benediction. The demon was very sinful, and sinful persons do not know what
sort of benediction should be asked from the deity. Therefore he asked Lord Shiva to be
benedicted with such power that as soon as he would touch anyone's head, immediately it
would crack, and the man would die. Lord Shiva could understand the motive of the demon,
and he became very sorry that he had assured him whatever benediction he liked. He would
not withdraw his promise, but he was very sorry in his heart that he was to offer him a
benediction so dangerous to human society.
The demons are described as duskrtinas, miscreants, because although they have brain
108 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

power and merit, the merit and brain power are used for abominable activities. Sometimes,
for example, the materialistic demons create an atom bomb. The scientific research for such
a creation certainly requires a very good brain, but instead of creating something beneficial
to human society, they create something to accelerate death. Similarly, Vrikasura, instead of
asking Lord Shiva for something beneficial to human society, asked for something very
dangerous to human society. Devotees of the Personality of Godhead, however, never ask
any benediction from Lord Vishnu or Krishna, and even if they ask something from the Lord,
it is not at all dangerous for human society. That is the difference between the demons and
the devotees, or the worshippers of Lord Shiva and the worshippers of Lord Vishnu.
Q4 : What was Vrikasura’s purpose in performing this strange type of penance, being ready
to cut off his head? Did Lord Shiva appreciate Vrikasura’s penance?
Q5 : Why is Vrikasura’s benediction considered abominable?
Q6 : What is the meaning of ‘duskrtina’? Who can be considered modern ‘duskrtinas’?
Q7 : State two similarities between Vrikasura and modern atheistic scientists.
Q8 : What is the difference between devotees and demons?
The Misuse of the demigod’s boon
The demon Vrikasura, however, being very sinful, immediately decided that he would use
the benediction to kill Lord Shiva and take away Gauri (Parvati) for his personal enjoyment.
He immediately decided to place his hand on the head of Lord Shiva. Thus Lord Shiva was
put into an awkward position because he was endangered by his own benediction to a
demon. This is also another instance of a materialistic devotee's misusing the power derived
from the demigods.
Without further deliberation, the demon Vrikasura immediately approached Lord Shiva to
place his hand on Lord Shiva’s head. Lord Shiva was so afraid of him that his body trembled,
and he began to flee from the land to the sky and from the sky to other planets until he
reached the limits of the universe, above the higher planetary systems. Lord Shiva fled from
one place to another, but the demon Vrikasura continued to chase him. The predominating
deities of other planets, such as Brahma, Indra and Chandra, could not find any way to save
Lord Shiva from the impending danger. Wherever Lord Shiva went, they remained silent.
At last Lord Shiva approached Lord Vishnu, who is situated within this universe on the planet
known as Shvetadvipa, the local Vaikuntha planet beyond the jurisdiction of the influence of
the external energy.
Q9 : What was Vrikasura’s intention in trying to kill Lord Shiva?
Q10: Is it not surprising to see Vrikasura trying to kill his own master Lord Shiva who
offered him boons? Compare this to the story of the rat, who became a cat, then a dog,
then a tiger and at last wanted to eat the sage who gave him these different bodies;
thus ‘punah mushika bhava’ said the sage and the tiger turned into a rat. Compare
these two also to the situation of modern man’s material progress and his attitude
towards God.
Q11: The predominating deities of other planets like Brahma, Indra, Chandra – none of them
could help Shiva out of his problem. What does this show?
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 109

Q12: Why did Shiva approach the Shvetadvipa planet?

Lord Narayana tricks the demon Vrikasura
Lord Narayana is celebrated as a lover of His devotees, and as soon as He understood that
Lord Shiva was in great danger, He appeared as a brahmachari and personally approached
Lord Shiva to receive him from a distant place. The Lord appeared as a perfect brahmachari,
with a belt around His waist, a sacred thread, a deerskin, a brahmachari stick and raudra
beads. Dressed as a brahmachari, Lord Narayana stood before Lord Shiva. The shining
effulgence emanating from His body attracted not only Shiva but also the demon Vrikasura.
Lord Narayana offered his respects and obeisances unto Vrikasura, just to attract his
sympathy and attention. Thus checking the demon, the Lord addressed him as follows: "My
dear son of Shakuni, you appear very tired, as if coming from a very distant place. What is
your purpose? Why have you come so far? I see that you are very tired and fatigued, so I
request you to take a little rest. You should not unnecessarily tire your body. Everyone
greatly values his body because with this body only can one fulfill all the desires of one's
mind. We should not, therefore, unnecessarily give trouble to this body."
Lord Narayana in the form of the brahmachari addressed Vrikasura as the son of Shakuni
just to convince him that He was known to his father, Shakuni. Vrikasura then took the
brahmachari to be someone known to his family, and therefore the brahmachari's
sympathetic words appealed to him. Before the demon could argue that he had no time to
take rest, the Lord began to inform him about the importance of the body, and the demon
was convinced. Any man, especially a demon, takes his body to be very important. Thus
Vrikasura became convinced about the importance of his body.
Then, just to pacify the demon, the brahmachari told him, "My dear lord, if you think that you
can disclose the mission for which you have taken the trouble to come here, maybe I shall
be able to help you so that your purpose will be easily served." Indirectly, the Lord informed
him that because the Lord is the Supreme Brahman, certainly he would be able to adjust the
awkward situation created by Lord Shiva.
The demon was greatly pacified by the sweet words of Lord Narayana in the form of a
brahmachari, and at last he disclosed all that had happened in regard to the benediction
offered by Lord Shiva. The Lord replied to the demon as follows: "I myself cannot believe
that Lord Shiva has in truth given you such a benediction. As far as I know, Lord Shiva is not
in a sane mental condition. He had a quarrel with his father-in-law Daksa, and he has been
cursed to become a pishaca (ghost). Thus he has become the leader of the ghosts and
hobgoblins. Therefore I cannot put any faith in his words. But if you have still faith in the
words of Lord Shiva, my dear King of the demons, then why don't you make an experiment
by putting your hand on your head? If the benediction proves false, then you can
immediately kill this liar, Lord Shiva, so that in the future he will not dare give out false
benedictions."
In this way, by Lord Narayana's sweet words and by the expansion of His superior illusion,
the demon became bewildered, and he actually forgot the power of Lord Shiva and his
benediction. He was thus very easily persuaded to put his hand on his own head. As soon as
the demon did that, his head cracked, as if struck by thunder, and he immediately died. The
demigods from heaven began to shower flowers on Lord Narayana, praising Him with all
110 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

glories and all thanksgiving, and they offered their obeisances to the Lord.
In this way Lord Vishnu, in the form of a brahmachari, released Lord Shiva from the impending
danger and saved the whole situation.

Q13 : What is Lord Narayana famous for?

Q14 : Why did Lord Narayana offer obeisances to Vrikasura, a demon?
Q15 : Why did Lord Narayana give the advice, ‘pampering the body is the goal of life’, to
Vrikasura? What is wrong with this philosophy? How is right in the context of this
pastime?
Q16 : What words of Narayana about Shiva appear sweet to the demon Vrikasura? What do
devotees like to hear? What do demons like to hear?
Q17 : Why do demigods shower flowers on Lord Narayana?
Q18 : List five lessons that you have learnt from this pastime.

Shiva’s Position from Scriptural References

Many people, especially in India have a question regarding who is Supreme – Shiva or
Vishnu. The basis of our knowledge is scriptures and we should be ready to put aside all
our prejudices and notions when it comes to accepting Truth as it is. I myself come from a
staunch South Indian Shaivite family. After worshipping Shiva for over fifteen years, I once
prayed to him to offer me whatever is best for me in my life. He appropriately brought me
to the shelter of Lord Shri Krishna. Although in the beginning I had difficulty in accepting
the change, I quickly realized, if fact is what that exists, then why not face the Truth boldly.
Here are some of the staunch truths that are as bright as sunlight to help us understand
Shiva’s position properly:
1) Shiva is the Best of Vaishnavas: While talking about the best things such as ‘nimnaganam
yatha ganga’ ‘amongst rivers the best one is Ganges’, ‘devanama acyuto yatha’ - ‘amongst the
gods, Lord Krishna is the Supreme’, ‘purananam idam tatha’ ‘amongst Puranas the best is
Bhagavata Purana or Shrimad Bhagavatam’ it is also stated in Shrimad Bhagavatam (12.13.16):
‘vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù’: ‘Lord Shiva is the best of the Vaishnavas, the devotees of Lord
Krishna.’ No one will find any quote in any purana such as ‘shaivanam yatha Vishnu’.

2) Shiva, one of the Twelve Mahajanas: Indeed, he is counted amongst the Mahajanas, the twelve
authorities on Vaishnava philosophy (svayambhür näradaù çambhuù kumäraù kapilo manuù, etc.
[SB 6.3.20]).
3) Shiva sings Rudra Geetam: Lord Shiva is a great devotee of Lord Sankarshana. This is the
reason why Lord Shiva is often found in a chanting or meditating posture. When the ten Pracetas
enter into the forest for performing penance, they come across Lord Shiva on the way. He instructs
the Pracetas on how to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. This appears as
the celebrated Rudra-geeta in the SB Canto 4, Chapter 24.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 111

“Although rendering devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and worshipping
Him are very difficult, if one vibrates or simply reads this stotra [Rudra geeta prayer] composed
and sung by me, he will very easily be able to invoke the mercy of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.” [SB 4.24.76]
Srila Prabhupada mentions in the purport, “It is especially significant that Lord Shiva is a pure
devotee of Lord Vasudeva. Vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù: "Amongst all Vaishnavas, Lord Shiva is
the topmost." Consequently Lord Shiva has a sampradaya, a Vaishnava disciplic succession, called
the Rudra-sampradaya. At the present moment those who belong to the Vishnu Svämé-sampradaya
of Vaishnavas come from Rudra, Lord Shiva. To become a devotee of Lord Krishna, Vasudeva, is
very, very difficult. The word especially used in this connection is ‘durärädhyam’. The worship of
the demigods is not very difficult, but becoming a devotee of Lord Vasudeva, Krishna, is not so
easy. However, if one adheres to the principles and follows in the footsteps of the higher
authorities, as advised by Lord Shiva, one can easily become a devotee of Lord Vasudeva.”

4) Shiva drinks poison to please Lord Hari: Some people argue that Shiva is superior to Vishnu.
They give reasons that during the pastime of Churning of the Milk Ocean, the ‘hala hala’, or the
concentrate of the greatest poison, was so intense that all the demigods approached Lord Shiva
for help. Shiva only could drink that poison and store it in his throat, owing to which he became
‘Neela kanta’ (blue throated) or ‘Kala kanta’ (black throated). Even today it exists as a symptom to
broadcast the glories of Lord Shiva as the most compassionate.

It is true that Lord Shiva was given the opportunity of serving the Supreme Lord Vishnu by drinking
the poison for the welfare of all living beings. Although Lord Vishnu can do everything Himself,
sometimes He wishes to give the credit to His devotees. But the devotees never forget this fact;
they return back the credit to Lord Vishnu owing to their love for Him. Note the following verse
where Shiva openly declares for the benefit of all living beings that Lord Hari, or Vishnu, or Krishna
is his master, whom he is trying to please:

puàsaù kåpayato bhadre sarvätmä préyate hariù

préte harau bhagavati préye 'haà sacaräcaraù
tasmäd idaà garaà bhuïje prajänäà svastir astu me
SYNONYMS
puàsaù—with a person; kåpayataù—engaged in benevolent activities; bhadre—O most gentle
Bhaväné; sarva-ätmä—the Supersoul; préyate—becomes pleased; hariù—the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; préte—because of His pleasure; harau—the Supreme Lord, Hari;
bhagavati—the Personality of Godhead; préye—also become pleased; aham—I; sa-cara-
acaraù—with all others, moving and nonmoving; tasmät—therefore; idam—this; garam—poison;
bhuïje—let me drink; prajänäm—of the living entities; svastiù—welfare; astu—let there be;
me—by me.

TRANSLATION
My dear gentle wife Bhaväné, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased,
112 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities
may thus become happy because of me. [SB 8.7.40]

5) Shiva chants the Lord’s names: In the Padma Purana, Lord Shiva tells his wife Sati, ‘sri rama
rama rameti rame rame manorame sahasra namah tat tulyam rama nama varanane’. Thus Lord
Shiva himself gladly proclaims that he constantly relishes chanting the holy name of Lord Rama.

6) Shiva is the Protector of the Dhama, the Lord’s abodes: Lord Shiva is the eternal guardian of
the Braja Mandal area. Because he is the guardian, devotees of Lord Krishna ask his permission to
be able to successfully circumambulate Braja Mandala. He is, after all, the greatest Vaishnava.
There are four important Shiva temples that surround Mathura. There are four Shiva-lingas that
protect the four sides of Mathura, which are called the dik-pala (protectors) of Mathura. They are
Gokarneshvara Mahadeva in the north, Pippaleshvara Mahadeva in the east, Rangeshvara
Mahadeva in the south, and Bhuteshvara Mahadeva in the west.
7) Shiva Bewildered by Mohini Murti (8th Canto 12th Chapter of Shrimad Bhagavatam): Once when
Lord Shiva heard about how the Supreme Lord had appeared in the form of an extremely beautiful
woman, the Mohini murti, he became very eager to see this incarnation of the Lord. But when, on
his request, Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him in the form of an enchanting young damsel, Lord
Shiva was totally captivated by Her beauty. Though his chaste and beautiful wife Parvati as well as
many of his followers were standing right next to him, he was so maddened by lust that he
completely forgot himself and started running after Mohini Murti. He chased her through forests
and mountains for a long time trying to catch her. Finally when he discharged semen, he came
back to his senses.
Although he had been seemingly humiliated, Lord Shiva was not in the least disturbed.
Instead he glorified Lord Vishnu for His inconceivable potency by which even a dhira (a
sober person) like him could be illusioned. Through this pastime we can clearly see that
Lord Shiva is a devotee of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna.
8) Why does Lord Shiva live in a Graveyard and Roam with Ghosts and Hobgoblins?
Every Vaishnava has the quality of compassion towards the fallen souls and Lord Shiva,
being the topmost Vaishnava, has compassion on the most fallen souls like ghosts, spirits,
hobgoblins who, due to their enormous past sins could not achieve a human body. Shiva
puts on the garb of a mendicant - tiger skin draped around his body, ashes smeared all over
his body, serpents around his neck, and goes to the graveyard to befriend the ghosts and
spirits. By his own association, he elevates them to achieve a human body. This shows the
unlimited compassion of Lord Shiva as the greatest devotee of Vishnu.
For more reading on how devotees should relate with Lord Shiva, please refer SB 4.24.30

Relationship of Krishna and the Demigods

The demigods like Indra, Vayu, Agni, Varuna, Brahma, etc., are different officers
empowered by the Supreme Lord to have control over different departments in nature. It
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 113

is well known that whenever there is a cosmic disturbance, the demigods headed by
Brahma approach the milk ocean and take shelter of Vishnu.
So the demigods are compared to leaves, twigs, branches of a tree and Krishna is compared to the root of
the tree. In Shrimad Bhagavatam [4.31.14], Narada instructs the Pracetas:

yatha taror mula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakha

pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam tathaiva sarvarhanam acyutejya
“As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as
supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshipping the Supreme
Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of
that Supreme Personality”.

If Krishna is God who can award the spiritual kingdom, why do people go to
demigods?
Greedy people worship demigods to get quick material benefits such
as land, wealth, woman, power, position, fame, status and other
enjoyable paraphernalia. Blinded by material desires, such people
are hardly interested in the knowledge of the soul and its loving
relationship with God. Demigod worship is impelled by material
desires. But the desire for material sense gratification is like an
itching sensation. The more you scratch the itch, the more you will
want to scratch. And the ultimate result of this itching is bleeding
and suffering. Similarly the more we satisfy our material desires, the
Bhagavad gita
more they keep increasing. And such sense-gratification ultimately As It Is 7.23
leads only to misery. Therefore, going to the demigods for relief is
like going to a friend when you have an itch on your back and
requesting him, “Please scratch my back.” The relief that it will
provide is temporary; it will not actually solve the problem. But worshipping Krishna is
like going to a doctor who will cure the itching sensation by proper medicine; it is the
only solution.

Different demigods have different powers. The sun-god has the power to cure diseases;
Goddess Durga gives strength and courage; Goddess Sarasvati bestows learning;
Goddess Lakshmi grants wealth; Goddess Chandi offers one the opportunity to consume
meat and intoxicants, and Ganesha gives success in one's endeavors. But all these
powers are invested in the demigods by the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, and thus only
He, the complete whole, can bestow every kind of benediction.

Although a demigod worshipper may want to go on enjoying materialistic life like

Hiranyakashipu wanted, the law of the material world will bring old age, disease and
eventually death. There is no history of anyone enjoying material benefits unlimitedly for
114 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

all time to come in this material world. Hiranyakashipu, Ravana, Vrikasura and many
other great demons worshiped demigods and achieved great powers and facilities. But
they were all finished by the separating sword of time. No one can make a permanent
program for happiness in this material world. Real happiness lies in the spiritual world.
But those who are foolishly and adamantly attached to accumulating things of this world,
worship demigods for this purpose. On the other hand an intelligent person surrenders to
Krishna in love, knowing Him to be the fountainhead of all opulences.
Does not Krishna award material benedictions to His devotees ?
Anyone who worships Krishna for material benefits also
obtains his desires, but Krishna first purifies his heart. The
purification may take time and therefore the material reward
may be delayed. Krishna knows very well that material
benedictions may be harmful for one who is not detached
from them. Therefore, Krishna offers them only to a devotee
who has achieved maturity and detachment, when such
material benefits cannot harm him. Thus when the devotee is
purified at heart, he loses the mentality to lord it over the
material resources and uses all that is awarded to him in the
Lord’s service. For example, Sudama never demanded
anything from the Lord when he went to Dwaraka; still Lord
Krishna offered him all luxuries and facilities. Sudama and
his wife never misused those facilities; rather they used it all in Krishna’s service and
became more and more Krishna conscious. The Lord offered Prince Dhruva Dhruvaloka
and opulences better than the demigods when he was no longer attached to enjoying
them.

The demigods offer material benefits prematurely to their worshippers without worrying
about the harmful effects of their benedictions, just as a shopkeeper does not hesitate to
sell a sweet surrounded by flies to a child. But Krishna is a loving father who does not
offer His devotees anything which may be harmful to their advancement in spiritual life.
He only gives His devotees what they really need, or what is for their ultimate best
interest.
Medium of exchange in Krishna worship and demigod worship
While the medium of exchange between Krishna and His devotees is unmotivated love,
the medium that connects the demigods and their worshippers is material benefits.
Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (18.66) : ‘sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam
vraja’ - ‘Abandon all varieties of religion and surrender only unto Me’. But people
whose minds are pulled by the attraction for material benefits and who have not acquired
sufficient ‘sukritis’ or spiritual merits in Krishna’s service, go to the demigods. Krishna
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 115

can award liberation from the material world and take the living entity back to His
everlasting spiritual abode, never to return again to this material world, the place of birth
and death. On the other hand, the demigods, their followers along with the material
benedictions – all are destroyed by time, as they are all within the temporary material
world.
If Demigod Worship is condemned, why do the Scriptures prescribe it?
If someone offers water on every leaf, branch and twig of a tree, his efforts will be
considered foolish. If one tries to put food into the eyes, ears or nose, it will never reach
the stomach and one can never become nourished. For the best nourishment, one should
pour water on the root and put food in the mouth. Thus we can become healthy in body,
mind and soul only by surrendering to Shri Krishna. The worship of demigods is
declared as ‘avidhi purvakam’ - ‘a wrong way’ [BG 9.23]. Still the scriptures give
detailed procedures for worshipping demigods for the following reasons:

) The majority of the populace practices religion only for the sake of fulfilling their
insatiable material desires. For such materialistic people, accepting the authority of
the scriptures and following the standards prescribed for demigod worship is the
beginning of surrender to God.
) Demigod worship involves performance of yajna, dhana and tapa, which help one to
become free from aham (bodily identification) and mama (false proprietorship). For
example, the mantra used while making sacrificial offerings to Indra, indraya svaaha
idam na mama means "This is not mine. I offer it to Indra." This sort of worship helps
one to rise from bodily, material consciousness gradually so that ultimately the
completely selfless platform of pure devotional service can be reached.
) The worship or the mantras offered to the demigods always carries the name of
Vishnu in the beginning and the end. This is the spiritual seed (like a bitter medicine
coated with sugar all around), which makes a materialistic demigod worshipper recite
the name of the Supreme Lord, and slowly get its benefit over a period of time. For
example, the worshippers of Ganesh recite the following verse from the Mahabharata
(which was written by Ganesh himself):
kayena vaca manasendriyair va buddhyatmanava prakrteh svabhavat
karomi yad yad sakalam parasmai narayana yeti samarpayami
“Whatever I think, speak and do with my mind, intelligence and senses – I offer them
all at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Narayana."
By repeated chanting of the names of Lord Vishnu in such prayers to the demigods, the
consciousness of a demigod worshipper is gradually awakened. Over a period, extending
over several lifetimes, he becomes elevated enough to worship the Supreme Lord,
116 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Krishna or Vishnu, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (7.19). Therefore, in the

Scriptures, demigod worship is condemned, not prohibited.

If the ultimate goal of a demigod worshipper is to become a devotee of Lord Krishna or

Vishnu, why not worship the Supreme Lord directly and avoid wasting time? Therefore,
if an intelligent person is fortunate enough to come in contact with a devotee of the Lord,
he can leave all the other rituals and just take to Krishna consciousness and the chanting
of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. This worship of Lord Krishna includes in itself the
worship of all the millions of demigods, exactly as pouring water on the root of a tree
nourishes every part of the tree.
What is the Right Way to Approach the Demigods?
A devotee of Krishna understands that the demigods are all empowered servants of
Krishna, who are given a particular service to do. Therefore he is not offensive towards
them; he sees them as parts and parcels of Lord Krishna and offers them due respect.
Thus, only a devotee of Krishna knows best how to actually honour a demigod.

The proper way to deal with the demigods can be understood from the following
example. Suppose you meet a police constable. He is the representative of the
government. If you slap him, you are slapping the government; it is offensive behavior.

But, going to the other extreme, if you go and fall at the feet of the constable and say, “O
Lord, you are not only the constable, but you are also the sub-inspector, the IGP
(Inspector General of Police). You are the all in all; you can give everything”, then that is
untrue flattery. A sincere constable will not be pleased by such false glorification; in fact
he will feel embarrassed. But if you offer the constable the respect that is due to him as a
representative of the government, then he will be pleased because that is the proper way
of dealing with him.

Similarly, the demigods, being the empowered servants of Krishna, are His
representatives. So if we disrespect, offend or blaspheme them, then we are disrespecting
Krishna. But if we glorify them to be the Supreme, as some demigod worshippers do,
then we are actually embarrassing and displeasing them. Therefore, the proper way for
devotees to deal with the demigods is to respect them as the representatives of the
Supreme Lord.

And how does a devotee of Krishna worship the demigods? The mood of a devotee is
that he simply wants to serve Krishna without any motivation or interruption. Therefore
when he happens to go by a temple of Lord Ganesha, he prays, “O Lord Ganesh! Please
remove all the obstacles on my way back to Krishna." When he sees a Shivalinga, he
prays, “You are the topmost Vaishnava. Please make me also a devotee of Krishna so that
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 117

I may get an opportunity to eternally serve Him." When he passes by a temple of goddess
Sarasvati, he prays, “O goddess Sarasvati, please bless me so that I may understand the
Bhagavad-gita and the Shrimad Bhagavatam and become a pure devotee of Krishna."

A devotee of Krishna can never even dream of going to the demigods for material
benefits. The gopis of Vrindavana, who are the topmost devotees of Lord Krishna, prayed
to goddess Katyayani (Durga), not for any material benediction, but to get Krishna as
their husband. Thus the conclusion is that one should aspire to become an unalloyed
devotee of Krishna and worship Him wholeheartedly.

* * * * *
118 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

‘Self Manager’, Quiz : 3

God and gods

Part A (to be answered by All)

Answer the following questions in TWO or THREE sentences on a separate sheet : (10 x 2
= 20 marks)

1. If someone asks you, “Why do you say Krishna is God?” how will you reply him or
her in short?
2. Many impersonalists argue that there is only a thin line between you and God; by
meditation you can also become pure and become God. What do you think of this
idea?
3. How did Duryodhana deny the supremacy of the all-powerful Lord Krishna despite
His showing the universal form? What was the reason for his denial?
4. What are the three ways by which Krishna’s supremacy is confirmed in
Bhagavad-gita?
5. ‘All paths lead to the same goal’ - Defeat this statement with two examples.
6. What is wrong with getting our material desires fulfilled through the demigods
quickly?
7. Write three points on differences between ordinary living entities and Lord Shiva.
8. If Vishnu, Rama, Narasimha, Varaha, etc., are all in the same category of Vishnu
tattva why do we focus on only worshipping Krishna the most?
9. You brought a new friend to a Sunday program at the temple, where he heard a
devotee speaking on the topic of demigods. Your new friend is furious: “It seems
Hare Krishna devotees are averse to demigod worship? How can they not respect
such great personalities like Ganesh, Shiva, Durga, etc.?” What will you explain to
him?
10. What is the main difference in benefits between Krishna and demigod worship?
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 119

Part B (only for married and Below 50 years)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences : (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. Just as Vishnu, Rama, Narasimha are all expansions of Krishna, why not accept
Brahma, Indra, Varuna, Shiva – all as similar expansions of Krishna?
2. Some grihasthas fear that if you don’t worship some of the prominent demigods,
kuladevata, etc., and simply focus on worshipping Krishna all the time, those
demigods may become upset and trouble us. With an example clarify this
misunderstanding.

Part C (only for College students)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences : (2 + 3 = 5 marks)
1. It seems that Arjuna prayed to Shiva and got Pashupatastra, and the Gopis prayed to
Goddess Katyayini. Then why do Hare Krishna devotees seem to have problem with
demigod worship?
2. What is the difference between Brahma, Mahesh and Vishnu? Many think they are
all equal.
120 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Quiz : 3
God and gods

Syllabus for the following Quiz: Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.21-22, 9.20-23

Answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences on a separate sheet: (1 x 25 =

25 marks)
1. Why does the Lord as Supersoul allow a person to be sent to demigods if He knows it
is not good for that person in the long run? (7.21)
2. ‘One should give up all other engagements and fully surrender..’ - what are these
‘other engagements’ that one needs to give up before surrendering to the Supreme
Lord? (7.21)
3. Why cannot a demigod bestow any benediction without the will of Krishna? (7.21)
4. There cannot be love between a living entity and a demigod. The relationship
between them is more of a business transaction. Explain this fact with reference to
the pastime of Hiranyakashipu worshipping Brahma, and Bhasmasura worshipping
Shiva. (7.21)
5. If there is no love that pulls the living entity to be attracted to a demigod, then how
does the living entity become fixed up in worshipping a particular demigod? (7.21)
6. A demigod may bless a demon with opulences, but the Supreme Lord may take it
away as in the case of Ravana. Give another example where a demon was bestowed
opulences and powers, but was later destroyed by the Supreme Lord? What does this
show? (7.21)
7. Who remembers the fact that everything belongs to the Supreme Lord? Who forgets
this fact? (7.22)
8. What does a less intelligent living entity not know? (7.22)
9. What is the sign of a pure devotee? (7.22)
10. When does a living entity leave the Lord and approach a demigod? (7.22)
11. Write one big difference between worship of a demigod and devotional service to the
Supreme Lord. (7.22)
12. What is one major impediment for a devotee progressing on the path back to
Godhead? Give some examples for the same. (7.22)
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 121

13. Why do less intelligent living entities prefer to worship demigods instead of engaging
in loving devotional service of the Supreme Lord? (7.22)
14. What are the official students of Vedas interested in? What is the benefit? (9.20)
15. What is the actual goal of Vedic study? Find out from BG 15.15. Compare the same
with the Vedic scholars mentioned in this purport. (9.20)
16. What is the special material benediction that one achieves by going to heavenly
planets? What makes that benediction useless? (9.21)
17. Who misses the ultimate goal of life wandering in the cycle of birth and death?
(9.21)
18. Identify at least three differences between going to the spiritual world and going to
heavenly planets? (9.21)
19. What valuable lesson did you learn from the two verses, Bhagavad-gita 9.20 and
9.21, for applying in your personal life? (9.20,21)
20. Who can approach the Lord without difficulty? (9.22)
21. What is the greatest type of protection offered by the Lord to His devotee? (9.22)
22. Explain the word ‘avidhi purvakam’ in this verse. What is the offering of worship to
demigods compared to here? (9.23)
23. What is ‘unnecessary worship’ of demigods? (9.23)
24. How is worship of other gods with faith considered as worship of Krishna as said in
the translation of this verse? (9.23)
25. What do you think about the explanation of the verses of Bhagavad-gita in the
seventh and nineth chapter about demigods? Give reasons for your thoughts.

* * * *
122 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Chapter 4

Is God Personal or
Impersonal?
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 123

Chapter Contents

Sr. Page
Contents
No. No.
1 Is the Ultimate Truth Personal or Impersonal? 95

2 All Major Religions refer to God as a Person 96

Impersonal Brahmajyoti is Nothing but the Effulgence
3 97
of the Personal God, Shri Krishna
4 Speciality of God’s Form 98
5 The Three Aspects of the Absolute Truth 99
Personal Worship or Impersonal Meditation: Which
6 is Better? 102

The Lord’s Appearance and Activities are Divine 104

Krishna Knows Past, Present and Future; 105
ordinary living entities are prone to
forgetfulness
Krishna And His Body Are Non-different 105
Krishna is Eternally Youthful 106
7 Krishna’s Appearance and an ordinary living
entity’s birth
Krishna’s disappearance and an ordinary 106
living entity’s death
Krishna is not bound by Karma; But a 105
living entity is bound by good and bad karma

8 “As You Surrender, I Reward You Accordingly” 108

The Most Joyful Process for Returning back to
9
Godhead
110
Individual or GD Task:
Learning about the Glory of Bhakti yoga over Dry 111
10 Impersonal Logic
Story: ‘A Dry Logician Impersonalist turns into 111
a flower-like Pure Devotee’
124 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Is the Ultimate Truth Personal or Impersonal?
Whether God is personal or impersonal has been a subject of raging controversy
throughout the ages. In the points mentioned below we can logically understand what the
ultimate truth is:
1) When all emanations are personal, how can their origin be impersonal? You are a
person, I am a person, even the butterfly is a person. In fact, every living entity is a
person. When all of us are persons, then how can God, the one from whom all of us have
originated, not be a person? Your father is a person, his father is a person, his father is
also a person, then how can the Supreme Father not be a person?
2) Complete whole must include personal and impersonal: By definition, God is
perfect and complete. Being the complete whole, He must contain everything both within
and beyond our experience, otherwise He cannot be complete. Therefore, to be perfect
and complete, God must be both personal and impersonal.
3) Why do some people feel that the Supreme cannot be Personal? When we are all
persons, why should someone consider that the Absolute Truth, in the ultimate sense, is
not a person? Srila Prabhupada mentions the mentality, which leads to this sort of
impersonal conception in the purport of the Bhagavad-gita (4.10). In the materialistic
concept, the body is perishable, full of ignorance and completely miserable. Therefore,
people in general keep this same bodily idea in mind when they are informed of the
personal form of the Lord. Consequently they feel that the Supreme cannot be personal.
But scriptures declare, ‘ishwara parama krishna sac cid ananda vigraha’ - ‘Lord Shri
Krishna is the Supreme controller and He has a body of eternity, knowledge and bliss’.
Thus Lord Krishna’s personal form is made of pure spiritual substance unlike our
material bodies that are made up of bones, flesh, stool, urine, bile and similar substances.
4) Fear of Spiritual Identity: Since in this world all living entities are suffering from
the three-fold miseries and four fold problems – birth, old age, disease and death – some
people become frustrated with problems given by their material bodies, conflicts arising
from material relationships, etc. When they are informed that spiritual life is also
individual and personal, they become afraid of becoming persons again, and so they
naturally prefer a kind of merging into the impersonal void to achieve peace. They do
not know that the spiritual world is centered around the Lord of Love – Shri Krishna –
and all the living beings there are endowed with pure spiritual bodies. The relationships
between them are sweet and free from envy. There every word is a song, every gait is a
dance, unlike the miserable material world that we are living in now.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 125

5) The Lord’s divine body has no veins:

Isopanishad, Mantra 8 speaks about the nature of the
Lord’s body as one free from veins or nerves, one that
is completely pure, unlike a normal material body that
contains foul-smelling substances like stool, urine,
bile, etc: “…asnaviram shuddham apapa viddham…”
Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport as follows:
“… The anatomy of a material body must have a
mechanical construction with veins and so forth, but
the transcendental body of the Supreme Lord has
nothing like veins. It is clearly stated here that He is unembodied, which means that there
is no difference between His body and His soul. Nor is He forced to accept a body
according to the laws of nature, as we are. In materially conditioned life, the soul is
different from the gross embodiment and subtle mind. For the Supreme Lord, however,
there is never any such difference between Him and His body and mind. He is the
Complete Whole, and His mind, body and He Himself are all one and the same….”

All Major Religions Refer to God as a Person

All religions refer to God as a person and not just as a power or a void. For example,

• In the Bible, Ezekiel (1.26) describes God as having “the semblance of a human
form." In Genesis, chapters 18 and 19, it is stated that God appeared before Abraham in a
humanlike form, although the form is not elaborately described. There are also many
other references to the form of God, such as, ‘under His feet’ (Exodus 24:10), ‘the eyes
of the Lord’ (Genesis 38:7), ‘the ears of the Lord’ (Numbers 11:1), ‘inscribed with the
finger of God’ (Exodus 31:18).

• In the Koran too, Allah’s face (‘Wajh’ 55.26-27), Allah’s eyes (‘Aynun’ 11.37), etc.,
are clearly mentioned.
• Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (13.14):
sarvataù päëi-pädaà tat sarvato 'kñi-çiro-mukham
sarvataù çrutimal loke sarvam ävåtya tiñöhati

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes, heads and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In
this way the Supersoul exists, pervading everything.”

How can an impersonal God have feet, finger, hand, eyes, ears, etc?
126 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

The Vedic literatures, which predate the Bible as well as the Koran, and which were
written in a highly advanced spiritual culture, also declares God to be a person, but they
go well beyond that; they specifically reveal His form, His features, His pastimes and His
personality. A few quotes from the Vedic scriptures proving the form of God are given
below:

The Rig Veda (1.22.20) states that Vishnu is the Supreme and that saintly persons are
always anxious to see His lotus feet.

The Taitareya Upanishad also states that the cosmic manifestation came about when the
Lord glanced over material nature (1.1.1-2). This is also verified by the Prasna
Upanishad (6.3).

‘om shri krishnaya namah om sac cid ananda rupaya’ - “I invoke Lord Krishna, who
possesses a form that is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.” (Gopal Tapani Upanishad
1.1, 1.2). Here the word, ‘rupaya’ means ‘form’.

‘isvarah paramah krishnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-

karanam’ - “Krishna is the supreme controller. He has a form of eternity, knowledge, and
bliss. He is the prime cause of all causes.” (Brahma Samhita 1). Here the word vigraha,
which means ‘form’, is explicitly used.

There are many other similar descriptions about the Lord.

Impersonal Brahmajyoti is nothing but

the Effulgence of the Personal God, Shri Krishna

The jnanis, or monists, often cite verses from the Upanishads to support the impersonal
viewpoint. But in Isopanishad we find:

hiranmayena patrena satyasyapihitam mukham

tat tvam pushann apavrunu satya dharmaya dhrishtaye
“O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling
effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee.”
[Ishopanishad, Text 15]

2) That the brahmajyoti is Krishna’s effulgence is confirmed by Lord Shri Krishna

Himself in the Bhagavad-gita (14.27): ‘brahmano hi pratishta aham’ - ‘I am the support
of the impersonal Brahman’.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 127

3) The Brahma-samhita (5.40) confirms the same truth as follows:

yasya prabhä-prabhavato jagad anda koti
kotish vashesha vasudhadi vibhüti-bhinnam
tad brahma nishkalam anantam ashesha
govindam ädi-purusham tam aham bhajami
“In the millions and millions of universes there are innumerable planets, and each and
every one of them is different from the others by its cosmic constitution. All of these
planets are situated in a corner of the brahmajyoti. This brahmajyoti is but the personal
rays of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, whom I worship.” This mantra
from the Brahma-samhita is spoken from the platform of factual realization of the
Absolute Truth by the first created living being, Lord Brahma.
Speciality of God’s Form
The Vedic literatures thus clearly declare that God has an all-beautiful form, a spiritual
form, which is made up of one pure spiritual substance
– sac-cid-ananda. There is a clear cut difference
between God and the souls. In case of God, Krishna
and His body are non-different. In our case, we are
pure spirit souls, but covered by a material body,
similar to a man wearing a shirt. Thus our soul is
different from our material body. Our material body is
a bundle of bones, flesh, nerves and different
mechanisms, along with abominable substances like
stool, mucus, etc., all packed up together with a nice
looking skin that makes us forget the temporary
perishable nature of the material body. Opposed to
this, the Lord’s body is eternal, spiritual in nature and
has real everlasting beauty. To help us understand how
His form is divine and completely different from ours,
the Lord perfomed a wonderful pastime.

O nce, when Lord Krishna was still a child, His mother, Yashodamai, looked into His mouth to
see if He had eaten mud. What would one expect to see in the mouth of an ordinary mortal?
The oral cavity with teeth, tongue and palate—nothing special. Yet when she looked into
the mouth of the Lord, she saw the entire universe in His mouth – all the directions, the
mountains, the islands, oceans, seas, planets, air, fire, moon and stars. In this universe she also
saw herself - looking into Krishna's mouth. This pastime illustrates that although Krishna appeared
to be just like an ordinary child standing in front of His mother, He simultaneously contained the
entire universe within Himself.
128 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, to make the subject free from
all ambiguity, would always refer to the Absolute Truth, not just as God but as “The
Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (This is the English equivalent of the Sanskrit word
Bhagavan, which refers to the ultimate aspect of the Absolute Truth.) When the Lord is
addressed as, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead”, it is clearly understood that He has
a form and a personality, and the word Godhead signifies that He is supreme God.
The Three Aspects of the Absolute Truth
According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam (1.2.11), the Absolute Truth is
realized in three phases: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan: ‘vadanti
tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti shabdyate’.

“The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases of understanding by

the knower of the Absolute Truth, and all of them are identical. Such
phases of the Absolute Truth are expressed as Brahman, Paramatma,
and Bhagavan."

BRAHMAN (The impersonal effulgence aspired to by jnanis) means spirit, the greatest,
supreme, Krishna’s all-pervading energy. This impersonal effulgence that emanates from
Krishna’s body is the aspiration of Brahmavadis. While Brahman is spiritual in nature,
there is no variety in Brahman. Brahman effulgence is not a permanent destination for
the soul; the soul needs variety of spiritual engagements, and that is available only in the
Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavan.

PARAMATMA (The Supersoul aspired to by Yogis) is an

expansion of Lord Krishna, as the fourhanded form of Vishnu (known
as Ksirodakashayi Vishnu, or one who lies in the ocean of milk in the
Shwetadwipa planet above Brahmaloka). He is present in every atom,
in the space between the atoms, as well as in the hearts of all living
beings. He escorts the living entity from one body to another in the
material world. In the Mundaka Upanishad the soul and Supersoul are
compared to two birds sitting on the branches of a tree. The soul is
compared to the fruit eating bird, which enjoys and suffers the
resultant reactions to his karma. The Supersoul is compared to the
silent bird, which patiently waits for the soul to turn to him, so that He
may provide him information on how to return back to Godhead. The
Supersoul is the giver of remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness
to the soul. He is the overseer, proprietor, sanctioner, and maintainer
of the soul. The yogis or the meditators perceive this Paramatma
feature of the Absolute Truth. Dhruva Maharaja and Narada (in his
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 129

previous lifetime as the son of a maid), achieved the darshan of

the Paramatma. The destination of such yogis who meditate on
the Paramatma is the Vaikuntha planets (if they understand that
the Paramatma is a person), or Brahmajyoti (if they think that
the Paramatma is impersonal).

BHAGAVAN (The Supreme Personality of Godhead aspired to

by Bhaktas) is the ultimate realization of the Absolute Truth
and is the last word in transcendence. This Bhagavan aspect is
the all-glorious, all-beautiful, three-fold bending form of Lord
Shri Krishna holding a flute in His hands. Realization of this
Bhagavan feature automatically includes the realization of the
Brahman and Paramatma features. The worshippers of Lord
Vishnu or Lord Rama attain Vaikuntha planets, and the
worshippers of Shri Krishna attain Goloka Vrindavan, where
they eternally serve the Lord of their hearts.

Illustration of a Distant Mountain…

Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are not
different. They are simply different aspects of the complete Godhead.

“Looking at a mountain from a distance, we may see a hazy cloud, and if we come nearer, we
may see something green. If we actually climb the mountain, we will find many houses, trees
and animals. Our vision is of the same mountain, but due to our different positions we see
haze, greenery or variegatedness. In the final stage, there are varieties—trees, animals, men,
houses, and so on….” [Srila Prabhupada in Teachings of Lord Kapila, Chap. 5]

Brahman and Paramatma Realization is incomplete realization:

In the purport to the Isopanishad invocation mantra, Srila Prabhupada explains, “ The
Supreme Personality of Godhead is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. Realization of
impersonal Brahman is realization of His sat feature, or His aspect of eternity, and
Paramatma realization is realization of His sat and cit features, His aspects of eternity and
knowledge. But realization of the Personality of Godhead is realization of all the
transcendental features—sat, cit and ananda. When one realizes the Supreme Person, he
realizes these aspects of the Absolute Truth in their completeness. Vigraha means
"form"……….”
130 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Illustration of a Train…
Once a railway line was laid for the first time in a village. When a train was about to
come for the first time, hundreds of villagers gathered. When the train appeared in the
distance, one man saw the smoke emanating from the engine at a kilometer’s distance
and ran into the village and shouted, “I have seen the train; it is simply a big smoke”. A
second man waited longer and observed a bright light coming towards the platform. He
ran into the village and proclaimed, “I know what a train is all about. It is just a big
bright light. That’s all.” A third man waited longer for the train to arrive at the station.
When the train arrived and stopped, he met the driver, who came out from the
locomotive. A fourth man, who waited till the end, understood that not only was there a
driver, but there were hundreds and thousands of passengers sitting in the bogies
connected to the locomotive. Now the fourth man could give a complete picture of what
a train was all about.

Similarly, a materialist thinks that there is nothing beyond this smoke-like material
world. Their philosophy of life is to eat, drink and be merry. The impersonalist knows
half the truth about God; he thinks God is a big bright impersonal light. The yogi thinks
God is the greatest personality behind the cosmic machinery of this universe. The bhakta
knows the complete picture – God and His energies, the material and spiritual, and the
sweet loving relationships between the Lord and His part-and-parcel living entities.

Illustration of a Prime Minister and citizens…

Consider the example of a Prime Minister of the country.
A police constable works under the police department,
which is one of the energies of the Prime Minister. That is
the way he is related to the Prime Minister.

A citizen may know that the government runs the affairs of

the country, but does not have a direct relation with the
Prime Minister.

A Member of Parliament can see the Prime Minister face to face, but has a relation in the
mood of awe and veneration.

But a son, wife, or mother of the Prime Minister has the

most intimate relation with the Prime Minister. They are so
intimately related to him, that they do not even see him as a
Prime Minister but as a very near and dear lovable object.
They know his likes and dislikes, interests and concerns,
moods and mission, etc.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 131

In the same way, there are many worshippers of various demigods, who are incharge of
various departmental affairs within the universe, like Brahma, Shiva, Karthikeya, Indra,
Varuna, etc. They are very indirectly related with the Lord. Then there are the Karma
yogis who offer the fruits of their work to the Supreme government.

The jnana yogis are attached to the impersonal aspect of the

Lord and have no information of the Lord’s personal
nature, qualities and attributes. They are like a man under
the government of a country; he does not know that behind
the government there is a Prime Minister who runs the
government. Similarly behind the impersonal Brahman,
Lord Krishna says that He is the ultimate support [BG
14.27].

The Ashtanga yogis may be attracted to impersonal

Brahman or to the personal form of Vishnu seated in the
heart of everyone as the Paramatma. If an Ashtanga yogi’s
meditation intensifies he can see Lord Vishnu face to face
in a neutral relationship of awe and veneration, and attain the Vaikuntha planets. But
only a Bhakti yogi is like a near and dear relative of Lord Shri Krishna, Bhagavan, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus a Bhakti yogi only can know the desires and
interests of the Lord and serve Him personally.

Personal Worship or Impersonal Meditation: Which is Better?

Many people imagine different forms of impersonal meditation, without endeavoring to

learn the science of God in disciplic succession. It is worth knowing what Lord Krishna
spoke to Arjuna about this :
Personal worship is best; Impersonal worship is troublesome

Arjuna inquired: Which are considered to be more perfect, those who are always properly
engaged in Your devotional service or those who worship the impersonal Brahman, the
unmanifested? [BG 12.1]

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal
form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are
considered by Me to be most perfect. [BG 12.2]

For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the
Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is
always difficult for those who are embodied. [BG 12.5]
132 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

The soul can never lose his individuality by merging in Brahman.

A green parrot enters a green tree; but his individuality is not destroyed.

The impersonalists (jnanis) perform severe penance to meditate on the impersonal

Brahman and achieve a state of peace there. After a great struggle, they may attain the
brahmajyoti with the desire to merge and become one with the Brahman. But every
minute soul has an identity that cannot be destroyed. Even when the soul remains within
the brahmajyoti, his situation is like that of a parrot that has entered a tree. The parrot is
green, the tree is green and so it may seem homogenous. Because the parrot has the same
color as the tree, it may appear to have merged into the tree. Still the parrot has its
individuality. Similarly the living entity has his individuality, even after entering into the
brahmajyoti.
The soul cannot remain inactive; in search of activity the soul falls back from Brahman

Imagine yourself locked up in a room alone. Even if food is supplied in time, who can
remain alone in a room year after year? We cannot remain alone forever. Eventually we
will leave that room and look for some association. It is our nature to want some
recreation with others.

The impersonalists, dissatisfied with the loneliness of their position in the impersonal
effulgence of the Lord, therefore return again to this material world. This is stated in the
Shrimad Bhagavatam [10.2.32]:
ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avishuddha-buddhayah
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah
"O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to
achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure.
They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard
for Your lotus feet."

The impersonalists are like astronauts in search of a planet. If

they cannot rest in some planet, they have to return to earth. Do
you remember some decades ago a ‘skylab’ rocket, not able to
attain any planet, fell back to earth? The impersonalist attains
Brahman where there is only ‘peace’ but no activity.

Therefore, as long as we are on this earth, we should practice to

love and serve Krishna, the Supreme Lord; then we can enter
His spiritual planet to join His eternal service. If we are not
trained up in this way, we can enter the brahmajyoti as an
impersonalist, but there is every risk that we will again fall
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 133

down into material existence, and again engage in some mundane social welfare activities
of opening hospitals, schools, dharmashalas, etc.
Love or Peace: which is superior?
The impersonalist aspires to merge into Brahman to achieve peace – ‘om shanti shanti
shantih’. The bhakta aspires to enter into the spiritual planets to engage in personal
loving devotional service to the Lord. It is easy to understand which of the two is
superior – peace or love.

Imagine a husband and wife who had a terrible fight and so decided to live in two
separate rooms of the house. Initially there is a relief. Each of them feels, “Thank God.
No more anxiety or quarrel. Now I am peaceful.” But after a day or two, life becomes
boring. They cannot keep quiet like a dumb person. They hanker to be united again;
they desire to develop loving relationships again. When they give up the quarreling
mentality and agree to cooperate with one another, then the loving relationship is
established again. Nobody will want to stay alone in a room even if food is supplied in
time and all other facilities are provided.
Similarly, God and the living being have a loving relationship. God is the master, like
the husband. The living entity is the servant, like the wife. If the living entity gives up
the Lord and goes to Brahman to stay alone and be in peace, he cannot be situated there
for a long time. In want of a loving relationship he will fall back into the material world.
But those who enter into the spiritual planets and get connected with the Lord in a loving
relationship in one of the five mellows – shanta (neutral), dasya (servitorship), sakhya
(friendship), vatsalya (parental) or madhurya (conjugal) -- will never fall back to the
material world.
Thus love is superior to peace. In fact, peace is a subset of love.
Hence the bhakta attains the highest destination – the spiritual world, where he serves the
Lord in various ways in a particular relationship. Therefore, by pleasing the Supreme
Lord one automatically becomes situated in eternal bliss.

The Lord’s Appearance and Activities are Divine

In understanding that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
one may wonder, “If Krishna is God, how does He take birth into the
material world and behave like an ordinary child?” However even
when He descends into this material world, His appearance and
activities are divine, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (4.9):

janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah

134 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not,
upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal
abode, O Arjuna."

That the appearance and activities of Krishna are transcendental can be understood from
His following superhuman attributes.

1. Krishna Knows Past, Present and Future; ordinary living entities are prone to
forgetfulness
In the Bhagavad-gita (4.4), Arjuna asks Krishna how He could have instructed Vivasvan,
who was apparently millions of years senior to Him by birth. Krishna explains in the
Bhagavad-gita (4.5) that, although both He and Arjuna have passed many “births”, the
difference is that Krishna can remember all of them, whereas Arjuna and other ordinary
living entities cannot. Why is it so? Because Krishna is God, Arjuna is an ordinary living
entity.

If a common man is asked what vegetable he ate just a week ago on Tuesday afternoon, it
would be very difficult for him to answer immediately. He would surely have to dredge
his memory to recall. We are subjected to forgetfulness because we change bodies one
after another, but the Lord does not change bodies.

2. Krishna And His Body Are Non-different

We are offered material bodies one after another and we are born into this world impelled
by our good and bad karma. But as far as Lord Krishna is concerned, He comes to
this material world in His self-same sac-cid-ananda body out of His own sweet will.
So Krishna and His body are non-different.

The Lord explains this fact in Bhagavad-gita (4.6): “Although I am unborn and My
transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings,
I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.”

3. Krishna is Eternally Youthful

Whenever Lord Krishna descends into this material world, despite the fact that He grows
from childhood to boyhood and from boyhood to youth, astonishingly enough He never
ages beyond youth. At the time of the Battle of Kurukshetra, He had many grandchildren
at home; or in other words, He had sufficiently aged by material calculations. Still He
looked just like a young man twenty or twenty five years old. We never see a picture of
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 135

Krishna in old age because He never grows old like us, although He is the oldest person
in the whole creation – past, present, and future. Neither Krishna's body nor His
intelligence ever deteriorates or changes.

That Krishna is eternally youthful is confirmed by Lord Brahma in the Brahma-Samhita

(5.33): adyam purana purusam nava yauvanam ca: “Although Lord Krishna is the
original person, the oldest, still He is always a fresh youth.”

4. Krishna’s Appearance and an ordinary living entity’s birth

Srila Prabhupada writes about Lord Krishna’s appearance as

follows: “…Lord Krishna first of all situated Himself in the
unalloyed heart of Vasudeva and was then transferred to the heart of
Devaki. He was not put into the womb of Devaki by seminal discharge.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His inconceivable potency,
can appear in any way. It is not necessary for Him to appear in the
ordinary way, by seminal injection within the womb of a woman…”
[Krishna Book Chap. 2]

When Lord Krishna was born, He appeared as a baby with four

hands, holding conchshell, club, disc, and lotus flower,
decorated with the mark of Shrivatsa, wearing the jeweled
necklace of Kaustubha stone, dressed in yellow silk, dazzling
like a bright blackish cloud, wearing a helmet bedecked with the Vaidurya stone,
valuable bracelets, earrings and similar other ornaments all over His body and an
abundance of hair on His head. Due to the extraordinary features of the child, Vasudeva
was struck with wonder. How could a newly born child be so decorated? Such is the
divine nature of the birth of Krishna.

On the other hand, when an ordinary child is born, he is born naked, smeared in amniotic
fluid, stool, urine, crying and in total ignorance, with filthy worms falling out from the
same womb as his brothers. Thus it is clear that the Lord’s advent is not like an ordinary
child’s painful birth.

Therefore the Lord says that anyone who considers Him to be an ordinary man is a fool:
“Fools deride Me when I descend in a human form. They do not know My transcendental
nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.”(Bhagavad-gita 9.11)
5. Krishna’s disappearance and an ordinary living entity’s death
It is commonly known that a hunter named Jara, mistaking the sole of the Lord's left foot
for a deer, sent an arrow. The common people foolishly think that Krishna was an
ordinary man who was killed by the arrow of a hunter.
136 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

According to Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakura, a great saint and scholar, the arrow
merely touched the Lord's lotus foot and did not pierce it, since the Lord's limbs are
composed of eternity, knowledge and bliss. In the verses of Bhagavatam describing this
incident, there is no description of the hunter extracting the arrow from the foot; rather he
falls at the Lord’s feet.

While describing this incident, Shukadeva Goswami asked

Parikshit the following rhetorical question, “Lord Krishna
brought the son of His guru back from the planet of the lord
of death in the boy's self-same body and, as the ultimate
giver of protection, He saved you also when you were
burned by the brahmastra of Ashwattama. He conquered in
battle even Lord Shiva, who deals death to the agents of
death, and He sent the hunter Jara directly to Vaikuntha in
his human body. How could such a personality be unable to
protect His own Self?”

Death is an insignificant expansion of Lord Krishna's

external potency and cannot possibly act upon the Lord
Himself. Those who actually understand the transcendental
nature of Lord Krishna's activities will find convincing evidence in these examples. Lord
Krishna does not die like ordinary mortals; rather He ascends to His own abode after
completing His earthly pastimes as shown in the following verse references.

SB 11.31.6 explains “...adagdhva dham avishat svakam” – “Without employing the

mystic agneya meditation to burn up His transcendental body, which is the all-attractive
resting place of all the worlds and the object of all contemplation and meditation, Lord
Krishna entered into His own abode.”

SB 1.3.43 explains “kåñëe sva-dhämopagate dharma-jïänädibhiù saha...” – “Lord

Krishna ascended to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc.”

Krishna's appearance, activities and disappearance are like the movements of the sun.
When the sun appears in the East, one may think that the sun is born. And when the sun
sets in the West, one may think that the sun is dead. The sun always exists, although we
see it rise and set, appear and disappear, according to our position on the planet.
Similarly, the Lord's pastimes are going on eternally, although we can see them manifest
in this particular universe only at certain intervals. The Lord is always residing in His
supreme abode, Goloka Vrindavana, and by His Supreme will, His activities are also
manifested in innumerable universes.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 137

6. Krishna is not bound by Karma; But a living entity is bound by good and bad
karma

The living beings are of many varieties, such as the demigods, human beings and lower
animals, and all of them are subject to the reactions of their past good or bad activities.
Sometimes foolish people with a poor fund of knowledge think that, just as we enjoy and
suffer, the Lord also has to reap His good and bad karma. Such people falsely conclude
that karma is more powerful than the Lord. Lord Krishna clearly refutes this
misconception in the Bhagavad-gita (4.14): “There is no work that affects Me; nor do I
aspire for the fruits of action.”
All acts of the Lord are called ‘lila’ or ‘pastimes’. A lila is a situation voluntarily
accepted for enjoyment. On the other hand, a living entity cannot call his activities of
birth, old age, disease and death as ‘lila’ because these are situations forcibly imposed for
suffering. A millionaire may sometimes perform a drama taking the role of a beggar to
please his relatives and friends on a vacation; neither is he paid for it nor is he obliged to
do it. He simply does it out of his free will for the pleasure of his relatives. In the same
way Lord Krishna, or Lord Rama, may perform some act that may apparently appear to
be humanlike, but those acts can be understood to be pastimes of the Lord. While the
display of the Lord’s superhuman acts prove His supremacy, his humanlike activities
shows His love for His devotees.

From the evidences discussed in this chapter, we can clearly understand that the
conclusion of all the scriptures is that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. When one understands this supreme position of Krishna, one can learn to serve
Him with love and devotion. By such devotional service, one can attain krishna-prema,
pure love for Krishna. That is the ultimate perfection of life.

“As You Surrender, I Reward You Accordingly”

Everyone is seeking Krishna, the all attractive, whether they
know it or not. The spirit soul is only a part and parcel, but
Lord Krishna is the Supreme Whole, and is infinitely
blissful. Being a part and parcel of the Supreme, every soul
is supposed to be blissful. Being covered over by material
energy, the soul is hankering to return back to his natural
state of being the servant of the Lord in blissful
consciousness.

The materialists struggle for this bliss by manipulating matter in

various ways, but a transcendentalist seeks God on a spiritual
138 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

plane. The Jnanis seek Brahman, the Yogis seek Paramatma and the Bhaktas seek
Bhagavan Shri Krishna.

Sometimes people ask, “Can I see God?” One can see God if one can qualify oneself.
Even if one wants to see the Prime Minister of India, one cannot just go and barge into
his room. One needs certain qualifications. One has to first meet the secretary and he
may or may not give an appointment. There is a long string of formalities and ultimately
one may or may not get an opportunity to meet him. It is very difficult to get a personal
audience with the Prime Minister, even for a few minutes. Most of the requests by
people are rejected. But the Prime Minister’s child, or a close relative, can walk into the
Prime Minister’s cabin anytime he likes. He need not even knock on the door. He can
just go and come. Why? Because there is a loving relationship.
Krishna is the master, but who can control Krishna? His devotee. Krishna is the supreme
controller, but He is controlled by the devotee. Krishna is called ‘bhakta vatsala’. Once
somebody had come to see the Prime Minister Gladstone. And Mr. Gladstone informed,
“Wait, I am busy.” So he was waiting for hours. Then he became inquisitive, “What is
this gentleman doing?” So he peeped through the door and saw an amazing sight. The
Prime Minister, who is controlling the British Empire, had become a horse and taking his
child on his back, was offering him a joyride. This is called affection.
The question is, do you have that loving relationship by which you can see God? So the
key factor is that the qualification for seeing God is to develop that loving relationship.
That is why the Lord says, “ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamyaham”
[BG 4.11]: “You have to qualify yourself to see Me. According to your level of
qualification I will reveal myself to you.” This is a formula of reciprocation between two
people. Relationships can take place between people. It cannot take place between two
inanimate objects or impersonal objects. So Lord Krishna says that He will reveal
Himself to you to the degree of your surrender. The more you develop a personal
relationship with the Lord, the more He will reciprocate love.
The Bhakta is the highest transcendentalist who has understood the Lord in toto,
completely. Otherwise all the others like Karma yogis, Jnana yogis, Ashtanga yogis,
simply understand the Lord in various parts. It is just like the story of six blind men who
were trying to describe the elephant. Thus Lord Krishna says, “If you want to see Me as
impersonal, I will give you the intelligence to achieve that realization. If you want to see
Me as Paramatma situated in the heart of all living beings, I will give you that
understanding. If you want to see Me as Krishna, Rasaraj, who is a loving person
reciprocating rasas with My devotees, then I will reciprocate with you in that way.” This
is the meaning of ‘as you surrender to Me, I reward you accordingly’ [BG 4.11].
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 139

The Most Joyful Process For Returning Back to Godhead

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 500 years ago on this earth planet as the Kali
Yuga Avatar, specifically for the purpose of preaching Krishna-Bhakti, love of Krishna
through congregational chanting of the Holy Names: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

As per the scriptural authorities (SB 11.5.32, Vishnu sahasra nam, Caitanyopanishad
from Atharva Veda), He is Lord Krishna Himself teaching the living entities the proper
way to approach Krishna. He is like a teacher who, seeing a student doing poorly, takes
up a pencil and writes, saying, “Do it like this: A, B, C”. By this, one must not foolishly
think that the teacher is learning his ABCs. Although He appears in the guise of a
devotee, one should always remember that Lord Chaitanya is Krishna (God) Himself
teaching us how to become Krishna conscious.

Still, even if we grant that Lord Chaitanya is

Krishna, we may ask, “Why did Lord Krishna
appear in this form?” The answer is that Lord
Krishna in His form of Lord Chaitanya most
generously distributes love of God to the fallen
people of the age of Kali. When Lord Krishna
appeared on earth five thousands years ago, He
blessed the world with His loving pastimes in
Vrindavana and with His teachings in the
Bhagavad-gita. But with the passage of time, it
became more and more difficult for people to
fully appreciate and take advantage of that
blessing. The present age, the age of Kali, is
characterized by the deterioration of spiritual
values and understanding. In the course of time,
therefore, people became confused about Lord
Krishna’s teachings in the Gita. Also, the unfortunate people of this age are unable to
practice austerities for self-purification in spiritual life. To rescue these fallen souls,
therefore, Lord Krishna has again appeared, but this time as His own pure devotee, Lord
Chaitanya.

The chanting of the holy names of God as delivered by Lord Chaitanya is not only an
easy practice, but it is also the topmost method for achieving spiritual perfection. No one
but the Supreme Lord Himself could distribute the highest form of devotional service,
and thus Lord Krishna Himself appeared as a devotee. That is Lord Chaitanya.
140 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Lord Chaitanya is Lord Krishna in His most merciful feature. Therefore, even if one
doesn’t understand Lord Chaitanya’s identity as the Supreme Lord, but accepts Him as a
saintly person or as a social reformer and philosopher, one can still derive the highest
benefit by chanting the names of God. Without knowing anything at all about Lord
Chaitanya, people throughout the world have enthusiastically participated in Lord
Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement of chanting, dancing and partaking of spiritual food
(prasadam). Through the growing Hare Krishna movement, Lord Chaitanya’s prediction
that His name would be chanted in every town and village of the world is quickly coming
to pass, and people all over the world are coming to know the holy name of Krishna.
Chanting, Dancing, Feasting and Fasting, the devotees of the Lord blissfully prepare their
way back home, back to Godhead. Hare Krishna.

Individual or GD Task:
Learning about the Glory of Bhakti yoga over Dry Impersonal Logic

If you are in a classroom, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you
are reading this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. The story given below
illustrates how a great impersonalist scholar and logician, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya,
the spiritual master for the royal order, turned into a humble, mild, flower-like devotee
by the mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The conversations between them are only
partially presented here. A detailed version can be read from Chaitanya Charitamrita or
‘Teachings of Lord Chaitanya’ by Srila Prabhupada. Read the story carefully. Each
member of your group can read one title given below. Discuss the answers for the
questions inserted in between the story amongst yourselves and answer the questions on
a separate sheet. Submit your answers along with the EBG Quiz answers. Remember to
mention on the top of your sheet ‘Lesson 15 : Is God Personal or Impersonal?, Individual
or Group Task’ along with your name or name of group members.

A Dry Logician Impersonalist turns into

a flower-like Pure Devotee

The real and obscured meaning of Vedanta

When Lord Chaitanya met Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya at Jagannatha Puri, Bhattacharya, being the greatest
logician of the day, also wanted to teach the Lord Vedanta. Since Bhattacharya was an elderly man, the age
of Lord Chaitanya's father, he took compassion on the young sannyasi and requested Him to learn Vedanta-
sutra from him. Otherwise, Bhattacharya maintained, it would be difficult for Lord Chaitanya to continue as a
sannyasi. When the Lord finally agreed, Bhattacharya began to teach Him in the temple of Jagannatha.
Bhattacharya lectured on the Vedanta-sutra continuously for seven days, and the Lord heard him without
speaking a word.
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 141

On the eighth day, Bhattacharya said: "You have been hearing Vedanta-sutra from me for the past week, but
You have not asked any questions, nor have You indicated that I am explaining it nicely. Therefore I cannot
tell whether You are understanding me or not."

"I am a fool," the Lord replied. "I have no capacity to study Vedanta-sutra, but since you asked Me to hear
you, I am trying to listen. I am simply listening to you because you said that it is the duty of every sannyasi
to hear Vedanta-sutra. But as far as the meaning you are conveying is concerned—I cannot understand
that." Thus the Lord indicated that in the Mayavadi sampradaya there are many so-called sannyasés who,
even though illiterate and unintelligent, hear Vedanta-sutra from their spiritual master just as a matter of
formality. Although they listen, they do not understand anything. As far as Lord Chaitanya was concerned,
He said that He did not understand the explanation of Bhattacharya not because it was too difficult for His
understanding, but because He did not approve of the Mayavadi interpretation.

When the Lord said that He was an uneducated fool and could not follow the expositions, Bhattacharya
replied: "If You do not follow what I am saying, why don't You inquire? Why do You simply sit silently? It
appears that You do have something to say about my explanations."

"My dear sir," the Lord replied. "As far as the Vedanta-sutra, or the codes of Vedanta are concerned, I can
understand the meaning quite well. However, I cannot understand your explanations. There is nothing really
difficult about the meaning of the original Vedanta-sutra, but the way you explain Vedanta-sutra appears to
obscure the real meaning. You do not elucidate the direct meaning but imagine something and consequently
obscure the true meaning. I think that you have a particular doctrine which you are trying to expound
through the codes of Vedanta-sutra."

Lord Chaitanya protested against misinterpretations of the Upanisads, and He rejected any explanation,
which did not give the direct meaning of the Upanisads. The direct interpretation is called abhidha-vritti,
whereas the indirect interpretation is called laksana-vritti. The indirect interpretation serves no purpose.
There are four kinds of understanding, called: (1) direct understanding (pratyaksa), (2) hypothetical
understanding (anumana), (3) historical understanding (aitihya) and (4) understanding through sound
(sabda). Of these four, understanding from the Vedic scriptures (which are the sound representations of the
Absolute Truth) is the best method. The traditional Vedic students accept understanding through sound to
be the best.

Q1 : Why did Lord Chaitanya say that He did not understand the explanation of Bhattacarya?
Q2 : Why did Bhattacarya want to teach Vedanta to Lord Chaitanya?
Q3 : What did Lord Chaitanya say about Bhattacarya’s explanations in connection to Vedanta?
Q4 : What did Lord Chaitanya protest against?
Q5 : What are the ways to understand the Truth and which of them is best?

The Absolute Truth is without a material form

Lord Chaitanya then said that all the Vedic statements of the Upanisads aim at the ultimate truth known as
Brahman. The word Brahman means "the greatest," and when we speak of the greatest we immediately
refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all emanations. Unless the greatest possesses
six opulences in full, he cannot be called the greatest. The greatest, who is full in six opulences, is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, the Supreme Brahman is the Supreme Personality of
142 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Godhead as well. In Bhagavad-gita (10.12) Krishna is accepted by Arjuna as the Supreme Brahman (param
brahma). The conceptions of the impersonal Brahman and the localized Supersoul are contained within the
understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Whenever we speak of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we add the word Sré, indicating that He is full
with six opulences. In other words, He is eternally a person; if He were not a person, the six opulences
could not be present in fullness. If we say that the Supreme Absolute Truth is impersonal, we mean that His
personality is not material. Thus in order to distinguish His transcendental body from ordinary material
bodies, some philosophers have explained Him as being impersonal from the material point of view. In other
words, material personality is denied, and spiritual personality is established. In the Shwetasvetara
Upanisad (3.19) it is clearly explained that the Absolute Truth has no material legs and hands, but in that
scripture it is indicated that He has spiritual hands by which He accepts everything offered to Him. Similarly,
He has no material eyes, but He does have spiritual eyes by which He can see everything and anything.
Although He has no material ears, He can hear everything and anything. Having perfect senses, He knows
past, future and present. Indeed, He knows everything, but no one can understand Him, for by material
senses He cannot be understood. Being the origin of all emanations, He is the supreme, the greatest, the
Personality of Godhead.

Q6 : What is the meaning of the word, ‘Brahman’?

Q7 : What is the prerequisite to call someone the ‘greatest’ or ‘God’?
Q8 : Why is the Absolute Truth described as impersonal by some philosophers?
Q9 : What does Shwetasvetara Upanishad speak about the Absolute Truth in essence?
Q10: Why can no one understand God by his endeavors?

The beauty that is hidden behind the impersonal effulgence

There are many similar Vedic hymns, which definitely establish that the Supreme Absolute Truth is a person
who is not of this material world. For instance, in the Hayasérsa-pancaratra, it is explained that although in
each and every Upanisad the Supreme Brahman is first viewed as impersonal, at the end the personal form
of the Supreme Lord is accepted. A similar verse occurs in Sri Isopanisad:
hiraëmayena pätreëa satyasyäpihitaà mukham
tat tvaà püñann apävåëu satya-dharmäya dåñöaye

"O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Please remove
that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee." (Text 15)

This verse indicates that everyone should engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord, who is the
maintainer of this whole universe. Everyone is sustained by His mercy; therefore devotional service unto
Him constitutes the true religion. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the eternal form of sac-cid-
ananda, and His effulgence is spread throughout the creation, just as sunshine is spread throughout the
solar system. And just as the sun disc is covered by the glaring effulgence of the sunshine, the
transcendental form of the Lord is covered by the glaring effulgence called brahmajyoti. Indeed, in this
verse it is clearly stated that the eternal, blissful, cognizant form of the Supreme Lord is to be found within
the glaring effulgence of the brahmajyoti, which emanates from the body of the Supreme Lord. Thus the
personal body of the Lord is the source of the brahmajyoti, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 14.27). That
the impersonal Brahman is dependent on the Supreme Personality is stated in the Hayasérsa-pancaratra and
in every other Upanisad or Vedic scripture. Indeed, whenever there is talk of the impersonal Brahman in the
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 143

beginning, the Supreme Personality is finally established at the end. Just as Isopanisad indicates, the
Supreme Absolute Truth is both impersonal and personal eternally, but His personal aspect is more
important than the impersonal one.

Q11 : Explain with an example the relationship between the Supreme Lord and His effulgence.
Q12 : How would you establish that the impersonal Brahman is dependent on the Supreme Personality of
Godhead?

Eko bahunam, The One and the many

As also confirmed in the Aitareya Upanisad (1.1), sa aiksata: "The Lord glanced at material nature." The
cosmic manifestation did not exist before His glance; therefore His glance is not materially contaminated.
His seeing power existed before the material creation; therefore His body is not material. His thinking,
feeling and acting are all transcendental. In other words, it should be concluded that the mind by which the
Lord thinks, feels and wills is transcendental, and the eyes by which He glances over material nature are
also transcendental. Since His transcendental body and all His senses existed before the material creation,
the Lord also has a transcendental mind and transcendental thinking, feeling and willing. This is the
conclusion of all Vedic literature.

In the Mundaka Upanisad it is stated that there are two birds sitting on the same tree, and one of these
birds is eating the fruit of this tree while the other bird is simply witnessing his activities. Only when the bird
eating the fruit looks at the other bird does he become free from all anxieties. This is the position of the
infinitesimal living entity. As long as he is forgetful of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who witnesses
all his activities, he is subjected to the threefold miseries. But when he looks to the Supreme Lord and
becomes the Supreme Lord's devotee, he becomes free from all anxieties and material miseries. The living
entity is eternally subordinate to the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Lord is always the master of all energies,
whereas the living entity is always under the domination of the Lord's energies. Although qualitatively one
with the Supreme Lord, the living entity has the tendency to lord it over material nature; however, being
infinitesimal, he is actually controlled by material nature.

Because the living entity tends to be controlled by material nature, he cannot at any stage become one with
the Supreme Lord. If a living entity were equal to the Supreme Lord, there would be no possibility of his
being controlled by material energy. In Bhagavad-gita the living entity is described as one of the energies of
the Supreme Lord. Although inseparable from the energetic, energy is still energy, and it cannot be equal
with the energetic. In other words, the living entity is simultaneously one and different from the Supreme
Lord.

Q13 : What is the conclusion of Vedic literature about the Lord’s mind and form?
Q14 : How long the soul is subjected to the threefold miseries?
Q15 : What is the difference between the Lord and the living entity?
Q16 : How can you prove that the living entity is not equal to the Supreme Lord?
Q17 : What is the relationship between energy and energetic?
Q18 : In what way is the living entity one with or different from the Supreme Lord?
144 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

The Liberated position – senseless eternity or sweet spiritual activity?

For the impersonalist and voidist philosophers, the next world is a world of senseless eternity and bliss. The
voidist philosophers want to establish that ultimately everything is senseless, and the impersonalists want
to establish that in the next world there is simply knowledge devoid of activity. Thus less intelligent
salvationists try to carry imperfect knowledge into the sphere of perfect spiritual activity. Because the
impersonalist experiences material activity as miserable, he wants to establish spiritual life without activity.
He has no understanding of the activities of devotional service. Indeed, spiritual activity in devotional
service is unintelligible to the voidist philosophers and impersonalists. The Vaisnava philosophers know
perfectly well that the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can never be impersonal or void
because He possesses innumerable potencies. Through His innumerable energies, He can present Himself
in multiple forms and still remain the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus despite expanding
Himself in multiple forms and diffusing His innumerable energies, He can maintain His transcendental
position.

Thus Lord Chaitanya exposed many defects in the Mayavadi philosophy, and although Bhattacharya tried to
establish himself by logic and word jugglery, Lord Chaitanya was able to maintain Himself from his attacks.
The Lord established that Vedic literature is meant for three things: understanding our relationship with the
Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead, acting according to that understanding, and achieving the
highest perfection of life, love of Godhead. Anyone who tries to prove that the Vedic literatures aim at
anything else is of necessity a victim of his own imagination.

The Lord then quoted some verses from the Puranas by which He established that Sankaracharya was
deputed to teach by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He quoted a verse from the Padma
Purana (62.31) in which it is stated that the Lord ordered Mahadeva, Lord Siva, to present some imaginary
interpretations of Vedic literatures in order to divert people from the actual purpose of the Vedas. "By doing
so you will attempt to make them atheists," the Lord said. "After that, they can produce more population." It
is also stated in Padma Purana (25.9) that Lord Siva explained to his wife, Parvati, that in the age of Kali he
would come in the form of a brahmana to preach an imperfect interpretation of the Vedas, known as
Mäyävädism, which in actuality is but a second edition of atheistic Buddhist philosophy.

Bhattacharya was overwhelmed by these explanations of Lord Chaitanya. After hearing Mayavada
philosophy explained by Lord Chaitanya, he could not speak. After he remained silent for some time, Lord
Chaitanya asked him, "My dear Bhattacharya, don't be confused by this explanation. Please take it from Me
that the devotional service of the Supreme Lord is the highest perfectional stage of human understanding.
Indeed, it is so attractive that even those who are already liberated become devotees by the inconceivable
potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." There are many such conversions in Vedic literature. For
instance, in Shrimad Bhagavatam (1.7.10) the famous atmarama verse is especially meant for those who are
attracted to self-realization and liberated from all material attachments. Such liberated impersonalists
become attracted to devotional service by the various activities of Lord Krishna. Such are the transcendental
qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Q19 : What do the voidists and impersonalists want to establish about the next world?
Q20 : Why is an impersonalist interested in establishing spiritual life as one without any activity?
Q21 : How do Vaishnava philosophers establish the fact that the Supreme Lord is never impersonal or
void?
Q22 : What three things did Lord Chaitanya mention as the purpose of all Vedic literature?
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 145

Q23 : Why did Lord Shiva come as Shankara to preach Mayavada?

Q24 : What is the relationship between Buddhism and Mayavada?
Q25 :How did Lord Chaitanya establish the superiority of devotional service over the liberation of
impersonalists?

The heart transformation of Bhattacarya

Bhattacharya then asked Lord Chaitanya to explain the famous Atmarama verse, for he desired to
hear it from the Lord Himself. Lord Chaitanya replied that first of all Bhattacharya should explain
the verse according to his own understanding, and then Lord Chaitanya would explain it.
Bhattacharya then began to explain the Atmarama verse, using his methods of logic and grammar.
Thus he explained the Atmarama verse in nine different ways. The Lord appreciated his erudite
scholarship in explaining the verse and said: "My dear Bhattacharya, I know that you are a
representative of the learned scholar Brihaspati and can explain any portion of the sastras nicely.
Yet your explanation is more or less based on academic education only. Aside from this academic
scholarly approach, there is another explanation."

Then, at the request of Bhattacharya, Lord Chaitanya explained the Atmarama verse. The words of the verse
were analyzed thus: (1) atmaramah, (2) ca, (3) munayah, (4) nirgranthah, (5) api, (6) urukrame, (7) kurvanti,
(8) ahaitukém, (9) bhaktim, (10) ittham-bhuta-gunah, (11) harih. Lord Chaitanya did not mention the nine
different explanations of Bhattacharya, but He did explain the verse by analyzing these eleven words. In this
way, He expounded sixty-one different explanations of the verse.

In summary He said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full of innumerable potencies; no one can
estimate how many transcendental qualities He possesses. His qualities are always inconceivable, and all
processes of self-realization inquire into the potencies, energies and qualities of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. However, the devotees of the Lord immediately accept the inconceivable position of the Lord. Lord
Chaitanya explained that even great liberated souls like the Kumaras and Sukadeva Gosvami were also
attracted to the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord.

Bhattacharya appreciated Lord Chaitanya's explanation, and he concluded that Lord Chaitanya was none
other than Krishna Himself. Bhattacharya then began to deprecate his own position, relating that he had at
first considered Lord Chaitanya to be an ordinary human being and therefore committed an offense. He then
fell down at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya, deprecating himself, and requested the Lord to show His
causeless mercy upon him. Lord Chaitanya appreciated the humility of this great scholar and therefore
exhibited His own form, first with four hands, and then with six hands (sadbhuja). Sarvabhauma
Bhattacharya then repeatedly fell down at the Lord's lotus feet and composed various prayers to Him. He
was undoubtedly a great scholar, and after receiving the causeless mercy of the Lord, he was empowered
to explain the Lord's activities in different ways. Indeed, he was able to express the method of chanting
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

It is said that Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya composed a hundred verses in appreciation of the Lord's
activities, and that those verses were so great that they could not even be surpassed by Brihaspati, the
greatest learned scholar in the heavenly planets. The Lord was very pleased to hear these hundred verses,
and He embraced Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya became overwhelmed with ecstasy by the Lord's touch, and
he practically fell unconscious. He cried, trembled, shivered and perspired, and sometimes he danced and
146 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

sang and fell at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya. Bhattacharya's brother-in-law, Gopinath Acharya, and the
devotees of the Lord were surprised to see Bhattacharya transformed into a great devotee.

Gopinath Acharya then began to thank the Lord: "It is by Your grace only that Bhattacharya has been
transformed from his stone like position into such a devotee." Lord Chaitanya then replied to Gopinath
Acharya that it was due to a devotee's favor that a stone like man could be transformed into a mild, flower
like devotee. Actually Gopinath Acharya had sincerely wished that his brother-in-law, Bhattacharya, would
become a devotee of the Lord. He had sincerely desired that the Lord favor Bhattacharya, and he was glad
to see that his desire was fulfilled by Lord Chaitanya. In other words, a devotee of the Lord is more merciful
than the Lord Himself. When a devotee desires to show his mercy to a person, the Lord acts, and by His
grace one becomes a devotee.

Q26 : How many explanations were given by Bhattacarya and Lord Chaitanya for the ‘atma rama’ verse?
Q27 : What was the summary of Lord Chaitanya’s discussion on the atmarama verse?
Q28 : Give an example of liberated souls taking to devotional service that proves that devotion is superior
to liberation?
Q29 : How did Bhattacarya respond to Lord Chaitanya’s explanations? What special darshan did Lord
Chaitanya give him?
Q30 : What happened when Lord Chaitanya embraced Bhattacarya?
Q31 : How did the brother-in-law of Bhattacarya thank Lord Chaitanya?
Q32 : How is a devotee of the Lord more merciful than the Lord? Illustrate with an example.

Bhattacarya attains pure devotional understanding transcending mundane empty rituals

Bhattacharya again began to praise the Lord and said, "You have descended Yourself to deliver all
the fallen souls of this material world. Such an undertaking is not very difficult for You, but You
have turned a stonehearted man like me into a devotee, and that is very wonderful indeed.
Although I was very expert at logical arguments and grammatical explanations of the Vedas, I was
as hard as a lump of iron. But Your influence and temperature were so great that You could melt
away a piece of iron like me."

Lord Chaitanya then returned to His place, and Bhattacharya sent Gopinath Acharya to Him with various
kinds of prasada from Jagannatha temple. The next day the Lord went to the temple of Jagannatha early in
the morning to attend mangala arati. The priests in the temple brought Him a garland from the Deity and
also offered Him various kinds of prasada. The Lord was very much pleased to receive them, and He at once
went to the house of Bhattacharya, taking the prasada and the flowers to present to him. Although it was
early in the morning, Bhattacharya understood that the Lord had come and was knocking on his door. He at
once rose from his bed and began to say, "Krishna! Krishna!" This was heard by Lord Chaitanya. When
Bhattacharya opened the door, he saw the Lord standing there, and he was so pleased to see Him early in
the morning that he tried to receive Him with all care. He offered Him a nice seat, and both of them sat
there. Lord Chaitanya then offered him the prasada which He had received in the temple of Jagannatha, and
Bhattacharya was very glad to receive this prasada from the hands of Lord Chaitanya Himself. Indeed,
without taking his bath and without performing his daily duties or even washing his teeth, he began
immediately to eat the prasada. In this way, he was freed from all material contamination and attachment,
and as he began to eat the prasada, he cited a verse from Padma Purana. In Padma Purana it is stated that
when prasada is brought or received, it must be eaten immediately, even if it has become very dry or old, or
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 147

even if it is brought from a distant place, or even if one has not completed executing his daily duties. Since it
is enjoined in the sastras that prasada should immediately be taken, there is no restriction of time and
place; the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be followed. There are restrictions one must
follow before accepting food from various people, but there are no restrictions on accepting prasada from
all kinds of people. Prasada is always transcendental and can be taken under any condition.

Lord Chaitanya was very pleased to see that Bhattacharya, who had always obeyed the rules and
regulations strictly, accepted prasada without following any rules and regulations. Being so pleased, Lord
Chaitanya embraced Bhattacharya, and they both began to dance in transcendental ecstasy. In that ecstasy,
Lord Chaitanya exclaimed: "My mission in Jagannatha Puri is now fulfilled! I have converted a person like
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. I shall now be able to attain Vaikuntha without fail."

The missionary goal of a devotee is to convert simply one person into a pure devotee. In this way his
admission to the spiritual kingdom is guaranteed. The Lord was so pleased with Bhattacharya that He began
to bless him repeatedly: "Dear Bhattacharya, now you are a completely pure devotee of Lord Krishna, and
Krishna is now very much pleased with you. From today you are freed from the contamination of this
material body and the entanglement of material energy. You are now fit to go back to Godhead, back home."

Q33 : What did Lord Chaitanya hear when Bhattacarya got up from his bed?
Q34 : What act did Bhattacarya do which he would not have done if he was not a devotee?
Q35 : What is the essence of the Padma Purana quote that was cited by Bhattacarya?
Q36 : Why was Lord Chaitanya very pleased to see Bhattacarya?
Q37 : What is the missionary goal of a devotee?
Q38 : How did Lord Chaitanya bless Bhattacarya?

One attains the Lord by the mercy of a devotee

After this incident, Lord Chaitanya returned to His place, and Bhattacharya became a pure and faultless
devotee. Since he was formerly a great academic scholar, Bhattacharya could only have been converted by
the causeless mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. From that day onwards Bhattacharya never explained any
Vedic literature without explaining devotional service. Gopinath Acharya, his brother-in-law, was so pleased
to see Bhattacharya's condition that he began to dance in ecstasy and vibrate the transcendental sound
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

The next day, after visiting Jagannatha temple early in the morning, Bhattacharya went to visit Lord
Chaitanya, and he offered his respects by falling down before the Lord. He then began to explain his past
undesirable behavior. When he asked the Lord to speak something of devotional service, the Lord began to
explicitly explain the verses of Brhan-naradiya Purana, in which it is stated: harer nama harer nama [Cc. Adi
17.21]. Upon hearing this explanation, Bhattacharya became more and more ecstatic. Seeing the condition
of his brother-in-law, Gopinath Acharya said, "My dear Bhattacharya, previously I had said that when one is
favored by the Supreme Lord, he will understand the techniques of devotional service. Today I am seeing
this fulfilled."

Bhattacharya offered him his due respect and replied, "My dear Gopinath Acharya, it is through your mercy
that I have received the mercy of the Supreme Lord." The mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can
be obtained by the mercy of a pure devotee. Lord Chaitanya's mercy was bestowed upon Bhattacharya
148 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

because of Gopinath Acharya's endeavor. "You are a great devotee of the Lord," Bhattacharya continued,
"and I was simply blinded by my academic education. Yes, I have obtained the mercy of the Lord through
your agency only." Lord Chaitanya Himself was greatly pleased to hear Bhattacharya say that a man can
obtain the mercy of the Lord through the agency of a devotee. He appreciated his words and embraced
Bhattacharya, confirming his statement.

Thus Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was converted into one of the most important devotees
of the Lord, and he had no other interest than to serve the Lord. He thought of Lord
Chaitanya constantly, and meditation and chanting became the main purpose of his life.

Q39 : What great transformation had taken place in the way that Bhattacarya behaved as a learned man?
Q40 : What earlier statement of Gopinath Acharya was seen to be coming true in the life of Bhattacarya?
Q41 : How did Bhattacarya confirm the sastric truth, ‘the mercy of the Lord can be obtained by the mercy of
a devotee’?
Q42 : What became the main purpose of Bhattacarya’s life?

The real meaning of mukti

One day Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya came before the Lord, offered his respects and began to read a verse
from Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.14.8). This verse dealt with Lord Brahma's prayer to the Lord. The verse
read:
tat te 'nukampäà su-samékñamäëo bhuïjäna evätma-kåtaà vipäkam
håd-väg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jéveta yo mukti-pade sa däya-bhäk
"A person who devotes his mind, body and speech to the service of the Lord, even though in the midst of a
miserable life fraught with past misdeeds, is assured of liberation." Bhattacharya changed the word mukti
(liberation) to bhakti (devotional service).

"Why have you changed the original verse?" the Lord asked Bhattacharya. "The word is mukti, and you have
changed it to bhakti." Bhattacharya then replied that mukti is not as valuable as bhakti and that mukti is
actually a sort of punishment for the pure devotee. For this reason he changed the word mukti to bhakti.
Bhattacharya then began to explain his realization of bhakti. "Anyone who does not accept the
transcendental Personality of Godhead and His transcendental form cannot know the Absolute Truth," he
said.

One who does not understand the transcendental nature of the body of Krishna becomes Krishna's enemy
and defies or fights with Him. The enemies eventually merge into the Lord's Brahman effulgence. Such mukti
or liberation into the Brahman effulgence is never desired by the Lord's devotees. There are five kinds of
liberation: (1) attaining the planet where the Lord resides, (2) associating with the Lord, (3) attaining a
transcendental body like the Lord's, (4) attaining opulence like the Lord, and (5) merging into the existence
of the Lord. A devotee has no particular interest in any of these types of liberation. He is satisfied simply by
being engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. A devotee is especially averse to merging
into the existence of the Lord and losing his individual identity. Indeed, a devotee considers oneness with
the Lord to be hellish. He will, however, accept one of the four other kinds of liberation in consideration for
being engaged in the service of the Lord. Out of the two possibilities of merging in transcendence—namely
becoming one with the impersonal Brahman effulgence and becoming one with the Personality of
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 149

Godhead—the latter is more abominable to the devotee. The devotee has no aspiration other than engaging
in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

On hearing this, Lord Chaitanya informed Bhattacharya that there is another purport to the word mukti. The
word mukti-pade directly indicates the Personality of Godhead. The Personality of Godhead has innumerable
liberated souls engaged in His transcendental loving service, and He is the ultimate resort of liberation. In
any case, Krishna is the ultimate shelter.

"Despite this reading," Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya replied, "I prefer bhakti to mukti. Although according to
You there are two meanings to the word mukti, still, because this word is equivocal, I prefer bhakti to mukti
because when one hears the word mukti, he immediately thinks of becoming one with the Supreme. I
therefore even hate to utter the word mukti. However, I am very enthusiastic to speak of bhakti."

Lord Chaitanya laughed very loudly at this and embraced Bhattacharya with great love. Thus Bhattacharya,
who had taken pleasure in explaining Mayavadi philosophy, became such a staunch devotee that he even
hated to utter the word mukti. This is only possible by the causeless mercy of the Lord Sri Chaitanya. The
Lord is like a touchstone, for by His grace He can turn iron into gold. After his conversion, everyone marked
a great change in Bhattacharya, and they concluded that this change was made possible only by the
inconceivable power of Lord Chaitanya. Thus they took it for granted that Lord Chaitanya was none other
than Lord Krishna Himself.

Q43 : Who becomes Krishna’s enemy? What is his destination?

Q44 : Why do devotees never desire mukti into Brahman effulgence?
Q45 : What are the four types of liberation that a devotee may accept? Which is the fifth type that a devotee
rejects?
Q46 : On what condition will a devotee accept one of the four types of liberation?
Q47 : What was the meaning of the word ‘muktipade’ given by Lord Chaitanya?
Q48 : Why did Bhattacarya prefer the word bhakti to mukti even after hearing the explanation?
Q49 : Why did Lord Chaitanya laugh loudly after hearing Bhattacarya’s explanation?
Q50 : In what connection the example of touchstone is given?

* * * * *

‘Self Manager’, Quiz : 4

Is God Personal or impersonal?
Part A (to be answered by All)

Answer the following questions in TWO or THREE sentences on a separate sheet: (10 x 2 =
20 marks)
1. Give two words from the Koran that indicate the truth that God has a personality.
150 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

2. Why do some people prefer a kind of merging into the impersonal void?
3. How is God’s body different from our bodies?
4. Who is situated as the Supersoul in all bodies?
5. Some people argue that ‘atma so paramatma’ means ‘atma and paramatma are same’.
Defeat this misconception with an appropriate example from scriptures.
6. List two common lessons that you learnt from the different illustrations such as
distant mountain, train or Prime Minister, etc.
7. Do those who desire to become one with God merge into His existence? Explain
with an example.
8. What happens to the impersonalists who attain the impersonal effulgence after many
lifetimes of penances and austerities?
9. In what ways does a materialist, yogi, jnani, and bhakta – seek unlimited bliss?
10. Why is a Bhakta the highest transcendentalist?

Part B (only for married and Below 50 years)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1.Which is superior – Love or peace? Explain with an example.

2. How are the devotees blissfully preparing their way back to Godhead?

Part C (only for College students)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. Mention two words or two quotes from Shri Isopanishad that proves God is personal.
2. Some people argue that even Lord Rama or Lord Krishna have to suffer their past
good and bad karma. They say, ‘karma does not even spare the Lord’. Refute this
misconception with a sastric quote.

* * * * *
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 151

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Quiz : 4
Is God Personal or Impersonal?

Syllabus for the following Quiz: BG 2.12, 4.10, 4.11, 9.4-5, 7.7, 7.24, 12.1-5

Answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences on a separate sheet: (1 x 40 =

40 marks)
1. What is the Mayavadi theory that is mentioned in this purport? How is it not
supported in this verse? (2.12)
2. Some people say that, “We look like individuals only in the conditioned stage. When
we become liberated we will realize that there is only one big soul and that soul is
me.” Refute this understanding using the knowledge of this verse. (2.12)
3. Why cannot a conditioned soul teach something worth hearing? (2.12)
4. When does Bhagavad-gita lose all importance? (2.12)
5. Why does the plurality mentioned in this verse not refer to the body? (2.12)
6. Who can understand the spiritual individuality? (2.12)
7. Who cannot touch the Bhagavad-gita? (2.12)
8. What happens to one who takes to the Mayavadi type of understanding of Gita?
(2.12)
9. Who has difficulty understanding the personal nature of the Supreme Absolute Truth?
Why? What mistake do such people commit? (4.10)
10. Why do some people fear having a personality in the spiritual world and performing
pastimes with the Supreme Personality of Godhead there? (4.10)
11. Who are the people who conclude that everything is void? What do these people
take shelter of? What do they consider such engagements to be? (4.10)
12. What three things should one get rid of? What is the process for the same? (4.10)
13. Write the steps one below the other, that a practicing devotee attains by performance
of devotional service. (4.10)
14. What is the ultimate goal of practicing devotional service now? (4.10)
15. Explain how the Lord awards different practitioners different results? (4.11)
152 Is God Personal or Impersonal?

16. Some modern intellectuals think that Bhakti yoga is not suitable for them; they want
to try some other path other than Krishna consciousness. Can one avoid Krishna by
taking to some other path like Ashtanga yoga, Karma yoga or Jnana yoga? (4.11)
17. ‘All kinds of spiritual processes are but different degrees of success on the same
path’. Explain this statement in your own words. (4.11)
18. What is the best method to realize Lord Shri Krishna? (9.4)
19. How does the Lord dispel the misconception of most people that “the Absolute Truth
is spread all over and thus It has lost its personal existence”? (9.4)
20. Give an example to show that the Lord is everywhere but also aloof from
everything? (9.4)
21. What is the difference between our wanting to do something and Krishna wanting to
do something? (9.5)
22. What is being stressed in this verse? (7.7)
23. Sometimes impersonalists stress on the word ‘arupam’ from Upanishads like
Shvetasvatara Upanishad. How can we understand that this ‘arupam’ does not mean
that the Lord has no form? (7.7)
24. What does this verse describe? Who cannot understand God’s personal nature?
(7.24)
25. Who are known as Mayavadis? (7.24)
26. What is the crucial point that Prabhupada is arguing about by citing the 7.20 verse in
this purport? What is the crystal clear conclusion we can arrive at by understanding
this argument properly? (7.25)
27. What is the conclusion of every chapter of Bhagavad-gita? (12.1)
28. Why is Arjuna asking this question to Krishna? What is he thinking? (12.1)
29. What type of activities does a pure devotee engage in? What are these activities
counted as? (12.2)
30. What method has to be adopted for seeing the Supersoul within the individual soul?
How practical is this method? (12.3)
31. What is the difference between jnana yoga and bhakti yoga? (12.5)
32. What is the difference between a Deity of the Lord and an idol? Explain with an
example. (12.5)
 Is God Personal or Impersonal? 153

33. How is the Deity that is made up of stone, wood or oil paint not material? Find out
from your teacher, or seniors, how it is actually not material and give an explanation
in about five sentences. (12.5)
34. How does a person in Krishna consciousness realize the Lord very easily? (12.5)
35. What is ‘troublesome’ for the common man in the path of jnana yoga? (12.5)
36. Bhaktas approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. Jnana yogis take
the trouble to understand what is not Brahman. What is the risk involved in the
practice of such Jnana yogis? (12.5)
37. How can a Jnana yogi come to the point of Bhakti yoga? (12.5)
38. After coming to the path of Bhakti yoga, what type of difficulty a Jnana yogi faces in
his Bhakti yoga practice? (12.5)
39. What is the danger when one wants to ignore devotional service? (12.5)
40. Why should the path of impersonalism not be encouraged in this age? (12.5)

* * * *
167 Meditation for Modern Age

Chapter 5

The Art of
Self Management
 Meditation for Modern Age 168

Chapter Contents

Sr. No. Contents Page No.

1 Where is the Modern age leading us to? 127

2 Experience Real Freedom through Krishna consciousness 130

The Need for Self Control for Self Management 131
3 Practical examples of Self control from everyday life 131
Self Control boosts Will Power, Concentration and Memory 131
4 Self-restraint develops Will power 132
5 What is Self management? 133

6 Different Levels of Training 133

7 Senses drag us on the wrong path in our conditioned stage 134

8 Need to Control our Senses 135

9 Practical Solutions to Sense Control 136

Regulation in habitsImportance of avoiding Illicit 141

sex
Glory of Celibacy and Chastity 142
The Mind : Taskmaster of the Senses 144
10
Watch those thoughts ! 145
Useful and harmful Recreation 146
Sleeping habits 147
The Need for a Proper Diet 148

11 Nature Of Material Pleasure 150

12 Four basic human needs for effective living 157

Individual or GD Task:
13 160
‘The great devotee saint Haridas Thakur and the Prostitute’
169 Meditation for Modern Age

The Art of Self Management

yuktähära-vihärasya yukta-ceñöasya karmasu

yukta-svapnävabodhasya yogo bhavati duùkha-hä

TRANSLATION
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material
pains by practicing the yoga system. [BG 6.17]
* * * *
Where is the Modern age leading us to?

There is a great difference between the modern educational system and that of a hundred
years ago. In today’s system, moral and spiritual training are banned. Children are not
allowed to pray. Still, the government in countries like America wonders why it is
necessary to hire armed guards to keep order in schools. Indeed, schools today are
supplied with surveillance and intruder devices, closed circuit TV, watchdogs, buzz-
controlled doors, walkie-talkie, panic buttons and even weapon-screening devices.
Talking about West is not out of context for Indian scenario, but prudent, as India’s
ambitions for progress is heading in the same direction.

Spiritual training used to be part of the classical educational tradition. Students were
tutored in ethics and philosophy. Religion was taught and prayer was encouraged. As
recent as one generation ago, the character of students—though not ideal – was angelic
compared to today’s. According to a recent study conducted by the California
Department of Education and Fullerton, California Police, typical school problems during
the 1940s were : “Talking in class, chewing gum, making noise, running in the hall,
getting out of place in line, wearing improper clothes, and not throwing paper in the
wastebasket.” Typical school problems in the 1980s were : “Drug abuse, alcohol,
pregnancy, suicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, arson and bombings.”

This drastic change from childish naughtiness to corruption and criminality has occurred
within the past fifty years. Much of the blame lies with parents, who grew up during the
rebellious 60’s. william McGuire of the National Education Association states : “Parents
say to their children, ‘You don’t have to listen to that teacher’. So six-year-old kids,
sensing that no one is going to stop them, feel okay about cursing a teacher. Fifth graders
throw pies in teacher’s faces, and tenth-graders sell drugs in the lavatories.”
 Meditation for Modern Age 170

Moral degradation inevitably leads to academic degeneration. Today, thirty percent of

American students fail to graduate from high school. And a great percentage of those
who do graduate can’t even write a coherent paragraph describing their job preference.

Is it not high time we ask what is happening in our society? What is happening in the
West is not something that is farther in reaching India. As we are importing Western
multinationals into India, we are also importing the Western culture to permeate India.
How the culture of India has already become polluted can be seen by the behaviour of
modern students.

Srila Prabhupada calls the universities as ‘centres of nescience’ because the modern
education is not producing a generation of gentlemen but a bunch of degenerated
perverted intellectuals who hardly understand their real identity as the soul, the goal of
life and proper codes of conduct . The boys graduating from modern universities :

• Are proud for no reason and do not feel the need of

guidance or blessings of superiors. They consider
superiors to be good-for-nothing parasites in society.
Students have no conception of self-restraint. In the
West, assaults by students upon teachers are so
commonplace that Dr.Alfred, psychiatrist at the
University of California has coined the term “the battered
teacher.” After studying 250 abused teachers, he found
them suffering symptoms similar to battle fatigue. In
order to avoid being physically attacked, teachers pamper
students and even kowtow to them. Lamentably, the
teachers themselves are strangers to self discipline.
• Have no faith in God or His laws and they freely
indulge in all kinds of sinful activities without worrying
about what future holds for them. They indulge in
smoking, drinking, drugs, watching movies, ragging, playing cards, eating beef,
indulging in illicit sex thus polluting their bodies, frustrating their minds paving way for
a dreadful future. They have not tasted the sweetness and freedom that comes from self
management and self control.
• Accept bogus theories that everything emerged from a big bang and some ape-like
ancestors evolved into human beings of the modern times. With such absurd
misconceptions about life, they have no goal or purpose to even living, leave alone living
a life of principles. They have never challenged these theories which have no solid
evidences to prove. They were coined by atheists to shelf God aside so that man can go
on with his sense-gratification program.
171 Meditation for Modern Age

• Accept concoctions that modern man is the most evolved and civilised being as he
has the most developed in science and technology and that the man of ancient times lived
uncultured life in jungles hunting animals with no civilisation or scientific advancement.
Such concocted foolish theories make the boys deny scriptures, Puranas by disposing
them as mythology and feeling proud of their modern so called ‘advancement’. They are
hardly aware of the fact that celestial weapons used by Vedic man were powered through
subtle mantras which are like software programs keyed into a microprocessing device to
activate the servo motors. Depending on the input instructions, the servomotors would
activate linear or rotary movements; the celestial weapons could do much more – put a
hole in every leaf of the tree, pour rain, create fire etc.
• Are not given instructions in celibacy; rather religious instructions on refraining from
illicit sex are considered superstition or dogma and meant for weaklings, not for
courageous boisterous youths. Modern medical teachers openly make propaganda that
sex is not all that bad ; indeed everyone should be given freedom of speech and
expression. Thus authenticated by the top people, the demoniac youth cultivate
nescience with greater vigor. By avoiding illicit indulgence in sex, one attains Purity,
Memory, Wisdom, Concentration, Retention power, Vichara shakti (power of enquiry),
Dharana shakti (power to grasp), Good health, Vigor, Strength, Determination,
Discrimination power, Peace of mind, Self confidence, Cleanliness and many other
similar subtle qualities. By free indulgence, one loses all these finer qualities.
• Have either no religious practice or have only some show-bottle religion due to social
pressure or mundane piety or desire to acquire name and fame with no understanding of
God or soul.
• Adopt some yoga practices going to yoga societies that teach how to get healthier to
have better sex like monkeys. They are not interested in learning yama, niyama,
pranayama, asana for controlling senses to achieve the meditation on the Supreme. In
fact, the knowledge of Supreme Lord is not taught in such yoga socieities.
• Wear some tulasi neck beads or yoga pants or some T-shirt on Nirvana or some
slogan on meditation, but hardly live a life of principles as a human being.
• Patriotism and nationalism is given undue importance with the exclusion of God,
(who is the fountainhead of all existence) due to which sectarianism and cleavage in the
population of the world is brought about. Men fight for no reason, forgetting the
temporary nature of the material world.
Therefore, the modern universities are ‘centres of nescience’ or ‘spiritual slaughter
houses’ only.
 Meditation for Modern Age 172

Experience Real Freedom through Krishna consciousness

High academic education cannot uplift us above animals Srila Prabhupada writes in
his book, ‘Nectar of devotion’ : ……a person engaged in Krishna consciousness, acting
in devotional service, can develop all the good qualities that are generally found in the
demigods….On the other hand, a person who is not in Krishna consciousness has no
good qualities. He may be highly educated from the academic point of view, but in the
actual field of his activities he can be seen to be baser than the animals. A vulture may
rise very high in the sky. He also has powerful eyes. Yet what is the object of all these
great qualifications? A dead body, a rotting carcass. Similarly, we may have a very high
education and may rise very high with our spaceships, but what is our objective? Sense
enjoyment, the enjoyment of this material body. This means that all the striving and all
this high education are merely on the animal platform.

Krishna consciousness brings forth Character For

example, a Krishna conscious boy, even if he is not very well
educated by the university standard, can immediately give up
all illicit sex life, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication,
whereas those who are not in Krishna consciousness, although
very highly educated, are often drunkards, meat-eaters, sex-
mongers and gamblers. These are practical proofs of how a
Krishna conscious person becomes highly developed in good
qualities, whereas a person who is not in Krishna
consciousness cannot do so. We experience that even a young
boy in Krishna consciousness is unattached to cinemas,
nightclubs, naked dance shows, restaurants, liquor shops, etc.
He becomes completely freed. He saves his valuable time from being extravagantly spent
in the way of smoking, drinking, attending the theatre and dancing.

Silent meditators or Sense gratifiers? One who is not in Krishna consciousness usually
cannot sit silently even for half an hour. The yoga practitioners claim that by becoming
silent they will realize that they are God. This system may be all right for materialistic
persons, but how long will they be able to keep themselves silent? Artificially, they may
sit down for so-called meditation, but immediately after their yogic performance the so-
called ‘Gods’ will engage themselves again in such activities as illicit sex life, smoking,
meat-eating and many other nonsensical things. By engaging mind and senses in Krishna
consciousness he automatically gives up all this nonsense and develops a high character.
The conclusion is that no one can truly have any good qualities if he is lacking Krishna
consciousness.
173 Meditation for Modern Age

Youth is a time for the mind, body and spirit to be nurtured and developed through
discipline. Unfortunately today’s schools teach nothing of self-control. No courses are
offered in ethics, philosophy or religion. Only recently colleges, schools and universities
have woken up to see the degradation of youth and children and begun to worry about
introducing some courses to discipline them. Consequently, sense indulgence is ruining
the life and health of today’s youth. In the following section we have given some
important headings that are helpful to students and grownups to improve themselves in a
way that will benefit their body, mind and soul.

The Need for Self Control for Self Management

Practical examples of Self control from everyday life

How would you behave ?
• When you want a second serving of a Gulabjamun, when only one is allowed?
• When you meet a old friend in your library where SILENCE board is put up?
• When your mother gets a terrible sickness just before your planned European tour?

To learn restraint in all these situations is called Self Control. Singers avoid ice cream,
cold drinks and hot chilly items to have high pitch. A man with typhoid avoids pooris
and oily foodstuffs to get well. A pilot avoids drinking alcohol in order to save the
passengers from plane crash. Without self restraint none of these can attain peace and
happiness.
Self Control boosts Will Power, Concentration and Memory
The power by virtue of which you can make your mind do what you wish to do can be
termed Will Power. It seems easy to develop will-power, but it is not as easy as it is
often spoken in seminars.

Sharu Rangnekar, a famous management consultant, offers a simple suggestion for

reducing weight. He says anyone who can shake his head from left to right can reduce
weight. Seems so easy, isn’t it? But we have to remember that this shaking of head from
left to right has to be done even when you see icecream, chocolates, fried stuff and
sweets are offered to you!

One may argue what is wrong in enjoying icecreams, sweets, movies, drinks etc. It is of
course natural for water to flow from higher to lower level. But only when the water is
stored at a higher level by pumping it up and storing it in a water tank, AGAINST the
natural laws, that is develops the power to rush through the pipes and reach when you
want to have a shower bath. In the same way, great achievements are possible only when
lower habits and tendencies that are harmful to the individual’s progress are restrained by
will power.
 Meditation for Modern Age 174

Self-restraint develops Will power

When there is a flood, it has no restraints; it
inundates houses, uproots trees, carries away cattle,
drowns human beings and causes havoc. When the
same mass of water takes upon itself two restraints
called banks, it gets momentum and moves ahead.
When that river faces one more restraint in front of
it, called a dam, it becomes a source of great power
for the welfare of society. Then the water can be
productively used for hydro electric power stations
purposes or for irrigation in a regulated way.

The human mind also, like a uncontrolled wind or a

flood flows in all directions uncontrollably. For
instance when you are reading a book, your mind
may desire to close it and see a TV program; while watching TV you might want to meet
someone. Only by will power, one can give undivided attention to only one thing at a
time. Thus you must control your mind that you can make it do what you want to do. In
a tug of war almost all the energy spent by the men playing the game, is wasted. This is
because of the opposing forces.

Something similar happens in the human mind all the time. The human mind has the
tendency to think of literally hundreds of things. On the average, we have 10,000
random thoughts per day. That is about 7 per minute. It is like seven vectors pulling
your mind in seven different directions. A person who has so trained the mind that he
can think of only one thing for a period of an hour will have a force at his command.

If you learn…
• to put restraints on your mind and
• learn to prevent it from wandering and
• give your entire attention to whatever you are doing,

you will be able to achieve what seems to be superhuman to an average person.

One with a strong will-power can Relax easily. He can also Concentrate on anything
easily. Thus, though concentration and relaxation seem to be two opposite states of
mind, both can be easily attained by a person who has will-power. If you learn to relax at
will, you can develop will-power. If you learn to concentrate, you can develop your
will-power also. Then you will be able to make your mind do what you want.
175 Meditation for Modern Age

What is Self management?

It can be easily seen that Bhagavad gita is a sacred literature that gives valuable lessons
that could benefit us immensely in our personal and professional lives in all ages and
times. Self Management means to learn to manage oneself before managing others. We
cannot change the consciousness of the organisation without changing the consciousness
of the people working within the organisation.

We always want to manage others, manage men, money, market, material, machines etc.
But if I do not know how to manage myself, how can I manage others?

Just as we have the courage to direct others as to what they should be doing, why they
should be doing and how they should be doing, similarly, are we able to direct our Mind
and sense organs with proper understanding.

For example, the tongue has no bones but it can break

bones if not managed properly. On most occasions, the
information slips through the tongue in the wrong place,
at the wrong time, in front of the wrong person and one
cannot avoid the consequences that arise. This is the
difficulty in managing oneself. If I am not able to take
the responsibility of managing my own sense organs, how
can I take up the responsibility of managing my life, my
family or my workplace and maintain a balance in all the
different areas of my life ? In short, Self Management
means to learn the art of gaining the courage to manage our own selves.

We need the maturity when to manage, when not to manage, where to manage, how to
manage, to what extent to manage and in which way we have to manage. If we do not
have the maturity or understanding then it would be difficult to survive as we can easily
become victims.

Different Levels of Training

Traditional view of management is that if you could manage the external environment –
Work place, Facilities for employees, Salary package, Training courses, better technical
know how etc -- then you could manage to attain success in the world of fastly changing
technology.
 Meditation for Modern Age 176

Despite the costly training arranged by HR in technical or functional skills, it is observed

that there is no tangible change in the attitude and behaviour of people. Companies
wonder how to make one self-motivated, committed and responsible? For this a change
in consciousness is required. This requires the core values of a personality to be brought
out in all roles, responsibilities, routines and relationships.

In any management training program, development of various aspects of human

resources like the Physical, Mental, Social (emotional) are taken care of to tap the inner
potential to the maximum.
• PHYSICAL (Doing) : For the development of the physical aspect, where the doing
capacities are connected, there are various programs relating to stress management,
health, safety, nutrition, diet etc.
• MENTAL (Thinking) : Likewise, there are many programs for the development of
one’s mental capacities like : intellectual development program, mind power, creativity,
innovation, learning, studying etc, which deal with our thinking abilities.
• SOCIAL (Feeling) : Because we are social beings, emotionally connected with each
other, there are development programs like Psychological assessment, Transactional
analysis, Quality circles, Team work etc.
• SPIRITUAL (Being) : But we find that the missing dimension is Spiritual, which is
intimately connected with the being or personality. Spirituality is connected with our
true nature, innate values like peace joy love tolerance humility etc, innate power, self
respect, enhancing the will power through meditation.

The heart of Self Management is how to better manage the inner organisation as a means
for more effective leadership of the external organisation. The subsequent portion of this
chapter would help us understand better how by applying the principles of spirituality
one can be happy now and for ever.

Senses drag us on the wrong path in our conditioned stage

All that glitters is not gold; Maya’s allurements is for fools Have you seen dolls of
man or woman made up of plaster of paris kept in cloth shops? Similarly , this body is
combination of blood and muscles and veins. If the upper skin is removed, the body is
full of obnoxious horrible things. But outwardly, under the illusion of maya, it looks very
attractive. It is attracting our senses. We are being bound by the false illusory beauty of
this world. We are running after the mirage, and find no peace, no happiness. Therefore
we have to divert our attention back to Godhead. One who is not Krishna conscious is
subjected to material desires while contemplating the objects of the senses. The senses
177 Meditation for Modern Age

require real engagements, and if they are not engaged in the transcendental loving service
of the Lord, they will certainly seek engagement in the service of materialism.

Senses carry away even mind The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that
they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to
control them. [BG 2.60] The nature of the mind is flickering and unsteady. But a self-
realized yogi has to control the mind; the mind should not control him. At the present
moment, the mind is controlling us (go-däsa). The mind is telling us, "Why not drink
that nice liquor?" and we say, "Yes." It says, "Why not smoke this cigarette?" "Yes," we
say. "Why not go to this restaurant for such palatable food? Why not do this? Why not do
that?" In this way, the mind is dictating, and we are following. Material life means being
controlled by the senses, or the mind, which is the center of all the senses. Being
controlled by the mind means being controlled by the senses, because the senses are the
mind's assistants. The master mind dictates, "Go see that," and the eyes, following the
directions of the mind, look at the sense object. The mind tells us to go to a certain place,
and the legs, under the mind's directions, carry us there. Thus, being under the direction
of the mind means coming under the control of the senses. If we can control the mind, we
will not be under the control of the senses. One who is under the control of the senses is
known as go-däsa. The word go means "senses," and däsa means "servant." One who is
master of the senses is called gosvami, because svami means "master." Therefore, one
who has the title gosvami is one who has mastered the senses.
Need to Control our Senses
Result of uncontrolled senses Somebody may ask, “Why bother so much about sense
control? Why not just enjoy and let them loose in any direction they want to go?” Then
as itching sensation keeps growing by scratching or as the fire grows by pouring ghee in
fire, similarly the uncontrolled senses will drive one to the point of unbearable pain and
insanity. This is only the first instalment. The later instalments will be given in the
subsequent material bodies that follow due to the sinful acts performed due to
uncontrolled senses. That is why, just as a doctor treats a disease by various methods, the
yogi controls the unruly senses by certain practices, including fasting, chanting,
meditation, exercise, worship, and knowledge that, “I am not this body. I am a pure spirit
soul, servant of God.”

Uncontrolled mind and senses : what it can do to you ? The position of a person
whose mind and senses are uncontrolled becomes pitiable. There are six vegams or
urges. Väco vegam is the urge to talk unnecessarily. That is a kind of pushing of the
tongue. Then there is krodha-vegam, the urge to become angry. When we are pushed to
anger, we cannot check ourselves, and sometimes men become so angry that they commit
murder. Similarly, the mind is pushing, dictating, "You must go there at once," and we
 Meditation for Modern Age 178

immediately go where we are told. The word jihva-vegam refers to the tongue's being
urged to taste palatable foods. Udara-vegam refers to the urges of the belly. Although the
belly is full, it still wants more food, and that is a kind of pushing of the belly. And when
we yield to the pushings of the tongue and the belly, the urges of the genitals become
very strong, and sex is required. If one does not control his mind or his tongue, how can
he control his genitals? In this way, there are so many pushings, so much so that the body
is a kind of pushing machine.

All these senses wander astray in all directions due to an uncontrolled mind. A foolish
man who knows no solution when faced with dangers in life, may fall prey to bad vices
like smoking, drinking or suicide, to free himself from suffering; but he is inviting more
suffering than ever before. In modern times we can practically see people getting stress,
lack of confidence, lack of determination and so on…. due to an uncontrolled mind.
There is no peace and happiness in accumulation of wealth, or possessing bodily beauty,
or in display of strength. The real secret of happiness is a controlled mind, which is
gradually achieved through a God-conscious way of life.

Our Senses don’t belong to us, They belong to Krishna We are very proud of our
senses. The senses are given by the Lord just as a father gives his son some toys;
similarly, we want to enjoy this material world. Therefore our material senses are given
to us with the advice "All right, enjoy them. You experience this material world, and
when you do not experience enjoyment, then you shall come back again to Me." So the
senses are actually meant for rendering service to the Lord. The senses belong to the
Supreme Lord. Just as these are my spectacles and should be used for my purpose. Just
like this room, this loft where we are sitting. The loft belongs to our landlady. We should
always be conscious of that. There is no harm in using it as long as we remember it is not
ours. But if I think, "This is my loft. I don't have to pay the rent. I am the owner," the
trouble begins. We have rented this loft. That is fine, but I do not own it.
Srila Prabhupada Lect. BG 2.55-58 New York 66

No Peace of mind without Sense control Everyone in this material world is looking for
peace, but they don't want to control the senses. For example, if you are diseased, and
the doctor says "Take this medicine" or "Follow this diet," but you refuse. You take
whatever you want, against the instruction of the physician, so how can you be cured?
Similarly, we want to be cured of the chaotic condition of this material world, we want
peace and prosperity, but we are not willing to control the senses.
Srila Prabhupada Lect. BG 62-72 Los Angeles 68
179 Meditation for Modern Age

Practical Solutions to Sense Control

Have you seen the three monkeys—one with eyes closed, one with ears closed and the
third with mouth closed – indicating that we should avoid seeing, hearing or speaking
unwanted things that bring about degradation in our lives. But this is not enough.

Artificial Supression will not help, Higher taste is required The process of restriction
from sense enjoyment by rules and regulations is something like restricting a diseased
person from certain types of eatables. The patient, however, neither likes such restrictions
nor loses his taste for eatables. A doctor once told a Landlord, Jamindar to refrain from
eating alphanza mangoes owing to his having Diabetes. The Jamindar was fond of
mangoes and used to eat a lot before. Once when he was sitting at home, he found
servants bringing sacks of alphanza mangoes and loading them in the warehouse. The
Jamindar could not restrain himself. In the night he opened the warehouse which was
filled with fragrance of the mangoes. He thought, “Oh, what cruelty! I am not allowed to
eat because I have Diabetes. Let me better eat and die.” This is the condition of people
when they are tempted by sense objects of this world. People succumb to temptations
and invite enormous future suffering.

Thus silent meditation or suppressing senses is recommended for less intelligent persons
like Jnanis or Yogis who have no better knowledge. But one who has tasted the beauty of
the Supreme Lord Krishna, in the course of his advancement
in Krishna consciousness, no longer has a taste for dead,
material things.

Two component formula: Withdraw your senses &

Engage them in God's service

When one engages in devotional service (Krishna

consciousness) then automatically material enjoyment
becomes distasteful. Krishna explains in the Gita that,
besides restraining the senses from sinful activities, we must
engage our mind and consciousness on Him. He says:
(B.G.2.61)
täni sarväëi saàyamya yukta äséta mat-paraù
vaçe hi yasyendriyäëi tasya prajïä pratiñöhitä

"One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full

control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known to
be a man of steady intelligence." The sure-shot method of
 Meditation for Modern Age 180

controlling our mind and all our senses is to engage them in positive spiritual activities.
Sublimation and not Supression is the solution Unless one is Krishna conscious it is
not at all possible to control the senses. As cited above, the great sage Durväsä Muni
picked a quarrel with Mahäräja Ambarisha, and Durväsä Muni unnecessarily became
angry out of pride and therefore could not check his senses. On the other hand, the king,
although not as powerful a yogi as the sage, but a devotee of the Lord, silently tolerated
all the sage's injustices and thereby emerged victorious. The king was able to control his
senses because of the following qualifications, as mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam
(9.4.18-20):
sa vai manaù kåñëa-padäravindayor vacäàsi vaikuëöha-guëänuvarëane
karau harer mandira-märjanädiñu çrutià cakäräcyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liìgälaya-darçane dåçau tad-bhåtya-gätra-sparçe 'ìga-saìgamam
ghräëaà ca tat-päda-saroja-saurabhe çrémat-tulasyä rasanäà tad-arpite
pädau hareù kñetra-padänusarpaëe çiro håñékeça-padäbhivandane
kämaà ca däsye na tu käma-kämyayä yathottama-çloka-janäçrayä ratiù

"King Ambarisha fixed his mind on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, engaged his words in
describing the abode of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the temple of the Lord, his ears
in hearing the pastimes of the Lord, his eyes in seeing the form of the Lord, his body in
touching the body of the devotee, his nostrils in smelling the flavor of the flowers offered
to the lotus feet of the Lord, his tongue in tasting the tulasi leaves offered to Him, his legs
in traveling to the holy place where His temple is situated, his head in offering obeisances
unto the Lord, and his desires in fulfilling the desires of the Lord... and all these
qualifications made him fit to become a mat-para devotee of the Lord."

One may externally control the senses by some artificial process, but unless the senses
are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, there is every chance of a fall. The
Krishna conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Krishna, and nothing
else. When Hanuman went to Sri Lanka to search mother Sita, he had to go to the inner
chambers of Ravana where there were all kinds of women sleeping. He had to study their
features to know whether Sita was there. Although Hanuman was a brahmacari, still he
firmly absorbed his mind in remembering Lord Rama and fixed his intelligence in the
mission of Lord Rama and did not get allured by the different beauties. Thus a devotee
can live and move even in a materialistic city full of maya and still not get tainted by
impurity, if his heart is focussed in rendering loving devotional service to the Lord.

Wind up the senses before maya; Exhibit the senses for Krishna seva The test of a
yogi, devotee, or self-realized soul is that he is able to control the senses according to his
plan. Most people, however, are servants of the senses and are thus directed by the
dictation of the senses. The senses are compared to venomous serpents. They want to act
181 Meditation for Modern Age

very loosely and without restriction. The yogi, or the devotee, must be very strong to
control the serpents—like a snake charmer. He never allows them to act independently.
There are many injunctions in the revealed scriptures; some of them are do-not's, and
some of them are do's. Unless one is able to follow the do's and the do-not's, restricting
oneself from sense enjoyment, it is not possible to be firmly fixed in Krishna
consciousness or even attain a peaceful material life. The best example is of tortoise. The
tortoise can at any moment wind up its senses and exhibit them again at any time for
particular purposes. Similarly, the senses of the devotees are used only for some
particular purpose in the service of the Lord like hearing, chanting, seeing Deities etc and
are withdrawn otherwise. Keeping the senses always in the service of the Lord is the
example set by the analogy of the tortoise, who keeps the senses within.

Desireless means to convert material desires into spiritual desires To become

desireless means not to desire anything for sense gratification. In other words, desire for
becoming Krishna conscious is actually desirelessness. To understand one's actual
position as the eternal servitor of Krishna, without falsely claiming this material body to
be oneself and without falsely claiming proprietorship over anything in the world, is the
perfect stage of Krishna consciousness.
Three types of gunas or modes - Goodness, Passion and Ignorance

While the scientists have hardly begun to understand these emotions that the living
beings exhibit and often arrive at wrong conclusions as to considering them to be merely
some chemical secretions in the body, authentic scriptures like Bhagavad gita and Vedic
literatures give us a detailed account of such behaviour. Not only do they explain the
mechanism of such behaviour, but they offer us tangible solution to how to go about
modifying our behaviour, to become a better gentleman for the benefit of home, nation
and the world.

Those in the mode of goodness tend to be powerful through humility. They are clean,
selfless, pious, humanitarian, considerate, kind and pure. Those in the mode of passion
tend to be selfish, egoistic, extremely interested in attracting adoration, distinction,
personal profit, greedy and lusty. Those in the mode of ignorance are lazy, unclean,
disturbing to others and even obnoxious. These three principles, which are like ropes that
bind every human being, govern each thought and action and form the environment in the
material world. Most of us embody a mixture of these attributes as various modes of
nature work on our minds. People are different in character, habits, needs and desires
based on how they are influenced by the modes. And modern day Leaders are no
exception to these powerful forces; in fact every living being is orchestrated like a puppet
according to the mode they belong to, until they begin to understand their actual position
and surrender to God to become an instrument in His hands.
 Meditation for Modern Age 182

Learn to manage your Mind

You can make your Mind, a Friend or Enemy. The Master Mind dictates, the servants
senses follow. The nature of the mind is flickering and unsteady.

If you have no control over your driver, your driver is your enemy, but if he acts
according to your orders, he is your friend. The yoga system is meant to control the mind
in such a way that the mind will act as your friend. Sometimes the mind acts as a friend
and sometimes as an enemy. Because we are part and parcel of the Supreme God, who
has infinite independence, we have minute, or finite, independence. It is the mind that is
controlling that independence, and therefore he may either take us to the Krishna temple
or to some nightclub.

The mind is a friend when it is under the control of the intelligence. Then it is serene,
grave, self-controlled, simple and pure. When the mind is an enemy, it is controlled from
within by desire and from without by sense objects.

Chanting and meditating on Hare Krishna maha mantra –

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

helps us to control the mind very easily. The meaning of the word, ‘Mantra’ is ‘to
deliver the mind’. By chanting this mantra about 108 times a day, one can initially attain
peace of mind, and subsequently ever expanding joy leading to love for God and love for
all. In his doctorate thesis on ‘Effects of the Hare Krishna mahamantra on Stress,
Depression and the three gunas’ Dr.David Brian Wolf mentions that by chanting hare
krishna, persons who habitually think depressing thoughts such as, “I am worthless”
train themselves to replace these thoughts with thoughts that are rewarding and
supportive of self-esteem.
Benefits of Self Control To be self-controlled, we must be well established in
renunciation. Temptations must be resisted, evil thoughts subdued, and base desires
rejected. Only then will we have lasting peace and joy. Self control is discipline. It is
the power to keep the mind and senses submissive to the direction of the intelligence and
eternal soul. Self control yields all knowledge. It increases energy and purifies. A
wonderful entourage follows in its path : charity, compassion, knowledge, forgiveness,
patience, nonviolence, sincerity, mildness, modesty, determination, liberality,
contentment, truthfulness, benevolence, and freedom from anger and malice. Self control
gives us the fortitude to withstand tribulation and endure great suffering in defense of
what is right. By self control, the mind becomes clear and discriminating. In short, self
control opens wide doors to material and spiritual peace and joy.
183 Meditation for Modern Age

There is no victory more glorious than mastery over our own mind and senses. When we
are self-controlled we sleep peacefully and awake enthusiastically. Self mastery means
conquering the body and subduing the restless mind. We know happiness and
contentment. Until we control the body and mind, we are subject to the slavery of cruel
taskmasters, such as lust and ignorance. He who rules his own mind and senses has no
need for crown. He is the real superman.

Regulation in habits

Although we are suggesting that this body is useless and is a form of contamination, we
are not recommending that it be abused. We may use a car to carry us to work, but this
does not mean that we should not take care of the car. We should take care of the car for
it to carry us to and fro, but we should not become so attached to it that we are polishing
it every day. We must utilize this material body in order to execute Krishna
consciousness, and to this end we should keep it fit and healthy, but we should not
become too attached to it. That is called yukta-vairägya. The body should not be
neglected. We should bathe regularly, eat regularly, sleep regularly in order to keep mind
and body healthy. Some people say that the body should be renounced and that we should
take some drugs and abandon ourselves to intoxication, but this is not a yoga process.
Krishna has given us nice food—fruits, grains, vegetables, and milk—and we can prepare
hundreds and thousands of nice preparations and offer them to the Lord. Our process is to
eat Krishna-prasada and to satisfy the tongue in that way. But we should not be greedy
and eat dozens of samosäs, sweetballs, and rasagulläs. No. We should eat and sleep just
enough to keep the body fit, and no more.

Importance of avoiding Illicit sex

The attraction between men and women is the strongest attraction in the material world.
Because of romance, men have been killed, families have been broken, and wars have
been fought. In this day and age, a lot of emphasis is put on how to make oneself more
attractive to the opposite sex. But this attraction and desire is fantasized but short-lived
and is a source of varities of suffering.

The scriptures warn us about the dangers of engaging in illicit sex. That means sex
outside of marriage. Having boyfriends or girlfriends before marriage or after marriage
in Vedic life is not considered natural and not at all beneficial for progressive Krishna
consciousness.

In the modern times, boys and girls, totally ignorant of spiritual life don’t know the goal
of life. They think making money, decorating the dead material body with cosmetics and
 Meditation for Modern Age 184

indulging in sense gratification with opposite sex as the only engagement in life. To this
effect, what begins with a handshake ends up in pregnancy or abortion. Man-woman
intimate friendship before marriage causes innumerable problems :

• Intoxicated mind keeps dwelling in sex related thoughts and one’s mind becomes
wound up
• One gives up one’s duty such as Education or career because of day dreaming about
opposite sex
• Parents are put into anxiety when son or daughter is involved in such practices
• Man and women find it difficult to control their senses when they come together and
thus resort to illicit sex
• They can get AIDS and similar diseases thus losing their very life itself just for the
sake of instant gratification of their senses
• Once a boy feels he has had enough from a girl, then he may give her up and look
for a new partner; this may lead to family fights, abortion and heartburnings,
sometimes even murders etc.

The teenagers of the modern times even in India due to loose behaviour have become
victims of terrible sufferings. Though they think they are enjoying, they suffer
subsequently like ignorant animals with no spiritual knowledge. Wise people should take
note of this and learn to control the senses for both material and spiritual well being.

Glory of Celibacy and Chastity

Chastity and modesty are two highly esteemed qualities that are not often practiced these
days. To be chaste means to be pure, cultured in dealing with men and appropriately shy
as per the guidance given in scriptures in your behavior. Modesty means to behave in a
way that is considered proper and reserved. Modesty and Chastity can be practiced in the
way we speak, act and way we dress.

Sexual energy is the very essence of mind and body. Unless it is conserved, mind and
body cannot fully mature. “Premature sexual activity impairs the educability of the
child”, Freud noted. Truly, no subject is more important for students than the science of
celibacy.

A yogi must also be "completely free from sex life." If one indulges in sex, he cannot
concentrate; therefore brahmacarya, complete celibacy, is recommended to make the
mind steady. By practicing celibacy, one cultivates determination. One modern example
of such determination is that of Mahatma Gandhi, who was determined to resist the
powerful British empire by means of nonviolence. At this time, India was dependent on
the British, and the people had no weapons. The Britishers, being more powerful, easily
185 Meditation for Modern Age

cut down whatever violent revolutions the people attempted. Therefore Gandhi resorted
to nonviolence, noncooperation. "I shall not fight with the Britishers," he declared, "and
even if they react with violence, I shall remain nonviolent. In this way the world will
sympathize with us." Such a policy required a great amount of determination, and
Gandhi's determination was very strong because he was a brahmacari. Although he had
children and a wife, he renounced sex at the age of thirty-six. It was this sexual
renunciation that enabled him to be so determined that he was able to lead his country
and drive the British from India.

Thus, refraining from sex enables one to be

very determined and powerful. It is not
necessary to do anything else. This is a secret
people are not aware of. If you want to do
something with determination, you have to
refrain from sex. Regardless of the process—be
it hatha-yoga, bhakti-yoga, jnana-yoga, or
whatever—sex indulgence is not allowed. Sex
is allowed only for householders who want to
beget good children and raise them in Krishna
consciousness. Sex is not meant for sense
enjoyment, although enjoyment is there by
nature. Unless there is some enjoyment, why
should one assume the responsibility of
begetting children? That is the secret of nature's
gift, but we should not take advantage of it.
These are the secrets of life. By taking
advantage and indulging in sex life, we are simply wasting our time. If one tells you that
you can indulge in sex as much as you like and at the same time become a yogi, he is
cheating you. According to Sri Krishna’s authoritative statement in Bhagavad-gita, one
must be "completely free from sex life." Being free from sex, one should "meditate upon
Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life." This is real meditation.

The face of a celibate is bright and charming. He is serene because his mind is
controlled. A spiritual luster surrounds him because he is relishing the inner joy of no
sex. “Fight to overcome thy foolish passions,” Pythagoras told his students, “Be sober
and chaste. Sex is always harmful and not conducive to health.” “When can I engage in
sex?” on of his students asked. “Whenever you want to be weaker than yourself.”
Pythagoras replied.

Eminent European medical men also support the statements of the Yogis of India.
Dr.Nicole says : “This vital fluid of man carried back and diffused through his system
 Meditation for Modern Age 186

makes him manly, strong, brave and heroic. If wasted, it leaves him effeminate, weak
and physically debilitated and prone to sexual irritation and disordered function, a
wretched nervous system, epilepsy, and various other diseases and death. The suspension
of the use of the generative organs is attended with a notable increase of bodily and
mental and spiritual vigor.”

Dhanvantari, the father of the Ayurvedic system of medicine wrote : “The secret of health
lies in the preservation of virya (seminal fluid), which is the essence of the Atman (self)
itself. He who wastes virya cannot enjoy physical, mental, moral or spiritual well being.”
(Harivamsa). Dhanvantari further explained that when the virya is lost, the prana (life
air) is agitated, and one becomes nervous. The mind is then agitated, and when the mind
is disturbed, the whole system suffers.

The Mind : Taskmaster of the Senses

The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses;
intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the
intelligence. [BG 3.42]

The senses are like five spirited horses pulling a chariot. The chariot is the material body;
the mind, the reins. The person seated within the chariot is the soul. Intelligence pulls
the reins.

From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must
certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the self. [BG 6.26]

The mind’s business is accepting and rejecting. The mind depends on the intelligence to
interpret information fed to it by the senses. Then the mind tells the senses to act in a
certain way, or to refrain from acting. The mind a friend when it acts in real knowledge
for one’s welfare, but the mind becomes the enemy when it drags one to succumb to the
temptations. Sri Krishna explicitly states in Bhagavad gita that a man must utilize his
mind to elevate himself. Unless one can control the mind, there is no question of
elevation. The body is like a chariot, and the mind is the driver. If you tell your driver,
"Please take me to the Krishna temple," the driver will take you there, but if you tell him,
"Please take me to that liquor house," you will go there. It is the driver's business to take
you wherever you like. If you can control the driver, he will take you where you should
go, but if not, he will ultimately take you wherever he likes.

If you have no control over your driver, your driver is your enemy, but if he acts
according to your orders, he is your friend. The yoga system is meant to control the mind
in such a way that the mind will act as your friend. Sometimes the mind acts as a friend
and sometimes as an enemy. Because we are part and parcel of the Supreme, who has
187 Meditation for Modern Age

infinite independence, we have minute, or finite, independence. It is the mind that is

controlling that independence, and therefore he may either take us to the Krishna temple
or to some nightclub.

The mind is a friend when it is under the control of the intelligence. Then it is serene,
grave, self-controlled, simple and pure. When the mind is an enemy, it is controlled from
within by desire and from without by sense objects. Then it is restless, frivolous, and
impure. Lust makes its abode in the mind and orders it to act for sense gratification. If
unchecked, the mind can go mad and lead one to a most hellish place. If at all we desire
self-control, we must control the mind. Then the mind will control the senses by
engaging them intelligently in accordance with spiritual knowledge.

Chanting Hare Krishna helps us to control the mind very easily. The meaning of the
word, ‘Mantra’ is ‘to deliver the mind’. It is the purpose of this Krishna consciousness
movement to fix the mind on Krishna. When the mind is so fixed, he cannot do anything
but act as our friend. He has no scope to act any other way. As soon as Krishna is seated
in the mind, there is light, just as when the sun is in the sky, darkness is vanquished.
Krishna is just like the sun, and when He is present, there is no scope for darkness. If we
keep Krishna on our mind, the darkness of mäyä will never be able to enter. Keeping the
mind fixed on Krishna is the perfection of yoga. If the mind is strongly fixed on the
Supreme, it will not allow any nonsense to enter, and there will be no falldown. If the
mind is strong, the driver is strong, and we may go wherever we may desire. The entire
yoga system is meant to make the mind strong, to make it incapable of deviating from the
Supreme.
Watch those thoughts !
When the name of an object is heard, a subtle form arises in the mind. In fact, the mind
cannot conceive of a thing without mentally projecting it in subtle form. The mind tends
to repeat and dwell on those desires, thoughts, and recollections which it has found
enjoyable. When thoughts arise in the mind, they do not end there but produce a series of
related desires and thoughts, gaining momentum until they finally force one to act, even
against his better judgement and discrimination. Lusty thoughts precede lusty acts.
Perfect celibacy is observed mentally when we do not entertain the mind with sexual
fantasies. It is said :
Watch your thoughts – they become words; Watch your words – they become actions
Watch your actions – they become habits; Watch your habits – they become character
Watch your character – it becomes your culture

Regardless of how vigilant we are, what yogis call ‘vasanas’ are bound to occur. A
‘vasana’ is a wave on the lake of the mind. Vasanas agitate the mind, and turn a beautiful
lake into a stormy dangerous one. Due to vasanas we experience attraction, repulsion,
 Meditation for Modern Age 188

and attachment for the things of this world. When the mind contemplates an object, finds
it attractive, and begins to desire it, a vasana is forged. As desire intensifies, it becomes
lust, and a strong determination to enjoy the object develops. The mind then attempts to
experience that object through the senses : by seeing it, feeling it, tasting it, smelling it,
or hearing it. And it all begins as a mere ripple on the lake of the mind !

Even if a vasana is successfully resisted, it will not necessarily go away. It might arise
again and again, sometimes with redoubled force. Unless the mind is fixed in yoga, we
cannot resist such constant agitation. We will finally yield and become a slave to
material desire. If we at all aspire to purify our heart, we must strive to control the unruly
mind and impetuous senses and thereby stand calm in the midst of the storms of lust. “A
person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into
the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not
the man who strives to satisfy such desires.” [BG 2.70]

Useful and harmful Recreation

Just as contemplating on bad thoughts leads to bad act, so can talking about it. Our
tongue is the most difficult sense to control. If the tongue is not eating, it is usually
wagging. People compulsively talk, talk, talk. Any idle talk is undesirable. “Be silent”,
says Pythagoras, “or say something better than silence.” “Speak fitly,” says George
Herbert, “or be silent wisely.” One should learn the art of speaking in a way that will
benefit oneself and others. One should always learn to speak and connect things to God.
This will purify everyone’s heart.

Technology and opulence have given

Americans a lot of free time, but what is
being done with it? Ironically, high
suicide rates are found in countries in
which people have the most leisure time.
Instead of using their time for spiritual
advancement, people squander it in
many self-destructive ways, or, at best,
frivolous ways. Precious hours are
wasted on spectator sports, drinking,
drug-taking, chit-chatting, and perhaps
worst of all – watching TV
indiscriminately.

A average American child growing between 5 to 14 years of age would witness the
violent death of 13,000 humans on TV. The National Institute of Mental Health reports :
“Violence on television does lead to aggressive behaviour by children and teenagers who
189 Meditation for Modern Age

watch the programs.” Watching so much violence certainly hardens a person. How can a
child be expected to develop into a compassionate adult with respect for life if he is
constantly being exposed to violence?

People consider watching TV, playing carom, chess, cricket as recreation. Another
dangerous invasion is the ‘Internet’ which is ‘global gossip’. It is a ‘net’ that catches the
fish-like minds of youth and endangers them either into poronography or love-affairs-
chatting. Youths spend dozens of hours in front of the computer surfing and surfing and
subsequently suffering due to exchanging romantic letters ignoring their college studies.

According to scriptures walking, doing yoga asanas, swimming, kabadi playing,

wrestling are the recreation activities that boost up one’s physical health, mental peace,
strength and vigor.

Read the later chapters on ‘Practical application of Bhagavad gita’ to know how we can
keep ourselves engaged 24 hours a day in proper consciousness to achieve wisdom, peace
of mind and limitless inner joy that we can share with others.
Sleeping habits
There are people who spend their leisure in sleeping long hours. This is a sign of mode
of ignorance. If one sleeps too much one cannot perform meditation with a fresh mind;
the mind tends to be drowsy. If one sleeps too little, then one feels tired all day and is
unable to perform any activity with full attention and precision.

One who eats more than required will dream very much
while sleeping, and he must consequently sleep more than is
required. One should not sleep more than six hours daily.
One who sleeps more than six hours out of twenty-four is
certainly influenced by the mode of ignorance. A person in
the mode of ignorance is lazy and prone to sleep a great
deal. Such a person cannot perform yoga.

According to expert doctors, sleeping :

• between 9 pm to 12 pm is equivalent to six hours
• beween 12 pm to 3 am is equivalent to three hours
• between 3 am to 6 am is equivalent to one and a half
hours

Thus early to bed and early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise. According to
Ayurveda, one should sleep when sun sleeps and one should be awake when sun is
awake. If one keeps this standard then one will never fall sick.
 Meditation for Modern Age 190

Unfortunately in the modern times, students who stay in the hostels keep awake
practically whole night wandering to hotels or canteens eating at midnight (that leads to
indigestion) or gossiping with friends, playing football or cricket, hunting for girlfriends
etc. Some in the name of studying ‘night out’ keep themselves awake but waste all their
time dozing on the table or chatting with friends. Such night hawks sleep ten to fifteen
hours in the day and thus ruin their health in the long run.

The early morning hours are very suitable for mantra meditation, prayer and absorption
in rememberance of the Lord as well as studies. In those hours, the mind is fresh and
absorbs input like a blotting paper absorbing ink. By rising early, taking a fresh bath and
chanting Hare Krishna one can develop one’s inner strength, confidence and purity and
can remain blissful and fresh all day in pure consciousness. In our VOICE centers
everyday, there is Mantra Meditaiton program that calms the agitation of the mind and
gives one a focus in life beginning at 4:30 am followed by dancing and chanting of the
Holy Name and a enlivening and enlightening class and discussion.

The Need for a Proper Diet

Almost everyone could live healthily for a
century if he just followed a life of plain
living and high thinking. For many reasons,
however, people live unhealthy lives and die
prematurely. People poison their digestive
tract with meat, alcohol, and various
chemicals used in junk-food coloring and
preservation. They also poison their bodies
with licit and illicit drugs, pain relievers,
sleeping pills etc. really, it’s a wonder that
the average lifespan is as long as it is now.

Yoga is meant for the reestablishment of our lost relationship with Krishna. Generally,
one joins a yoga society in order to improve his health or to reduce fat. People in rich
nations eat more, become fat, and then pay exorbitant prices to so-called yoga instructors
in order to reduce by all these artificial gymnastics; they do not understand that if they
just eat vegetables or fruits and grains, they will never get fat. People get fat because they
eat voraciously, because they eat meat. People who eat voraciously suffer from diabetes,
overweight, heart attacks, etc., and those who eat insufficiently suffer from tuberculosis.
Therefore moderation is required, and moderation in eating means that we eat only what
is needed to keep body and soul together. If we eat more than we need or less, we will
become diseased.
191 Meditation for Modern Age

There is no need for men to eat animals, because there is an ample supply of grains,
vegetables, fruits and milk. Such simple foodstuff is considered to be in the mode of
goodness according to the Bhagavad-gita. Animal food is for those in the mode of
ignorance. Therefore, those who indulge in animal food, drinking, smoking and eating
food which is not first offered to Krishna will suffer sinful reactions because of eating
only polluted things. Bhuïjate te tv aghaà päpä ye pacanty ätma-käraëät. Anyone
who eats for sense pleasure, or cooks for himself, not offering his food to Krishna, eats
only sin. One who eats sin and eats more than is allotted to him cannot execute perfect
yoga. It is best that one eat only the remnants of foodstuff offered to Krishna. A person in
Krishna consciousness does not eat anything which is not first offered to Krishna.
Therefore, only the Krishna conscious person can attain perfection in yoga practice.

It is well known that nutrition dramatically influences the mind and senses, and the
reproductive system in particular. Rich nutrition increases reproductive activity, and
minimal nutrtion diminishes it. Throughout history, people have avoided meat and
restricted their diet to calm the senses. In all relgious calenders there are fast days.
Fasting is practiced among Christians, Jews, Muslimss, Hindus and Buddhists. In fact,
fasting, vegetarianism and celibacy were common even among Pythagoreans, Gnostics,
Essenes, neo-Platonists and Manichaens. One should not artificially abstain from eating,
manufacturing his own personal process of fasting, practice yoga. The Krishna conscious
person observes fasting as it is recommended in the scriptures. He does not fast or eat
more than is required, and he is thus competent to perform yoga practice.

In Bhagavad gita [BG 17.8-10], food is classified according to the three modes of nature :
goodness, passion and ignorance. As humans, we can choose the type of food we eat.
Lower animals cannot do this, for they eat by instinct. For spiritualists, foods in mode of
goodness is preferred. Food in goodness produces purity of mind and health of body and
thus increases our lifespan. Moreover it nourishes the inner self, stimulating memory and
enabling us to remember our spiritual identity and eternal loving relationship with God.

The purpose of food is to increase the duration of life, purify the mind and aid bodily
strength. This is its only purpose. In the past, great authorities selected those foods that
best aid health and increase life’s duration, such as milk products, sugar, rice, wheat,
fruits and vegetables. These foods are very dear to those in the mode of goodness. They
are quite distinct from untouchable things like meat and liquor. Fatty foods, as mentioned
in BG 17.8 have no connection with animal fat obtained by slaughter. Animal fat is
available in the form of milk, which is the most wonderful of all foods. Milk, butter,
cheese and similar products give animal fat in a form which rules out any need for the
killing of innocent creatures. It is only through brute mentality that this killing goes on.
The civilized method of obtaining needed fat is by milk. Slaughter is the way of
subhumans. Protein is amply available through split peas, däl, whole wheat, etc.
 Meditation for Modern Age 192

Foods in the mode of passion, which are bitter, too salty, or too hot or overly mixed with
red pepper, cause misery by reducing the mucus in the stomach, leading to disease. Foods
in the mode of ignorance or darkness are essentially those that are not fresh. Any food
cooked more than three hours before it is eaten (except prasädam, food offered to the
Lord) is considered to be in the mode of darkness. Because they are decomposing, such
foods give a bad odor, which often attracts people in this mode but repulses those in the
mode of goodness.

Remnants of food may be eaten only when they are part of a meal that was first offered to
the Supreme Lord or first eaten by saintly persons, especially the spiritual master.
Otherwise the remnants of food are considered to be in the mode of darkness, and they
increase infection or disease. Such foodstuffs, although very palatable to persons in the
mode of darkness, are neither liked nor even touched by those in the mode of goodness.

Although wholesome foods in goodness are physically and spiritually beneficial, they
should be eaten in moderation. Too much eating means eating more than is required to
keep the body and soul together. One should never eat more than necessary. It is a yogic
principle to fill the belly half full with food in the mode of goodness, a quarter full water,
and then to leave a quarter empty for the circulation of air. Such moderation is materially
and spiritually healthy.

A glutton can never be focussed in spiritual life, for control of tongue is absolutely
necessary for control of the genitals. The perfect sadhaka is always lean and alert, never
fat and lethargic. The tongue and genitals are intimately connected in the human
organism. When the tongue is stimulated with foods in the mode of passion, the genitals
are also excited. If the tongue is well controlled, the genitals will also be controlled.

Therefore food should be simple, non-irritating, and non-stimulating. Spices should be

used sparingly. The stomach must never be overloaded, especially at night, for that will
increase the chance of nocturnal emission. We should always remember that our body is
a instrument that belongs to God, provided to us to utilise wisely in His service. When
we eat the food offered to God in love, then it not only nourishes our brain providing
strength, but also nourishes the soul awakening the love of God.
193 Meditation for Modern Age

Nature Of Material Pleasure

kuträçiñaù çruti-sukhä mågatåñëi-rüpäù

kvedaà kalevaram açeña-rujäà virohaù
nirvidyate na tu jano yad apéti vidvän
kämänalaà madhu-lavaiù çamayan duräpaiù
TRANSLATION
In this material world, every living entity desires some future happiness, which is
exactly like a mirage in the desert. Where is water in the desert, or, in other words,
where is happiness in this material world? As for this body, what is its value? It is
merely a source of various diseases. The so-called philosophers, scientists and
politicians know this very well, but nonetheless they aspire for temporary happiness.
Happiness is very difficult to obtain, but because they are unable to control their
senses, they run after the so-called happiness of the material world and never come
to the right conclusion. [SB 7.9.25]

PURPORT
There is a song in the Bengali language which states, "I constructed this home for
happiness, but unfortunately there was a fire, and everything has now been burnt to
ashes." This illustrates the nature of material happiness. Everyone knows it, but
nonetheless one plans to hear or think something very pleasing. Unfortunately, all
of one's plans are annihilated in due course of time. There were many politicians
who planned empires, supremacy and control of the world, but in due time all their
plans and empires—and even the politicians themselves—were vanquished.
Everyone should take lessons from Prahläda Mahäräja about how we are engaged in
so-called temporary happiness through bodily exercises for sense enjoyment. All of
us repeatedly make plans, which are all repeatedly frustrated. Therefore one should
stop such planmaking.

As one cannot stop a blazing fire by constantly pouring ghee upon it, one cannot
satisfy oneself by increasing plans for sense enjoyment. The blazing fire is bhava-
mahä-dävägni, the forest fire of material existence. This forest fire occurs
automatically, without endeavor. We want to be happy in the material world, but
this will never be possible; we shall simply increase the blazing fire of desires. Our
desires cannot be satisfied by illusory thoughts and plans; rather, we have to follow
the instructions of Lord Kåñëa: sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
 Meditation for Modern Age 194

[Bg. 18.66]. Then we shall be happy. Otherwise, in the name of happiness, we shall
continue to suffer miserable conditions.

The living entity is by nature pleasure-seeking, änanda-maya. Now we are suffering because we
are falsely seeking pleasure on the material platform and as a result we are becoming entangled in
the painful complexities of material existence. But if we try to give up the pleasure-seeking
propensity altogether, we shall eventually become frustrated and return to the platform of material
pleasure-seeking. We have to engage our mind and senses in the service of Krishna, who is Rasa-
Vigraha or reservoir of all transcendental pleasure. Our thirst for enjoyment will be quenched
only by contacting this ocean of pleasure; till then the living entity has to struggle with his mind
and senses in the chase after mirage that is explained below.

A average man in society spends most of his time in counteracting the problems or pains,
`kurvan dukha pratikaram sukhavan manyate grhi’ [SB 3.30.9]. He tries to repeat the
pleasurable experiences by becoming addicted to the objects that gave him pleasure –
opposite sex, situations, things etc. most often, he ignores the presence of others in
fulfilling his own ambitious plans for enjoyment, thus causing pain to them and
conflicting relationships. Sometimes in order to achieve the pleasure he does not mind
adopting a foul means, going against his own conscience, thus causing an internal
conflict. Thus `raga’ (attachment to things one should shun) and `dvesha’ (aversion to
good things) toss him like a football occasionally leaving islands of tiny pleasures that
urge him to continue on the same rat race.

Material Pleasure- Temporary Mitigation Of Pain

The whole world is chasing after material pleasure, but the fact is there is no happiness in
the material world. What appears to be happiness is only a temporary mitigation of pin.
For instance, in those days, if the policemen wanted to get a truth out of the mouth of a
thief, they used to tie the thief to the end of a stick up-side-down and dip him in water.
After sometime, they would bring him out. The thief would be suffocating and would
take breath feeling a great sigh of relief. After enquiring him, they will once again dunk
him in water. Similarly in this material world we get a small relief from miseries,
sandwiched with two thick layers of suffering.

If one carefully observes ones own life, he can see that every effort made is to counteract
some type of suffering. If one has successfully counteracted the suffering, he considers it
as `enjoyment’. But there is truly no positive enjoyment. For instance, let us take the
example of the heavily crowded trains in Bombay city. When you are standing in the
railway platform you may see three trains passing one after another completely loaded
with people and you may find your chance of getting in very bleak. But somehow or
other if you get into the fourth train by the push of other people, you feel `happiness’.
195 Meditation for Modern Age

But inside the train your nose get stuck in someone’s armpit and your body is bent in four
places and you desire to get a sitting place as your legs are paining. If you get a small
sitting place even to keep one of your thighs you feel `happiness’. After sometime by
will of providence if you get a window seat, you feel `greater happiness’ although
squeezed to the window by three people sitting next to you. Now there is anxiety about
how to come out of the crowd to get down in the next station, otherwise you will miss
your station. Thus every step is a temporary mitigation of suffering that is perceived as
happiness.

Material Pleasure And Material Pain Are Twins

There are unlimited sense objects for enjoyment, but not one of them is able to give
complete satisfaction. Just like the riddle that says, ‘water water everywhere not a drop
to drink (sea)’ we are surrounded by unlimited varieties of enjoyable objects; but
somehow happiness eludes us. In youth, people fall prey to many vices with the intense
desire for squeezing out some happiness in life; but where does that struggle end ? It
can be practically observed that the worldly pleasures are always mixed with pain like
sweet rice mixed with sand. Pain is called `athithi’ or an uninvited guest, who comes to
your door unexpectedly.
(eg) smoking – cancer, illicit sex – AIDS, Liquor – Liver problem, Tobacco – bronchitis

Pleasure and pain are born together like twins. They are two sides of the same coin. We
want to separate the pleasure component from the coin and throw away the pain
component. How is this possible? How can you want a person without his shadow? Pain
and pleasure are inseparable from each other. We can only transcend this duality by
engaging all our senses in the service of the master of the senses, Lord Hrishikesh or
Lord Krishna.

Material Pleasure Is Limited

How much can you enjoy? If somebody tells you, “I am

enjoying life”, you may ask them : “How much can you
enjoy? How long can you enjoy?” Most people are
hunting for pleasure on the gross material platform. The
more advanced search for pleasure in speculation,
philosophy, poetry, or art. The bhakti-yogi, however,
searches for pleasure on the transcendental platform, and
that is his only business. Why are people working so hard
all day? They are thinking, "Tonight I shall enjoy. Tonight
I will associate with this girl or with my wife." Thus
 Meditation for Modern Age 196

people are going to so much trouble to acquire a little pleasure. Pleasure is the ultimate
goal, but unfortunately, under illusion, people do not know where real pleasure is to be
found. Real pleasure exists eternally in the transcendental form of Krishna. You have
seen pictures of Krishna, and if you have noticed that Krishna is always jolly. If you join
His society, you will also become jolly. Have you ever seen pictures of Krishna working
with a machine? Have you ever seen pictures of Krishna smoking? No, He is by nature
full of pleasure. Pleasure cannot be found artificially. The word rasa means "taste," or
"mellow." We enjoy sweets or candy because of their taste. Everyone is trying to enjoy
some taste, and we want to enjoy sex because there is some taste there. That is called ädi
taste. Material tastes are different because they are tasted and quickly finished. Material
tastes last only a few minutes. You may take a piece of candy, taste it, and say, "Oh, that
is very nice," but you have to taste another in order to continue the enjoyment. Material
taste is not unlimited, but real taste is without end. Spiritual taste cannot be forgotten; it
goes on increasing. Änandämbudhi-vardhanam. Caitanya Mahäprabhu says, "This
taste is always increasing." The Pacific Ocean is always tossing, but it is not increasing.
By God's order, the ocean does not extend beyond its limit, and if it extends, there is
havoc. Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu says that there is another ocean, an ocean of
transcendental bliss, an ocean that is always increasing. Änandämbudhi-vardhanaà
prati-padaà pürëämåtäsvädanaà/ sarvätma-snapanaà paraà vijayate çré-kåñëa-
saìkértanam. By chanting Hare Krishna, our pleasure potency increases more and more.

How long can you enjoy? One may be proud of having facilities to enjoy now; but how
long can he go on? Rich people who suffer from diabetes or chronic constipation are
unable to taste any good preparations. “What is the use of all my money? I cannot eat
even one laddu.” they feel. A old lady with hunch back was looking down to the ground
searching the jewel of youth that passed away in her life. If one is youthful, one may
certainly have enormous strength ; but one should not laugh at old people because one
who laughs also will turn old – like the wet cow dung laughed at dry dung which was
thrown into fire ; he didn’t realise that the same thing will happen to him also. Thus one
cannot keep enjoying forever, even if one possesses all facilities.

These two questions, `how much’ and `how long’ easily expose the nature of material
pleasures. There may be a dozen five star hotels in the city and every day over fifty
varieties of items may be in the menu. Although our tongue is hankering to enjoy
delicious preparations, how much can one enjoy even if he happens to be the wealthiest
person in the city? All material pleasures have beginning and end – like a cow tied to a
pole cannot enjoy grass beyond the radius of the rope.

Two solutions to stop suffering The irony is that even the drop of material pleasure
that is achieved is unsatisfying and accompanied by unlimited suffering, `trpyanti neha
krpana bahu dukha bhaja’. There is a particular plant called poison IV plant that causes
197 Meditation for Modern Age

itching sensation by merely touching it. As one forgetfully touches other parts of the
body this itching multiplies more and more and leads to enormous suffering. By
continuous scratching, one may start bleeding. The solution to stop itching is : (i) stop
scratching (ii) apply medicine. Similarly the only solution to a suffering soul hankering
for pleasure is to give up the endeavour in the material world and take to the medicine of
chanting the holy names of the Lord. Thus trying to gain material pleasures is compared
to pouring petrol in the fire to put off the fire. The fire only will become aggravated.

Relish the topmost pleasure Thus indulging in or suppressing material pleasures is not
the solution; one should sublimate them by taking to Krishna consciousness. In spiritual
life, one experiences real joy called `satya ananda’ not `mithya ananda’. A connoisure of
food may travel some hundred miles to go to a particular hotel to taste a particular
delicacy, a connoisure of art may purchase a painting for millions of dollars if it is
pleasing to his mind, a connoisure of Maths may solve a complicated problem and get a
great intellectual satisfaction, a connoisure of treking may climb up Himalayas and lay a
flag at the top and feel his ego satisfied. Yogis are connoisures of pleasure. They don’t
become satisfied with petty pleasures achieved by body, mind, intellect or ego. They
relish the unlimited bliss that comes by surrendering to the Lord in love and rendering
service to Him in divine consciousness. `ramante yogino anante satyananda cidatmani…’

Material Pleasure is a Chase after Mirage; they can’t give us satisfaction we’re
looking for
Material Pleasure never satisfies a person, it only leads to a more desperate search for
pleasure. In Bhagavatam [SB 7.13.29] there is an example of a deer who was very
thirsty. He was standing next to a lake of fresh clean water covered with clumps of grass.
Because of grass on the top of water he could not see the water; he ran here and there in
search of water and at last died without achieving it. Our material body has grown upon
the soul and we identify with it. Not knowing our true identity as the pure spirit soul
different from the material coverings, we try to satisfy the material body in so many
ways, but we are led only to frustration. The whole world is on chase after material
pleasures without understanding the true nature of the soul that is just beneath the sheath
of material body. Suppose you desire to eat an ice cream cone. After your desire of
eating ice cream cone is fulfilled you get a momentary satisfaction. But soon after this
your mind will begin to search for another object of pleasure. You may start thinking,
“What should I do now? May be I should go to a movie.” In this way mind constantly
wants a variety of pleasurable sensations. In fact, one realizes his inability to satisfy the
demands of his mind.

The material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world. Sometimes it appears
that material pleasures are more easily reachable than spiritual bliss; but it is not true. A
moving image of a seductive woman can make a passionate man lusty but cannot give
 Meditation for Modern Age 198

him tangible enjoyment. Once a crane that spent a lot of time near a lake in search of fish
happened to see a bull’s testicle hanging. He thought to himself, if fishes are so easily
available why do people struggle hard to get it from the lake. Thinking in this way, he
put his beaks in between the two legs on the bull and got a severe kick from the bull. Not
able to understand what is happening, the crane tried again and again and got repeated
kicks. This is the condition of one pursuing material pleasures. A fake rupee note may
be damn cheap but it is of no value. Thus the material objects are like mere shadows that
are imitation of spiritual objects and cannot give us satisfaction that we are looking for.

Material Pleasure becomes a boredom after sometime

We have been situated in the bodies of dogs, cats etc for many lifetimes. We have
already had these pleasures millions of times – eating, sleeping, mating and defending.
Prahlad maharaj calls it, `punah punah carvita carvananam’ [SB 7.5.30] meaning
`chewing the chewed’. Sometimes a school going child chews a chewing-gum for hours
together. It gives a good flavour in the beginning, but becomes tasteless within a short
time. But when the teacher begins the class, the child keeps it under the desk but later
takes it and keeps chewing it although there is no taste. Nowadays school boys playing
cricket chew the chewing gum more out of fashion than to get any taste out of it !

No same material object can give us pleasure for a long time.

For example, if you are mad for eating gulabjamuns, eat one,
two, three…. A stage will come when you will not want to eat
anymore and if it is given forcefully, you will feel repulsion
and vomit.

Suppose you are very excited to hear about a picnic to some

place with your friends after a month. You may be counting
down the day of the picnic. Initially, you may enjoy the
experience but after sometime you start feeling bored and ask
others, “When are we returning back?”

If somebody gives you a birthday gift nicely packed in a shining golden paper pack, how
eager are you open and see what the gift is! But once the gift is opened, you turn it
around left, right, up, down and see it, you keep it aside. Now probably you may not
touch it again ever in future !

A newly wedded couple holds several dreams about marriage and life with the new
partner. They feel some divinity associated with the whole thing – nightingales are
singing, flowers are showering from the heaven, lakes are blooming with lotuses, swans
are joyfully swimming back and forth, peacocks are dancing and whole world is enjoying
199 Meditation for Modern Age

our marriage etc. These things are sometimes even shown in movies. But the
bridegroom with a beautiful king-like turban is raised on a horse and given all respects
for one day, only to tolerate the onslaught of all kinds of problems throughout his life.
Once marriage is over, the couple has to face the harsh realities of life – getting a job,
purchasing a flat, procuring furniture, raising the newly born child, admitting him in
school, household chores and problems, facing crises etc. Although they often proudly
tell others that they have been united by `love marriage’, they may fight almost like cat
and rat.

Thus the charm of material pleasures is short lived and turns into boredom or dryness
after sometime.
Material pleasure – nectar in the beginning, poison at the end
Suppose all of a sudden you get a craving of the tongue to eat some pizza late night. The
very thought of pizza brings saliva in your tongue and the prospect of eating it gives great
joy and hope. Initially you have to take the trouble to go to the hotel. You may have to
wait in the long queue till your turn comes. You may have to have a fight with the waiter
for not cooperating in the matter of giving you the food in the right time and in the right
manner or not respecting you properly. After the pizza comes, you may find it
excessively spicy or not well prepared. After somehow or other consuming it you may
get a momentary pleasure along with the later consequences of adverse effect on your
health the next day. On one hand you may suffer heart burning, nausea and indigestion
and on the other hand you feel a mental urge to repeat the experience of eating pizza
again and again.

Often people go by the externals. They think, “He/She looks so handsome/beautiful.

He/She must be too good. I have to achieve this person’s company in my life as a life-
partner. I have no other goal now.” Now even after you manage to live with him/her,
you also come across many other facets of his/her behavior that pinch you and you have
to bear with them. A person’s superficial beauty is not representative of his/her qualities.
Thus one begins to become aware of the sharp ends that abrade and create fire sparks in
their relationship. If one is not mature, one whom we loved the most may become one
whom we hate the most now. Further when such a person leaves your company after
some time due to any unavoidable circumstances or even temporarily for some time you
suffer mental agony in his/her separation. Thus there is little pleasure in the beginning
followed by the long tail of sufferings.

While the common saying goes amongst people of this world, `familiarity breeds
contempt’, in spiritual circles, `familiarity breeds love’. A materialist goes by the
superficial, while a devotee sees the real spiritual being in every body. He sees a
brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater alike by seeing the supersoul seated
 Meditation for Modern Age 200

in the hearts of all these beings. Thus in spiritual life, when we come closer to either
Krishna or devotees we feel an ever increasing attraction as such relationships exist and
are experienced on a spiritual plane.

Four basic human needs for effective living

A hedonistic stereotyped life aimed at ‘eat, drink and be merry’ may begin with the joy
of instant gratification but will plunge one in untold misery eventually. A wise person
should have a balanced life meeting the following four needs which will bring about
regulated life. Ultimately the aim of such a life is to act with one’s body, mind and
words for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord.

The problems in life come when we’re sowing one thing expecting to reap something
entirely different. The first thing we have to be aware of is that we are spirit souls
animating a material body. The body is a vehicle offered by the Lord so that we may
engage it in His service, get purified from the contaminations that we have picked up and
return back home back to Godhead. With this foundational understanding, one should
also pay attention to the following four needs in order to bring out one’s best as an
offering to the service of the Lord.

Physical Needs
A devotee can have a healthy body to serve Krishna without any impediment. Otherwise
a healthy body utilised for sense gratification is no better than the heafty body of an
animal. Now, vibrant health is based on natural principles. It grows over time out of
regular exercise, proper nutrition, adequate rest, a healthy mind-set, avoiding substances
that are harmful to the body, leading a clean life – internally and externally. But instead
of paying the price, we’re caught up in the illusion of appearance –fantasy that the right
clothes, the right makeup, the quick-fix weight-loss programs (actually proven to
contribute to the long-term problem instead of solving it) will fulfill our physical need.
It’s an empty promise. It brings short-term satisfaction, but it’s cotton candy. There’s no
substance to it. It doesn’t last.

Economic well-being is based on principles of cutting costs, saving for future needs,
earning interest instead of paying it. But we live with the illusion that having “things”
will fulfill the need – regardless of the fact that they’re bought on credit and we spend
months or even years paying twice what they’re worth for the cotton-candy satisfaction
of instant gratification.
201 Meditation for Modern Age

Social Needs
Quality relationships are built on principles trust and being lovable. And trust grows out
of trustworthiness, out of the character to make and keep commitments, to share
resources, to be caring and responsible, to belong, to love unconditionally. When we see
each other as spirit souls, part-and-parcels of Krishna, then we can love one another,
respect others, care for others by seeing their connection to God. Community centered
around God is based on love, trust and respect.

But when we’re lonely and in the pain of the unmet need, we don’t want to be told to go
out and earn it, to be trust-worthy – worthy of someone’s trust and affection. It’s so
much easier to believe in the cotton-candy illusion of sexual gratification, or the idea that
appearance and personality will win affection, or pay someone talk to us in an
affectionate way. It’s easier to get a fix of love than to work on being a loving person.
And our culture – music, books, advertising, movies, TV programming – is filled with
the illusion.
Mental Needs
It is to gain knowledge with understanding and realisation about meaning and purpose of
life. It is not bookish knowledge. Srila Prabhupada says, ‘Bookish knowledge without
realisation is useless.’ But far from spiritual knowledge, the modern education system is
based on only material knowledge. That too involves evaluation based on memory,
cramming ability etc rather than learning for the long-term development and growth.
We’re into “get the degree...so you can get the job...so you can get the money...so you
can buy the things...so you’ll be successful.” But what does that kind of “success” bring?
Can that bring about the same character and competence that come from deep,
continuous investment in learning and growth?

Also the mind being a storehouse of desires, thoughts, plans, previous experiences etc
cannot be peaceful without absorption in Krishna consciousness. The mind should never
be kept idle, but be always engaged busily in Lord’s service.
Spiritual Needs
The living entity is by nature pleasure-seeking, änanda-maya. Now we are suffering
because we are falsely seeking pleasure on the material platform and as a result we are
becoming entangled in the painful complexities of material existence. But if we try to
give up the pleasure-seeking propensity altogether, we shall eventually become frustrated
and return to the platform of material pleasure-seeking. Although there is eternal
existence on the Brahman platform of impersonal realization, there is no änanda. Variety
is the mother of enjoyment. In the Vaikuntha planets there is actual, spiritual änanda.
Lord Sri Krishna is there in His ecstatic, spiritual form, surrounded by His blissful
associates, all of them eternally full of bliss and knowledge. They have nothing to do
 Meditation for Modern Age 202

with material existence. In the spiritual planets even the scenery and birds and animals
are fully conscious of Krishna and are absorbed in transcendental bliss. Yad gatvä na
nivartante tad dhäma paramaà mama (Bg. 15.6). One who goes to the blissful, spiritual
planet of Krishna will be fully satisfied and never come back to the material platform.

In Vaikuëöha, the spiritual world, there is no anxiety. Vaikuëöha means "freedom from
anxiety," and in Vaikuëöha the liberated souls are always dancing, chanting, and taking
prasäda. On this earth we are trying to be happy artificially and are therefore frustrated.
There are no factories, hard work, or technical institutions. There is no need for these
artificial things like Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and dance halls that are always
announcing, "Come on, here is änanda. Here is pleasure." That is because everyone is
searching for änanda, pleasure. Our society for Kåñëa consciousness is also announcing,
"Here is änanda," but our standard of pleasure is very different. In any case, the goal—
pleasure—is the same. In Vedänta-sütra it is stated, änandamayo 'bhyäsät: (Vedänta-sütra
1.1.12) God is änandamaya, full of bliss and pleasure. Since we are part and parcel of God, we
also possess these same qualities. So the goal of our yoga process is to join with the supreme
änandamaya, Çré Kåñëa, to join His dance party. Then we will be actually happy.

Only a selfless life of surrender to God and achievement of purity of thought and action
can bring about true satisfaction to us. Accumulating possessions, occupying posts and
positions, keeping a big bank balance – none of these have made anyone satisfied.
Individual or GD Task:
‘The great devotee saint Haridas Thakur and the Prostitute’
If you are in a class room, then your teacher will make groups of 4 or 5 students; if you
are reading this book alone, you can do it as an individual task. The story given below
illustrates how the great devotee Haridas Thakur, effortlessly tackled the allurement of
maya in the form of a woman simply by the strength of his chanting Hare Krishna. Lust
makes men into monsters and women into witches in this world. But Haridas Thakur was
an exception to this because of his being a pure devotee of the Lord and Namacharya of
the Holy name. Read the story carefully. Each member of your group can read one title
given below. Discuss the answer for the questions inserted in between the story amongst
yourselves and answer the questions on a separate sheet. Submit your answers along
with the EBG Quiz answers. Remember to mention on the top of your sheet ‘Lesson 16:
‘The great devotee saint Haridas Thakur and the Prostitute’, Individual or Group Task’
along with your name or names of group members.

Haridäsa Öhäkura and the Prostitute

(from the book ‘Chant and be happy’)
Strict followers of the caste system in sixteenth-century India avoided all contact with Muslims. Yet Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu, founder of the modern-day Hare Kåñëa movement, shattered all bonds of prejudice and bigotry by
203 Meditation for Modern Age

elevating Haridäsa Öhäkura, who was born in a Muslim family, to the position of nämäcärya, or the spiritual master of
the holy name of Kåñëa. In this way Çré Caitanya practically demonstrated one of His central teachings-if any person is
seen to be a great devotee of the Lord, he should be honored and respected regardless of his birth or social status.
Such a spiritually advanced person can completely transform the lives of others. In the following incident from the life
of Haridäsa Öhäkura, we see how a beautiful prostitute, through the power of his chanting, became a great saint.

In the forest of Benäpola, in what is now known as Bangladesh, the solitary monk sat before the sacred tulasé plant
chanting the holy names of Kåñëa day and night. Haridäsa Öhäkura would chant three hundred thousand names of the
Lord each day. The body of this extraordinary saint, who was constantly in trance, was maintained by spiritual strength
from chanting, and he barely slept at all. He was so influential that all the neighboring people offered their respects to
him.

But a landholder named Rämacandra Khän, the district tax collector, was envious of devotees of Lord Kåñëa. Unable to
tolerate the great respect that was being offered to Haridäsa Öhäkura, he schemed to dishonor him. By no means,
however, could he find any fault in the character of Haridäsa. Therefore, he called for some local prostitutes and
plotted to discredit the saint. Rämacandra Khän said to the prostitutes, "There is a mendicant named Haridäsa
Öhäkura. All of you devise a way to deviate him from his vows of austerity." Austerity means renunciation of sensual
pleasures, especially the pleasure of sex.
Q1: What revolutionary step did Lord Caitanya take in His times without caring for opposition?
Q2: By such act, what did Lord Caitanya wanted to show the world?
Q3: For what reasons, did Ramacandra Khan scheme to dishonor Haridasa Thakura?
Q4: What is Austerity?
Rämacandra Khän selected a ravishing young beauty to break the monk's vow of celibacy and dishonor him. "I shall
attract the mind of Haridäsa Öhäkura," she promised, "within three days."

Rämacandra Khän said to the prostitute, "My constable will go with you so that as soon as he sees you with Haridäsa
Öhäkura, he will immediately arrest him and bring both of you to me."

The prostitute replied, "First let me have union with him once; then the second time I shall take your constable with me
to arrest him.

At night the prostitute, after dressing herself in a seductive way, went to

the cottage of Haridäsa Öhäkura. Haridäsa was young, strong, and
handsome, and the girl was eager to be alone with him. After offering
respects to the tulasé plant, she went to the door of Haridäsa's hut,
offered him obeisances, and stood there. Exposing part of her body to his
view, she sat down on the threshold and spoke to him in sweet words.

"My dear Haridäsa, O great preacher, great devotee, you are so

beautifully built, and your youth is just beginning. Who is the woman who
could control her mind after seeing you? I am eager to be united with
you. My mind is greedy for this. If I don't obtain you, I shall not be able to
keep my body and soul together."

Haridäsa Öhäkura replied, "I shall accept you without fail, but you will
have to wait until I have finished chanting my regular rounds on my
beads. Until that time, please sit and listen to the chanting of the holy
name. As soon as I am finished, I shall fulfill your desire."
 Meditation for Modern Age 204

Hearing this, the prostitute remained sitting there while Haridäsa Öhäkura chanted on his beads until the light of
morning appeared. When she saw that it was morning, the prostitute stood up and left. Coming before Rämacandra
Khän, she informed him of all the news.

"Today Haridäsa Öhäkura has promised to enjoy with me," she said. "Tomorrow certainly I shall have union with him."

The next night, when the prostitute came again, Haridäsa Öhäkura gave her many assurances. "Last night you were
disappointed. Please excuse my offense. I shall certainly accept you. Please sit down and hear the chanting of the
Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra until my regular chanting is finished. Then your desire will surely be fulfilled."

After offering her obeisances to the tulasé plant and Haridäsa Öhäkura, she again sat down at the door. Hearing
Haridäsa Öhäkura chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra, she also chanted, "O my Lord Hari, O my Lord Hari."

When the night came to an end, the prostitute was restless. Seeing this, Haridäsa said, "I have vowed to chant ten
million names in one month. I have taken this vow, but now it is nearing its end. I thought that today I would be able to
finish my chanting of the Hare Kåñëa mantra. I tried my best to chant the holy name all night, but I still did not finish.
Tomorrow I will surely finish, and my vow will be fulfilled. Then it will be possible for me to enjoy with you in full
freedom."
Q5: Give two examples of men who beceame allured when they were put in situations similar to that of Haridas
Thakura.
Q6: Can you think of a person who sends apsaras to allure rishis and munis when they perform severe penances?
What is his intention in doing so?
Q7: In the modern day context men are allured thoroughly by media using woman as a tool. How can this story of
Haridas Thakura help us in tackling such problems in our lives?
Q8 : What is so special about chanting Hare Krishna that Haridas Thakura could resist such a powerful temptation
offered by the prostitute?
The prostitute returned to Rämacandra Khän and informed him of what had happened. The next day she came earlier,
at the beginning of the evening, and stayed all night. Again, as she began to hear Haridäsa Öhäkura's chanting, she
also chanted "Hari, Hari," the holy name of the Lord.

"Today it will be possible for me to finish my chanting," the saint said. "Then I shall satisfy all your desires."

The night ended with Haridäsa still chanting, but now, because of her constant hearing of Haridasa's chanting, the
mind of the prostitute had changed. Now fully purified, she began to cry and fell at the lotus feet of Haridäsa Öhäkura,
confessing that Rämacandra Khän had appointed her to pollute him.

"Because I have taken the profession of a prostitute," she said, "I have performed unlimited sinful acts. My lord, be
merciful to me. Deliver my fallen soul."

Haridäsa replied, "I know everything about the conspiracy of Rämacandra Khän. He is nothing but an ignorant fool.
Therefore his activities do not make me feel unhappy. On the very day Rämacandra Khän was planning his intrigue
against me, I would have left this place immediately, but because you came, I stayed here for three days to deliver
you.

"Kindly act as my spiritual master," she begged. "Instruct me in my duty by which to get relief from material existence."

Haridäsa answered, "Immediately go home and distribute to the brähmaëas [priests] whatever property you have.
Then come back to this room and stay here forever in Kåñëa consciousness. Chant the Hare Kåñëa mantra continuously
205 Meditation for Modern Age

and render service to the tulasé plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get
the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kåñëa."

After thus instructing the prostitute in the chanting of Hare Kåñëa, Haridäsa Öhäkura stood up and left, continuously
chanting the Lord's holy names.
Q9: What was Haridas Thakura’s technique to avoid falling down to maya’s pulls? How can this help us?
Q10: What happened to Prostitute at the end? How did it happen?
Q11: Find out what is so special about watering Tulasi plant.
Q12: What section of this pastime touched your heart the most? Why?
Following the order of her spiritual master, the prostitute distributed to the local priests whatever household
possessions she had. Following Haridäsa's example, she began chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra three hundred
thousand times a day. She chanted throughout the entire day and night, and she worshiped the tulasé plant. By eating
frugally and fasting, she conquered her senses. As soon as her senses were controlled, symptoms of love of God
appeared in her person.

Thus the prostitute became a great saint, and her fame spread throughout the land. Because she was very advanced in
spiritual life, many devotees of the Lord would come to see her. Seeing the sublime character of this former prostitute,
everyone was astonished. They glorified the influence of Haridäsa Öhäkura and offered their obeisances to him.

As for Rämacandra Khän, he was eventually ruined by the arrangement of the Lord. Meanwhile, Haridäsa Öhäkura
continued his travels, always preaching the glories of the holy name, about which he often said, "As the rising sun
immediately dissipates all the world's darkness, which is deep like an ocean, so the holy name of the Lord, if chanted
once without offenses, can dissipate all the reactions of a living being's sinful life. All glories to that holy name of the
Lord, which is auspicious for the entire world."

To this day, thousands of pilgrims each year visit the samädhi tomb of Haridäsa Öhäkura, who, although born a Muslim,
became the spiritual master of the holy name, and one of India's greatest devotee-saints.
Q13: What procedure did the prostitute adopt to attain the platform of love of God?
Q14: Why did devotees of the Lord come to see this prostitute? Why were they astonished?
Q15: What happened to Ramacandra Khan?
Q16: Give an example for how Holy name of Krishna dissipates all reactions of a living being’s sinful life.

* * * * *
 Meditation for Modern Age 206

‘Self Manager’, Quiz: 5

The Art of Self management

Part A (to be answered by All)

Answer the following questions in TWO or THREE sentences on a separate sheet : (10 x
2 = 20 marks)
Schools today are supplied with surveillance and intruder devices, closed circuit TV,
watchdogs, buzz-controlled doors, walkie-talkie, panic buttons etc. What do you infer
from this?
1. Why do we call the modern day youths as perverted intellectuals? What are they
ignorant about?
2. What is the notion of modern man regarding the ‘ancient’ man? Is that notion correct
or not? Substantiate your statement.
3. What does one lose by indulging in illicit sex?
4. What is the goal of modern man’s interest in yoga exercises? Has he suddenly
become very spiritual minded?
5. What is the difference between academic education and Krishna conscious
education?
6. Your friend ridicules you when you talk about self restraint or self control. He says
that one should be a free bird in life without unnecessarily repressing one’s senses
and desires. What would you tell him?
7. Under what conditions is one subjected to material desires?
8. Who is a go-dasa and who is a go-swami?
9. Suppressing our desires or free indulgence as per mind’s whims – which of the two
is better? Give reasons for your answers.
Part B (only for married and Below 50 years)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. ‘Without becoming Krishna conscious, it is not at all possible to control one’s

senses’. Explain this statement with one sastric and one practical life example.
207 Meditation for Modern Age

2. Why do love marriages sometimes end up in a ‘cat-rat’ type of fight? What alternative
way of living would you suggest them?

Part C (only for College students)

Answer the following questions within TWO or THREE sentences: (2 + 3 = 5 marks)

1. Why is internet surfing considered a dangerous or harmful recreation? It is the life of

youths in the modern times. Mention at least two engagements thought of as
recreations by modern man, but which are dangerous for the individuals.
2. What is the right and wrong way to fulfill the social need?

* * * * *

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Quiz : 5

The Art of Self management

Answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences on a separate sheet: (1 x 30 =

30 marks)

Syllabus for the following Quiz:

Bhagavad-gita As It Is 2.56, 2.61-68, 3.34, 5.22, 6.16-18, 17.8-10, 7.14-16

1. How is a Krishna conscious person able to be steady in success and failure? (2.56)
2. What is the only way to control the senses? (2.61)
3. How is a sincere devotee of the Lord able to shun opportunity for material
enjoyment? (2.62)
4. How does a impersonalist suffer in comparison to a devotee? (2.63)
5. What is the cause of disturbance? (2.66)
6. What is the correct technique for controlling the mind? (2.67)
7. What is not possible by human endeavour? (2.68)
 Meditation for Modern Age 208

8. Which propensities are to be curbed? (3.34)

9. What is the speciality in the ability of a Krishna conscious person? (5.22)
10. What two things go ill together? (5.22)
11. What happens when one eats more than necessary? (6.16)
12. What is the ideal of a devotee in sleeping habits? (6.17)
13. What is the difference between a devotee and impersonalist in connection to the
transcendental stage? (6.18)
14. When is transcendental engagements like that of Ambarish maharaja possible? (6.18)
15. What is the special mention made about Fatty foods in this purport? (17.10)
16. What is the right process of speaking in spiritual circles? (17.15)
17. What are the different points to be paid attention in training the mind? (17.16)
18. What is the way to gain satisfaction of the mind? (17.16)
19. What is the best method to save ourself from the demanding mind? (17.16)
20. How can we purify our existence? (17.16)

* * * * *
209 Meditation for Modern Age

Appendix 1

Meditation for
Modern Age
 Meditation for Modern Age 210

Meditation for Modern Age

The different methods of yoga like ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, jnana yoga are not
prescribed for this age of Kali yuga. This age is characterized by short life span, fast
paced life, little time and intelligence to undergo Vedic study etc. The scriptures
prescribe a very simple form of meditation—chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra. The
sixteen Sanskrit words Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare
Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare constitute a mantra, or transcendental sound
formula. This powerful mantra, known as the mahamantra, has been prescribed by the
great spiritual authorities as the easiest and most effective method of attaining self-
realization in the present age.
Regular chanting of this maha mantra and hearing this transcendental sound vibration
purifies the heart of the chanter and establishes pure love for God in his heart.
Our entanglement in material affairs begins from material sound. Each day we hear
material sounds from radio and television, from friends and relatives, and according to
what we hear, we think, desire, feel and act materially. Thus we remain within the
material sphere of existence, taking on one material body after another and undergoing
the miseries of birth, death, old age and disease. But, as Srila Prabhupada points out,
“There is sound in the spiritual world also. If we approach that sound, then our spiritual
life begins.”

The living being in material life is likened to a dreaming man, who accepts the situations
of happiness and distress within his dream as ultimate reality. He dreams of finding a
treasure, but in truth he is not a penny richer. He dreams of being attacked by a tiger, but
he is not actually in danger. When he is awakened by the sound of his alarm clock, he
realizes his actual situation. In the same way, one who chants the transcendental sounds
of the name of Krishna gradually wakes up from the dreamlike condition of material life
to his original spiritual position.
Spiritual sound has special qualities. Hearing the sound “water” reminds us of the taste of
the water and its qualities. But because of the distinct difference between material sound
and its object, the sound “water” cannot quench our thirst. The name Krishna however is
absolute sound vibrated from the spiritual platform and is therefore non-different from
Krishna. And because Krishna is omnipotent, His transcendental energies are manifested
within the sound of His name. The vibration “Hare Krishna” has the power to purify the
mind and the consciousness. Since every living being is eternally related with Krishna,
the chanting of His names is often compared with the natural call of a child for his
mother.
211 Meditation for Modern Age

The word mantra means that which delivers the mind (man “mind”, tra “that which
delivers the mind from material illusions and anxieties”).
Chanting purifies the mind just as medicine prescribed for a bodily ailment gradually
restores the body to its natural, healthy condition. One who engages in this practice,
known as mantra meditation, gradually develops great mental control and attains a
heightened sense of awareness. In this pure state of spiritual consciousness, free from
inebrieties such as tension, confusion, depression, and feelings of envy and hatred, one
experiences real peace of mind.

How to chant

Take the japa-mala in the right hand, holding it between the thumb and the middle finger.

The index (first) finger is not used, as it is considered

contaminated.
Start at the bead next to the head bead (the biggest
bead).
Before the Hare Krishna maha-mantra japa, chant the
Panca-tattva maha-mantra:

sri krishna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara

srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

Chanting these names of Lord Chaitanya and His principal associates helps us to become
free from offences in chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra.
Now chant the complete maha-mantra on the first bead. Then move your thumb and
middle finger onto the next bead. After chanting 108 times, you will again reach the head
bead and will then have completed one mala or “round”. Now turn the whole set of beads
around in your hand without crossing the head bead and start another round by again
chanting the panca-tattva mantra followed by the Hare Krishna maha manta.
Chanting is simple but should be performed properly for best results. Chanting should be
at least loud enough that a person next to the chanter can hear it. While chanting,
concentrate on hearing the maha-mantra. This concentration is mantra-meditation and is
powerful for cleaning our hearts. It is difficult to stop the mind wandering but, as with
 Meditation for Modern Age 212

anything else, practice makes perfect. Note that the mantra should be chanted distinctly
so that each syllable can be clearly heard.

The best time to chant is early in the morning (during the brahma-muhurta, the auspicious
period before sunrise). One can chant in any situation – on a train, while going to work or
walking on the street – but it is best to finish our fixed quota of chanting with full
concentration early in the morning, before starting one’s routine daily activities.

Mahamantra

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare

Hare |

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

213 Srila Prabhupada – The Ambassador of the Kingdom of God

Appendix 2

Srila Prabhupada –
The Ambassador of the
Kingdom of God
 Srila Prabhupada – The Ambassador of the Kingdom of God 214

Srila Prabhupada – The Ambassador of the Kingdom of God

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON,
appeared in this world in Calcutta in 1896 on Nandotsav day, the day following
Janmashtami. In his youth in 1922, he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Thakura, who convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge,
especially in the English language.

In 1944, he single-handedly started Back to Godhead, an

English fortnightly magazine. Though practically
penniless, his faith in the order of his spiritual master
took him to New York in 1965 at the advanced age of 70.
After a year of intense struggle, in July 1966, he
established the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON) with its first center in New
York. During the next eleven years, before his passing
away on November 14, 1977, he undertook vigorous
preaching tours that took him round the globe fourteen
times. Under his guidance, he saw the society grow to
over 108 centers. ISKCON continues to expand even
now with over 600 centers all over the world. He taught
the individual and the congregational chanting of the
Holy Names of Lord Krishna as the topmost form of
yoga and meditation and millions of people all over the
world have adopted this mantra meditation as an integral part of their lives.
In 1968, Srila Prabhupada created New Vrindavana, an experimental Vedic community
in the hills of West Virginia. In 1972 His Divine Grace introduced the Vedic system of
education in the West by founding a gurukula in Dallas, Texas. Srila Prabhupada inspired
the establishment of a forum of leading God-conscious scientists named, the
Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI). He established international cultural centers in Sridhama
Mayapur, Vrindavana, Mumbai and other places. He also took India’s festivals,
especially Rath-Yatra, to the West.
Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contribution is his books - 70 authoritative renditions
of ancient Indian classics, including Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, the most widely read edition
of the Bhagavad-Gita in English and a multi-volume commentated translation of the
eighteen thousand verse Shrimad Bhagavatam. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica noted,
“A C Bhaktivedanta Swami astonished scholars by his prolific writing “ .
215 Srila Prabhupada – The Ambassador of the Kingdom of God

“Poverty means poverty of knowledge,” Srila Prabhupada would often say. His
conviction was that humanity was lacking in spiritual knowledge, which was essential for
achieving real happiness in life. His vision therefore was that of a global East-West
synthesis, based on the proverbial blind man-lame man story. India has the divine vision
of spiritual wisdom, but is financially crippled due to centuries of foreign exploitation
and so is like the lame man. USA has financial and technological resources but is lacking
in spiritual knowledge and so is like the blind man. If the blind man and the lame man
join forces, both of them can reach the destination. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada brought
together Indian spiritual wisdom and American technology to revive God consciousness
all over the world through ISKCON. With this in mind, he trained thousands of disciples
to live a life of pure spiritual principles in the modern world.
Srila Prabhupada preached that the chanting of the holy names of God, especially the
Hare Krishna maha mantra, is a practical and powerful way to raise spiritual
consciousness – individually and globally. He demonstrated the liberating potency of
mantra meditation by freeing hundreds of hippies from self-destructive drug addictions
during the period of the counter-culture in USA in the 1960s and 1970s, a feat that was
recognized even by Western scholars and sociologists. Srila Prabhupada would stress,
“Without the awakening of divine consciousness, there is no use of crying for world
peace.”
Srila Prabhupada will always be remembered for the selfless saintly compassion with
which he gave the light of genuine spiritualism in the darkness of materialism. Thus he
built a house in which the whole world can live.
 Appendix 3

Vedic Oasis for Inspiration,

Culture & Education
(VOICE)

Rekindling Wisdom, Reviving Love

ii

BACE becomes VOICE

B.A.C.E. (Bhaktivedanta Academy for Culture and Education) has been a name we
have been using for all our preaching activities -- mostly youth, but also children,
girls, corporate etc. We have been having different names for each of these wings
under BACE such as ISKCON Youth Forum - boys/girls wing, Bhakta Prahlad
School for children wing etc.
In order to have a simplified name that can be commonly used by all these wings,
we have finalized the name VOICE with the blessings of His Holiness
Gopalakrishna goswami and His Holiness Radhanath swami maharajas.
******************************************************************
V.O.I.C.E = Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education
******************************************************************
VOICE represents 'Spiritual Sound of Vedas' 'Shabda brahma' or 'Voicing
concern'.

Modern world is facing great degradation of character, culture and values. For a
sincere human being to live a life of pure principles is a great challenge. The
'Vedic Oasis' conveys the idea that it is 'life-giving' centre in a 'stress-ridden fast-
paced rat race society' that is like a desert. Also 'Oasis' helps to avoid the
'Academy' that comes in BACE; thus the people don't see it just as a education
centre alone but a centre for inspiration, culture and education. Thus VOICE will
provide a facility like an Oasis in the middle of desert to keep oneself charged in
remembrance of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna always. The inspiration is
spiritual inspiration to perform devotional service with full enthusiasm.
We will be calling our different wings as
• CHILDREN VOICE (for children, Age group 5 yrs to 12 years),
earlier called as Bhakta Prahlad school
• TEENAGE BOYS VOICE (for teenage boys, Age group 13 to 19),
earlier called as ISKCON Junior Youth Forum
• TEENAGE GIRLS VOICE (for teenage girls, Age group 13 to 19),
• BOYS VOICE (for the college students, Age group 19 and above ),
earlier called as ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) or BACE
• GIRLS VOICE (for the college girls, Age group 19 and above),
earlier called as IYF – Girls wing
• CORPORATE VOICE (for the company-going men and women),
 iii

Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education

(VOICE)

VOICE, the Vedic Oasis for the stressed mind of modern age

Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE) touches the hearts and lives
of children, teenagers, adolescent youth, corporates, families. Its motto is rekindling
wisdom and reviving love.

VOICE represents 'Spiritual Sound of Vedas' 'Shabda brahma' or 'Voicing concern'.

Modern world is facing great degradation of character, culture and values. For a sincere
human being to live a life of pure principles is a great challenge. The 'Vedic Oasis'
conveys the idea that it is 'life-giving' centre in a 'stress-ridden fast-paced rat race society'
that is like a desert. Thus VOICE will provide a facility like an Oasis in the middle of
desert to keep oneself surcharged in remembrance of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna
always. The inspiration is spiritual inspiration to practice devotion to God with full
enthusiasm.

We have different wings of VOICE catering to the needs of different sections of society :

Children VOICE (for children between 5 yrs to 12 years),

Teenage Boys VOICE (for teenage boys, Age group 13 to 19),
Teenage Girls VOICE (for teenage girls, Age group 13 to 19),
Boys VOICE (for the college students, Age group 19 and above ),
Girls VOICE (for the college girls, Age group 19 and above),
Corporate VOICE (for the company-going men and women),
Senior Citizens VOICE (for members above 50 years of age)

Our Motto

The motto of VOICE is ‘Rekindling Wisdom, Reviving Love’.

Intellectual education influences the head and value-based education influences the heart.
In fact, education that does not train the heart can be dangerous. If we want to build
character in our offices, homes and society, we must have the wisdom to live a principle-
centered life based on honesty, compassion, courage, responsibility etc. Steven Muller,
President, Johns Hopkins University said : “Universities are turning out highly skilled
barbarians because we don’t provide a framework of values to young people, who more
and more are searching for it.” Winston Churchill said, “The first duty of a university is
to teach wisdom, not trade; character, not technicalities.” Educated persons are those
iv

who can choose wisely and courageously under any circumstances between good and
bad, between virtuousness and vulgarities regardless of the academic degrees they have.
The goal of VOICE is to rekindle the innate wisdom about meaning and purpose of life.

Peter R.Schemm in his book entitled, ‘Love: Impact on Physical and Mental Health’
explains that people who live in relationships in which they do not feel loved, protected,
happy or secure are ten times more susceptible to chronic disease and five time more
susceptible to mental illness. Also studies prove that love heals diseases. Community,
security, protection, sharing, care and concern for one another – all these are possible
only when people learn to lead a selfless God-centered life. Such a life awakens the
dormant love in our hearts that manifests as respect for elders, compassion for the
youngers, friendliness towards equals, surrender to the laws of God that matures as love
for God and towards all.

Objectives

1. Creating a class of people of high character and competence.

2. Saving teenagers from self-destructive habits.
3. Creating communities for counseling and growth in self-excellence skills as well as
spirituality.
4. Use Arts, Culture, Music and Media to propagate the message of Wisdom literatures.
5. Creating a class of people who respect, trust and love each other, living as vehicles of
wisdom.
6. Use talents for propagating love of God and love for all, through the divine Voice of
God.
7. Distributing spiritual literature at subsidized prices.
8. Training in Science of God, etiquettes and behaviour, prayer and practices, practical
services to God.
 v

Specialised training for

children, teenagers, youths and corporates

Children VOICE

Advisors : Radheshyam das, Radhika devi dasi, Hemangigopi devi dasi

Co-ordinators : Rasasundari devi dasi, Krishnakishore das,
Assistant Co-ordinators : Ramananda das, Yashodarani devi dasi, Parthahari das

Children are trained in story telling, creative

exercises, singing, dancing, dramas, painting,
sloka recitation, fancy dress competition, etc.
There are books exclusively published for
these children like ‘Getting to know Krishna’
‘Wonderful Krishna’ etc that are taught by
expertly trained teachers to imbibe good
samskars -- character and values in children.
There are quarterly ‘Balotsav’ programs
where these children get opportunity to
display their talents through drama, art, singing, dancing, performances, display booths –
that is open for thousands of visitors. During summer vacations, special children camps
are organized for fun and learning experience of the children. There are over ten children
VOICEs all over Pune that operate once a week for a couple of hours, generally in the
week end. Generally about 25 children attend each of these programs. The course
registration generally starts from June.

Teenage Boys VOICE

Advisors : Govinda prabhu (Chowpatty), Radheshyam das, Caitanyacharan das
Co-ordinators : Tulsi das, Varadaraj das

Modern teenagers are attacked by the money

thirsty media programs that impel them to buy
costly mobiles, bikes, sports shoes, pants and
wears etc. The movies present perverted themes
and cause teenagers to indulge in drugs and
drinks, smoking and sex-partners – considering
themselves ‘free birds’. But all this craze ends in
vi

self-destructive addictions, depression, failure in academics or social responsibilities,

psychological traumatic experiences often ending in suicide. Our programs are oriented
to train them in patience, maturity, self control, clean habits, tolerance, respect for elders,
meditation to calm the raging mind etc. The teenagers perform skits, sing, play
instruments, join the spiritual dance, meditate and go for spiritual picnics. They also
learn public speaking, studying effectively, developing concentration and avoid bad
habits.
Boys VOICE
Director : Radheshyam das, M.Tech. IIT, Mumbai
VOICE Governing Body (VGB):
Acharya Ratna das,B.E.Comp, 9434047299 ,
Bal Govind das, B.E. Mech., 9325502474
Shyamrupa das, B.E. Mech. 9422079881
Ram Priya das, MBBS, (MD), 9373322501
VOICE Executive Committee (VEC):
Gopal Champu das, B.E.Comp , Ankur Gupta,B.Tech. IITKGP,
Rajshekar, M.Tech, IITKGP, Gyanprakash,B.Tech, IITKGP,
Veerayyah, B.Tech, NITK, Sripad, M.Tech, NIT Warrangal and
Chandramouli, B.Tech, IITKGP
Publications and Sales Manager :
Krishnakishore das, M.E. Comp., Asst Prof, VIT college. 09822451260

Boys VOICE has been preaching to youth community since 1996 and over 10,000
students have participated in different courses. Boys VOICE also has over a dozen youth
hostels across the country close to the colleges like IITKGP, NITWarrangal,
NITSuratkal, NITJamshedpur, BVPCOE, Pune, SIT, Pune etc for offering the following
training program to empower the modern youth.
 vii

Personality Development and Character Build Up

• Training the students in the application of philosophy, values and principles in their
personal life.
• Rising early, sleeping early, morning mantra meditation, GD and interactions
• Training in etiquettes, manners and proper behavior to be followed while living in
society.
• Training in dealing with equals, juniors, seniors, elders in the family, parents, teachers.
• Training in integrity, truthfulness, simplicity, trustworthiness, non-envy, maturity,
humility etc
• Training in self-excellence skills like giving presentations, conflict resolution,
empathic listening etc
Yoga, Meditation and Nutritious Diet
• Vibrant health, peaceful mind, and satisfying
loving relationships are essential for a life of
quality.
• People poison their digestive tract with meat,
alcohol,drugs, sleeping pills and junk-food.
• The purpose of food is to increase the
duration of life, purify the mind and aid
bodily strength.

At VOICE, the students get Prasadam, sanctified lactovegetarian sanctified diet. It is

wholesome, nutritious, satisfying and nourishing to body and soul.

Mantra Meditation
• Modern man filled with fear, tension, anger, defensive attitude etc leading to stress.
• The adrenaline hormone secretion leads to disorders like indigestion, back pain, blood
pressure rise etc.
• Mantra Meditation is a powerful tool to alleviate stress and attain peace of mind.
• It provides one inner strength, patience, tolerance, vigor, confidence, power to make
decisions etc.
• VOICE Students regularly perform mantra meditation and lead cheerful stress-free
lives.

Topping in Academics
• Spirituality and Academics are given equal importance for VOICE students.
• During JAN/FEB/MAR and APR/MAY/JUN, the students study 10-13-16 hours per
week.
viii

• They fill Study cards and report to their Counselors for perusal and subsequent
instruction.
• The alumni student or professor devotees help the younger students by coaching.
• For a devotee student, his college studies are not material. It is Krishna’s service.

Public Speaking and Discussion (PSD)

• Students are trained how to deliver lecture presentations.
• They are taught to face challenges from the audience
without losing temper.
• They are assessed on the basis of ten criteria and room
for improvements are offered to them.
• A seasoned preacher gives clarifies all the lingering
misconceptions.

Team Playing and Synergising

• Group Discussion Camps (GDC) teaches the students to work cooperatively in a team.
• They learn to value others opinions, to pool up the talents of many, to be confident etc.
• They prepare one of their team members to give a presentation, make a display, put up
a skit etc.

Devotional Qualifications
• They are trained in cooking, cleaning, washing, worshiping, performing arati,
• singing, playing instruments like mridanga, kartals, harmonium,
• purchasing things from market, handling accounts, managing different departments
like kitchen, etc.
• This foundational training is greatly helpful now and in the future.

Personal Care and Counseling

• Every VOICE student has a Counselor who acts in his life as a Philosopher, Friend
and Guide.
• He answers the student’s questions and shares his experiences.
• He helps him tackle physical, mental, and spiritual problems and trains him to face
future challenges.
• The counselees fill up a sadhana card that acts as a report card filled up by the
candidate.
• The Counselor-counselee meetings are held fortnightly or monthly to bring about a
family atmosphere..
• There are committees that extend their help — marriage bureau, placement committee,
etc.
 ix

Preaching Activities

One-time slide show seminars like ‘Stress Management’ ‘Time Management’ for
awareness.

’Bring out THE LEADER in you’ Course trains the youth in Character and
Competence skills. It is meant to be a credit course prescribed by any college for
grooming their students in values and ethics.

Six-session slide show course called ‘Discover Your Self’ for learning basics of
spirituality.

Weekly Study Circles Three courses each lasting for 4 months are offered for the Boys
VOICE, Girls VOICE and Corporate VOICE members -- ‘Spiritual scientist’, ‘Positive
Thinker’, ‘Self Manager’

Advanced courses : Those who complete the above can join ‘Proactive leader’ and
‘Personality Development’ courses. Beyond this one is eligible to join the ‘Bhakti Sastri’
course.

Weekend meeting on Saturday evening is open for all boys between 17 to 30 years of
age. It is a gathering addressed by special speakers on themes relating to modern world
and solution from Vedas.

Cultural Activities: Dramas, Nam rock, Debates, Music, Dance and Spiritual Camps and
picnics.

Prerana Youth Festival : The Boys VOICE organizes a monthly special youth festival
for boys called ‘PRERANA’ where over a thousand boys participate in program
consisting of a seminar, kirtans, dancing and Prasadam. Special eminent speakers are
invited for this program.

(Teenage) Girls VOICE

Advisors : Radhika devi dasi, Vishaka devi dasi , Kishori devi dasi
(Mumbai),
Radheshyam das, Jaigopal das
Co-ordinators : Anangamohini devi dasi, Vidya patham,
Brajavallabhi devi dasi and Yugalapriya devi dasi.
x

The teenage boys and girls are trained

separately by male and female teachers
respectively. As the psychology of boys and
girls are different their training programs are
also made suitable to their needs. Woman has a
vital role to play in any family, in the life of her
husband, children, and in laws and others. It is
said that the hand that moves the cradle can
make or mar the world. Great leaders have
had great mothers. Keeping this in view, the
girls are trained in various activities to become a ideal wife, a loving mother and a chaste
and exemplary housemaker to benefit home, nation and all humanity.
Objectives of Teenage Girls VOICE
Training girls to
• Learn Values like politeness, truthfulness, being prayerful, love in action, positive
attitude etc
• Learn Self-Excellence skills like Power of
Habits etc
• Understand the importance of Dos and Don’ts
• Learn the basic philosophy of KC and develop a
taste for chanting, hearing and seva
• Learn the danger of free mixing, glamour,
romance, blue film watching, internet and media
etc.
• Developing Good habits, behaviour, friendships with fellow devotees etc.
• Sloka recitation from BG chapters 7, 9 and 12
• Assisting in Children VOICE teaching
Objectives of Girls VOICE
Training girls to
• Learn the basic philosophy of KC and develop a taste for chanting, hearing and seva
• Values like Overcoming Greed, Anger, Depression, Fear, Inferiority complex
• Perform devotional activities like offering puja, maintaining deity, making garland,
pure habits etc
• Cultural activities like singing, playing instruments, cooking, put rangoli etc.
• Live a life of chastity, character, modesty, simplicity and similar values
• Learn to be a ideal wife, mother, daughter-in-law, -in-law etc
• Dealing with guests, elders, family members and others
• Learn to celebrate festivals at home
• Teaching Children VOICE students
 xi

The Girls VOICE organizes a quarterly special youth festival for girls called
‘CHETANA’ where hundreds of girls participate in program consisting of a seminar,
kirtans, dancing and Prasadam. Special eminent speakers are invited for this program.

Their special activities are :

• Seminars like ‘Role of woman in Vedic society’ by senior ladies
• Group presentations on topic of “Six anarthas”,
• Doing Arati to the Lord,
• Candle making and Pots decoration,
• Garland making
• Singing Bhajans and Kirtans,
• Cooking recipes,
• Slide show presentations
• Outdoor spiritual picnics and camps

One of the satellite centers of Pune Girls VOICE is at NIT Warrangal run by a devotee
professor’s wife.

Corporate VOICE

Corporate Preaching Board members

Chairman - Radheshyam das

Executive Chairman
Executive Vice-Chairman (CFP)
Executive Vice-Chairman (CYP)
Executive Secretary (CFP)
Executive Secretary (CYP)
Lead Trainer
- Vamshi Vadan das
- Anantashesh das (mobile: 9850881105)
- Gopal Champu das (mobile: 9325070111)
- Amit Relkar
- Revati Pati das
- Bala Govinda das

In today’s fast paced and competitive corporate

world, the executives, managers and team
leaders usually have more mental work than
physical which gives rise to many stress born
diseases like hypertension, etc and thus cause a
great loss to their health in personal life and
leads to loss of efficiency, cleavage in
relationships, etc in professional life.
xii

Corporate VOICE offers seminars and courses to help them learn :

• To bring balance between personal and professional life.

• How to achieve peace of mind to focus on their duties properly.
• Unique techniques to eliminate stress and negativity.
• Simple tips to resolve inner conflicts and improve physical and mental health.
• Changing attitude and outlook to life for converting distress to eustress.
• Meditation techniques to go beyond depression and avoid hypertension
• Developing calm, clear and creative thinking.
• Secret of Happiness and improving performance.

We have three types of programs to cater to the needs of corporate people :

1. Corporate Family Programs (CFP) - Age group : after marriage

2. Corporate Youth Programs (CYP) - Age group 22 to 30 years
3. Company Seminars and Workshops (CSW) - organized by the company

1. CFP (Corporate Family Program) – These weekly programs are conducted in the
following areas: Range hills ( Atharva ), Prabhat Road, Wanowrie, Wanowrie
(Sacred Heart Town ), Camp, Kalyani Nagar, Koregaon Park, Wakad, Lullanagar,
Salisbury Park, Kothrud, Aundh, Magarpatta city, Viman Nagar, Pashan
2. CYP (Corporate Youth Program) – These programs are intended for unmarried
corporate youths. Over 20 such programs are held in the weekends, mostly at the
temple.
3. YOGA (Youth Of Gods Abode) are Corporate VOICE youth hostels where working
youths live together in software park areas and practice Krishna consciousness.
Contact Gopal Champu prabhu (9325 070111) for more details.
4. Company Seminars and Workshops – Seminars such as ‘Stress Management’
‘Time Management’ involving presentations and activities lasting for about three
hours are held in various companies in and around Pune. We have already conducted
programs in Finolex (170 delegates), Tech Mahindra (Formerly know as MBT for 140
delegates), Concentric (top 12 managers attended), Hotel Sagar Plaza (40 delegates)
and Zensar (20 delegates).
 xiii

‘Bring out the LEADER in you’ Seminars on Leadership For Corporates –

Overview

VOICE offers seminars on topics given below. The pocket books on all these topics is in
pipe line and likely to be completed before the end of this year.

Seminars :
1. Stress Management
2. Time Management
3. Art of Self Management
4. Power of Habits
5. Secret of Concentration
6. Mind your Mind
7. Positive mental attitude
8. Team playing and winning trust of others
9. Overcoming Inferiority complex
10. Constructive criticism – How to give it or take it?
11. Fate and Free will
12. Karma – the Law of Infallible justice
13. Key to Real Happiness
14. Conflict Resolution
15. Eight Qualities of an Effective Leader
16. Managing our Anger
17. Self Development (flowing of consciousness)
18. Personality development and Character buildup
19. Proactive Leadership
20. Art of Living and Leaving

# All the seminars are designed for a duration of approx 3 hrs session, making it
concise & convenient for corporates to squeeze in their working hours or to make it after
office hrs also.

## These modules also offer great flexibility & could be “tailor-made” to suit an
organization’s particular needs.

For more details you may contact our Executive Vice Chairman,
Mr.Anant (mobile: 9881401814).
xiv

VOICE Publications

Youth VOICE Publications - Spirituality for the Modern Youth

This series explains systematically and scientifically how spiritual life is for the truly
intelligent - those who want the best in life. An eye opener for those who think that
spirituality is the resort of sentimentalists, escapists and oldies.

Discover Your Self: Make the one discovery that can fill your life with
happiness forever: Who am I?
57 pictures, soft bound, 192 pages.
(For preachers who want to use Discover Your Self as a course book for
youth, we also have l84 attractive color slides - both hard & soft copies
l Audio tapes for all sessions)

Your Best Friend: Can you understand and develop a relation with the
one Supreme Truth that stands eternally beyond all barriers of caste,
creed, color, nationality and religion? Your Best Friend is the key to a
scientific understanding of God. 62 pictures, soft bound, 336 pages

Your Secret Journey: Modern scientists, humbled in their attempts to

create a humanoid robot, are wondering how a human being is different
from a robot. Is there a spiritual paradigm to explain the mystery of life?
Scientific proof of past life memories shows that we survive after death.
In fact, we go through a journey from one body to another until we attain
perfection. Your Secret Journey explains the secret of action that can free
us from all problems. 86 pictures, soft bound, 322 pages

Victory Over Death: Everyone has to face death one day. Although you
cannot avoid death, you can conquer it. Victory Over Death explains how
to cultivate life so that you can die triumphantly.
97 pictures, Soft bound, 394 pages

Yoga of Love: The highest form of yoga is simultaneously simple,

sublime and safe. Moreover it is full of love and joy. Empower yourself
with the Yoga of Love (Coming soon)Pocket Books.
 xv

Pocket Books:

Stress Management: Stress is neither a germ nor a bacteria to be treated

by antibiotics. It is your outlook to life, a problem of the mind that needs
a holistic solution at the level of body, mind, intellect and soul. Read this
book for practical tips to tackle the stress problem.

Art of Harnessing Mind Power: What is the mind? How does it operate?
Can I use it to my advantage to do positive things in life? Find out in the
Art of Mind Control. 19 pictures, 48 pages
Audio tape and color slides (hard and soft copies) also available

Practical Tips to Mind Control: What should you do when the whole
world appears to have come to an end - everyone appears an enemy,
providence appears cruel, future appears bleak and life appears not worth
living? Open the doors to a new life full of joy by applying the Practical
Tips to Mind Control.
10 pictures, 88 pages

Can I Live Forever?: A concise pocket book that gives scientific

understanding of life and death. It also explains an easy and effective way
to end all suffering and attain eternal happy life. Read and empower
yourself to control your present and determine your future. 12 pictures,
54 pages

Misdirected Love: One out of every three love marriages in the West
ends in divorce within three years of marriage. Why? Love - What
exactly it is? Love is an emotion that promises to bring the highest
happiness but often brings the greatest pain. Read Misdirected Love and
find new direction to your love and life.
9 pictures, 48 pages
Audiotape and color slides (hard and soft copies) also available.

Other Books
Horizon: A compilation of selected Spiritual Scientist articles. Contains
scientific findings about spirituality & health, systematic answers to the
fundamental questions of life and spiritual solutions to contemporary
problems. 100 pages, soft bound
xvi

The Spiritual Scientist - Selected Newspaper Articles:

Refresh yourself by browsing these brief power-packed articles
published in
• Times of India, The Speaking Tree
• Maharashtra Herald, The Soul Curry
• Deccan Chronicle, Festival Message
The memorable examples, the soothing language, the eloquent words,
the convincing logic, all add spice to the refresher.

Essence of Bhagavad-gita: A condensed version of the Spirituality for

the Modern Youth series. Now the same book is going to appear in a easy-
to-handle course book format in 5 Courses with the following
titles :

1. Spiritual Scientist (Discover your self)

2. Positive Thinker (Spirit of Bhagavad gita)
3. Self Manager (Basics of Bhagavad gita)
4. Proactive Leader (Secret of Bhagavad gita)
5. Personality development (Essence of Bhagavad gita)

Bhagavad-gita 7-Day Course: Brief point-wise notes for conducting 7 day course on the
Bhagavad-gita. Spiral bound, 100 pages

Youth Preaching Manual: A practical and detailed guidebook on how to present the
wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita to the youth. 13 color photos, spiral bound, 127 pages

Value Education: Vital values for teenagers and children explained lucidly through
Vedic stories, modern anecdotes and everyday examples.

Smiling Faces Crying Hearts: Concise Spiritual Scientist articles

exposing superficial modern civilization & glorifying timeless Vedic
wisdom.
 xvii

Children VOICE Books

These books were conceived to help children understand and appreciate the timeless
wisdom and culture of Vedas. You will find stories, songs, scripts for dramas and
puppet shows, art and craft activities that thrill the children. The books offer thought-
provoking quizzes that relate to their practical day-to-day life.

My first Krishna Book: The child's first introduction to Krishna. Read-

aloud rhymes and attractive pictures to color. 24 pictures, 22 pages

Getting to know Krishna: Children are naturally curious. Their little

minds want to explore the world around them. Who is God? Why do we
go to the temple? Nurture your child's interest and help him take his first
steps in discovering Krishna Consciousness. 124 pictures, 47 pages

More about Krishna: Lead the child into the amazing world of Krishna
's pastimes. Enjoyable activities and thought provoking discussions
enliven the children and help them to inculcate good values. 187 pictures,
85 pages

Devotees of Krishna: Packed with stories, dramas and poems, this book
will appeal to older children. Many basic concepts are made clear through
games, discussions and activities. 86 pictures, 76 pages

Wonderful Krishna: Exciting adventures of Krishna, the protector of

His devotees. Group projects and comprehension exercises suitable for
the growing child. Many fun filled activities add to their enjoyment.
82 pictures, 76 pages.

Krishna's Childhood Pastimes: Sweet and simple description of

Krishna's childhood pastimes. Plus exciting activity sheets important
Bhagavad-gita verses, prayers, Vaishnava songs and Vaishnava
etiquette.113 pictures, 190 pages
xviii

References

1. Bhagavad-gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam, Coming Back and other books by His Divine
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

2. Life – How did it get here? International Bible Students Association.

3. Forbidden Archeology, Michael Cremo & Richard L Thompson.

4. Origins – Higher Dimensions in Science, Bhaktivedanta Institute, ISKCON, Hare

Krishna Land, Juhu, Bombay.

5. Consciousness – The Missing Link, BBT.

6. The Scientific basis of Krishna Consciousness, H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara

Swami, Ph.D.

7. Darwin’s Secret Identity, David Webb.

8. The Spiritual Scientist, No. 2 Vol. 3, article from Scientific Evidences for the
Existence of the Soul by Benitto F Reyes.

9. The Reincarnation Controversy by Steven Rosen.

10. Twenty cases suggestive of Reincarnation by Dr. Ian Stevenson.

11. Vedic Paradigm by Danavir Swami, Rupanuga Vedic College.

12. A Homestudy in Krishna Consciousness by Rohininandan das.

13. Back To Godhead magazine articles.

14. Song of God by Vishakha devi dasi