Shreemad Bhagavatam, Canto 4, Chapter 22, Text 24.

A candidate for spiritual advancement must be non-violent, must follow in the footsteps of great...

I understand that you are recording the whole purport.

I am saying are you going to record the purport?

Of course, we always record the purport, it's a standard thing.

In Prabhupada's purport the essence is the finest nectar, the sweetest nectar.

Purport or translation, a candidate for spiritual advancement must be non-violent, must follow in the footsteps of great Acharyas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regular principles without material desire and while following the regular principles should not blaspheme others.

The devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the dualities or opposing elements.

What a great instruction for us struggling neophytes.

Purport, the devotees are actually saintly persons or sadhus.

The first qualification of a sadhu or devotee is ahimsa or non-violence.

Persons interested in the path of devotional service, going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahimsa, or non-violence.

A sadhu is described as tadiksha, tadiksha-vakarva-nakai, Bhagavatam 3.25.21.

A Devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate towards others.

For example, if he suffers personal energy he should tolerate it, but if someone else suffers injury, the devotee need not tolerate it.

The whole world is full of violence and the devotee's first business is to stop this violence, including the unnecessary slaughter of animals.

The devotee is a friend not only in human society, but of all living entities, for he sees all living entities as sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

He does not claim to be himself to be the only son of God and allow others to be killed, thinking they have no soul.

This kind of philosophy is never advocated by a pure devotee of the Lord.

A true devotee is a friend of all living entities.

Krishna claims in Bhagavad Gita to be the father of all species of living entities.

Consequently the devotee of Krishna is always a friend of all.

Such non-violence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great Acharyas.

Therefore, according to our Vaishnava philosophy, we have to follow the great Acharyas or the 4 Sampradayas or the Siddhic Successions.

Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the Siddhic succession is simply ludicrous.

As therefore said, Acharya Yavan Purusha Veda, 1 who follows the specific succession of Acharya is no saint as they are.

Tad bhagavan aratam sagarum eva bhagav chet.

In order to understand the transmittal signs 1 must approach the bona fide spiritual master.

In the words, smritya is very important in spiritual life.

Smrit Yaga means remembering Krishna always.

Life should be molded in such a way that 1 cannot remain alone without thinking of Krishna.

We should live in Krishna so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working remain only in Krishna.

Our Krishna conscious society recommends that we manage our living so that we can remember Krishna.

In our ISKCON society the devotees while engaged in making spiritual sky incense are also hearing about the glories of Krishna and his devotees.

That was a business we once had where we had book distribution.

All the time we used to get spiritual sky incense from Los Angeles and we would sell it to different stores here in Austin and make some money.

So it used to be the way to make money, spiritual sky incense, incense where we had books, book distribution.

The shastra recommends, smarta vyat tatam vishnu.

Lord Vishnu should be remembered always, constantly.

This remembrance of the Lord can be continued if we hear about him constantly.

It is therefore recommended in this verse, Bhu konda saratagra siddhanah.

To hear about Krishna, Vimshima, Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita are similar authentic literatures to live in Krishna consciousness.

Such concentration in Krishna consciousness can be achieved by persons who are strictly following the rules and regulated principles.

We have therefore recommended by Krishna Ganesha's movement that the devotee chant 16 rounds of these daily and follow the regulated principles.

That will help the devotee be fixed in his spiritual advancement in life.

It is also stated in this verse that 1 can advance by controlling the senses, yamai, by controlling the senses 1 can become a swami or a goswami.

1 who is therefore enjoying the super title swami or goswami must be very strict in controlling his senses.

Indeed, he must be the master of his senses.

This is possible only when 1 does not desire any material sense gratification.

If by chance the senses want to work independently, he must control them.

If We simply practice avoiding material sense gratification, controlling the senses is automatically achieved.

Another important point mentioned is connection is anindaya.

We should not criticize others' methods of religion.

There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature.

Those operating in the mode of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness.

In Bhagavad Gita everything has been divided into 3 qualitative divisions, therefore religious systems are similarly categorized.

When people are mostly in the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality.

A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they come to the platform of religion and goodness.

Simply by criticizing them, a devotee's mind will be agitated.

Thus the devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.

Another feature of The devotee is nirihayah, simple living.

The devotee should not be very gorgeously imitated materialistic person.

Plain living and I think he is recommended for a devotee.

He is accepted only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service.

He need not eat or sleep more than is required.

Sleeping, simply eating for living and not living for eating.

And sleeping only 6 to 7 hours a day are principles to be followed by devotees.

As long as the body is there, it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence.

Sometimes we receive letters from nearby devotees questioning why they have fallen sick although pursuing Krishna consciousness.

They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant.

1 should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Krishna consciousness.

Krishna consciousness continues without impediment from any material opposition.

Lord Sri Krishna therefore advises in the Bhagavad Gita 2.14, tanah kutikshya sabadata.

My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances, be fixed in your Krishna conscious activities.

Vandeham sri guru sri jatapada tamalam, sri guru vaisnavam scah, sri rupam sagrajatam, Krishna Chaitanya Devam Svihaha Krishnapadam Sahagana Radhita Sivisakhandi Tamasca Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishnaprestaya Bhutale Simhate Bhakti Vaishnavam Svaha namaste sarasvate deve gauravani pacarane nivishe shishunyavadi paschikadesha tarvine namah om visnupadaya krsna prestaya bhutale shimah te bhakte ve danta smam ritinane Namaste Sarasvati Devi, Gauravani Pacharini, Nivishe Shushuni Arvati, Paschita Deshatarini.

A wonderful, wonderful prayer for Prabhupada to really let the mercy go in this 1.

And candidate for spiritual advancement must be non-violent.

Unless the animal dies a natural death, which they don't do, they are all murdered.

You can't buy any non-violent HMSA in the market.

All this meat in the market is all from violence.

So we practice vegetarianism, we don't eat meat.

Even non-violent meat Krishna doesn't accept it.

So we don't even, because we only eat what is offered to Krishna.

Therefore we don't even eat non-violent meat we don't take.

Because they want to eat meat, these meat eaters, let them eat the meat of animals that die naturally.

That will not be the horrible sin of killing the animal to get the flesh.

But to come a higher level, only take the Krishna's place, only the prasadam, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and grains.

You must follow the footsteps of great Acharyas.

Well, I may become self-realized, I'll do it my own way.

I will become self-realized, become a famous guru, but I will do it all my own way.

No, you cannot, you must follow in the path of previous Acharyas.

Prabhupada quoted different verses here in his purport from the Chan-Yoga Upanishad, Acharya van Purusha Veda, 1 must follow the specific succession of Acharyas to know things as they are.

In other words, if you try to do it on your own, you come up with a twisted understanding.

We have to take it as it is coming, as it is passed down to us from the previous Acharya.

As Prabhupada has gotten it from his spiritual master, he has gotten it from his spiritual master, who has gotten it from his spiritual master.

Back, back, back all the way to Krishna, the original spiritual master.

So don't try to invent your own process of self-realization.

You may become famous, so many famous so-called gurus who have so many followers and make so much money, but at the time of death where are they going?

They are not going back to God, their followers are not going back to God either.

So what is the use of being a famous guru with many followers and a lot of money if you are going to hell?

It's better to be a simple, humble, unknown person following the footsteps of the previous Acharyas and then you go back to the 9 of deaths, you go back to home, back to Godhead.

Prabhupada also puts in the Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.12, Tad bhagavan aratam sagarum eva bhagavate.

1 must approach the bona fide spiritual master to understand the transcendental science.

Why would 1 not want to approach a modified spiritual master?

So such a person is a slave of his own mind, his materialistic mind.

He is a puppy dog in the hands of his mental concoctions.

So we avoid such so-called gurus and we don't follow in their footsteps.

Rather we take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master coming in the specific succession.

Must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of God.

Something is very very, nectar means something very very nice, like we have nectarine, very very sweet wonderful fruit, nectarine.

So nectar means something very sweet and very wonderful, the finest essence.

There is sweetness, which is very nice, but nectar notches it up to a higher level than sweetness.

The sweetness and then higher than that is nectar.

So we want to remember the nectar pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

How I did to the Govardhana Hill, how we went to the forest, and in the day I heard the cowboys, heard the calves and later on the cows.

We want to remember these nectarian pastimes of Krishna.

In this way our heart becomes, we become happy, we become joyful.

Remember the nectar, you taste the nectar.

Remember the nectar of Krishna consciousness, Krishna's pastimes, the nectar of Krishna's teachings.

Actually his teachings are also his pastimes.

Giving Bhagavad Gita is also a pastime of Krishna.

It's not just a philosophy, it's a pastime.

Words spoken by Krishna to his disciple Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

You don't say, well, I am only into Leela, not into philosophy.

Philosophy is, just like here, the Srimad Bhagavatam, it's a Leela.

Sukadeva is enlightening for Ikshita, the 7 day Bhagavatam class.

So you can't say I am only into Leela, I am not into teachings.

The teachings are given, the teachings are given in the past time.

1 must follow the regulated principles without material desire.

Not that I want this, this, this and this, therefore I chant Hare Krishna because I want a new house, I want a new car, I want a wife, I want a husband, therefore I am chanting Hare Krishna, so I get a nice husband or a nice wife.

No, we don't chant Hare Krishna for any material purpose.

We chant Hare Krishna mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, to get the awakening of pure love of God within our hearts.

Come back to our original natural state of consciousness.

You see Krishna consciousness is not an artificial intuition of the mind.

It is an awakening of the original natural energy of the living being.

So it simply means you are getting back to being who you are.

Stop trying to be what you are not, which you have been trying to do for millions of lifetimes trying to be what you are not.

You can never be happy or satisfied trying to be what you are not.

So why go on trying to be what you are not when you can never be what you are not and you can never be happy trying to be what you are not.

So why continue to try to be a materialist trying to be your body, trying to be this or that, American or Indian or whatever, trying to be something in this material world, you can't ever be that thing because it's not you.

So instead of trying to, or foolishly trying to be what you're not, just take the natural easy process of getting back to being who you really are.

It is interesting how Baba makes the distinction.

On the 1 hand we do see the faults of the Christians, for example, and Thabla points out their faults here.

We do see their faults, but at the same time, we don't criticize them.

Then we say, it's very good you're worshipping Jesus, now learn how to do it perfectly.

We encourage them, it's very good you're worshipping Allah, now try to do it perfectly.

So we encourage them to continue what they are doing but now we encourage them to make your life successful, perfecting your Christianity or your Mohammedanism, Islam or your Buddhism or whatever you are doing, learn how to do it perfectly.

Krishna consciousness is the perfection of all religions.

Whether you call him Krishna or Allah or Jumova, it doesn't matter.

What matters is that you actually come to the point of pure love of God.

So you can do it as a Christian, that's great.

I know I've personally told many times that Jesus brought me to Krishna consciousness.

So for me it is very easy to see that there is no difference between Lord Jesus and the preachings of Lord Jesus and the teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

Because the teachings of Krishna, Jesus brought me to Bhagavad Gita.

They have a saying in America, keeping up with the Joneses.

If they have 2 cars, we need to have 2 cars, they have a swimming pool, you got to keep up with the Joneses, that was the old idea back in the 50s.

You have to keep up whoever the richest person in your neighborhood is, whatever he is sporting you need to sport it also, he has this you need to have it too.

Don't let them defeat you by having a better house or a better car.

They have a new car every year, you should get a new car every year also.

So we are not interested in this competing in the material world because someone says I have a big

have a big house, I have a lake and a boat dock and everything, I need to have it too.

What's the use of trying to accumulate things here unnecessarily?

We should simply accumulate whatever is necessary to serve Krishna.

Keep it simple, stupid, kiss, kiss me always.

And as far as all the difficulties we go through here, we shouldn't think, well, why am I getting sick or why do I have this problem with my arm if I'm Krishna conscious?

I'm chanting 16 rounds every day and I find that I have this pain in my arm.

I should be free from all material pains if I'm chanting Hare Krishna.

As long as we are in this material world there is going to be duality.

Happiness and distress, pain and pleasure are going to be there.

By Detaching ourselves from misidentification with this bag of bones and blood.

We have to learn how to detach ourselves from it.

As God said very nicely, 1 should not be happy or distressed over desirables and undesirables knowing that such feelings are just created by the mind.

We're being affected by these dualities because of our mental concoction, still thinking of the body.

To get free of the bodily conception is just something out there in the material energy that I am using in Krishna's service.

It is a tool I have been given and whatever may happen with it, Ultimately it will be destroyed.

Temporary tool that doesn't last forever.

So whatever condition it's in, it's alright.

How about that story, whatever Krishna does is alright?

Whatever Krishna does is alright, remember that story?

I told this story too, we won't tell it again, we don't want to be too repetitive here.

That's the proper mood, whoever Krishna arranges, that's his perfect mercy.

Whether I'm with sickness or health, poverty or wealth, fame or intimacy, whatever Krishna may arrange for me, that is the perfect arrangement to facilitate me, to help me awaken the love of God within my heart and to help me to be successful in propagating Krishna consciousness.

On the order of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, to whoever you meet, instruct them in the teachings of Krishna, in this manner you become guru, you live with the people of this country.

So we have an order to surrender to Krishna and an order to propagate Krishna consciousness.

So learn that everything is special mercy of Krishna, to facilitate you in awakening your Krishna consciousness and pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement.

That was just looking over the verse, now we can go back to the purport and go even deeper into it.

Devotees are actually saintly persons, probably because they are non-violent.

They have so-called saints who eat meat, for example.

It's like you have the Pope, You know you have popes, bishops in the Christian church, supposed to be great saintly persons and yet they are eating meat.

Somebody eating meat is not a saintly person.

Even if it's chicken, you're not eating cow but still a family person will eat meat, you won't eat flesh of animals.

So, I should be tolerant and compassionate towards others.

Even if somebody is being offensive towards me for example.

I should be very tolerant, thinking well I actually deserve worse, this I'm getting a milder, I'm getting, I actually deserve to be treated much worse than this, but I'm getting this minimization of what I actually deserve.

So 1 should not hold grudges if somebody mistreats me.

So I might say this is all my Krishna's agreement and actually I deserve much worse mistreatment because of all my past sinful activities and because I have taken to Krishna consciousness.

Krishna has given me a little token of what I actually deserve to help me remain sober.

So little sample that I actually deserve, like a little tiny taste of what I actually

Devotee is a friend of all living entities.

He sees everyone as his brother, whether it's a grasshopper or a fly or whatever it may be, a tree, a human being, he sees all living entities as his brothers.

We are all, Krishna is our father and we are all brothers and sisters here.

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SB 04.22.24 Follow in the path of previous acaryas 2023-07-04 Austin.mp3