Four Opposite Conditions And How They Apply To God

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.14)

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सर्वतः पाणि-पादं तत्
सर्वतो ऽक्षि-शिरो-मुखम्
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल् लोके
सर्वम् आवृत्य तिष्ठति

sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tat
sarvato ‘kṣi-śiro-mukham
sarvataḥ śrutimal loke
sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Better than internet videos running the entire day, though educational they might be. Superior to racing toy cars back and forth across the living room floor. Avoiding the sugar rush and the subsequent crash and also the fixation on tiny screens with video games.

The new parent wants their child to learn to some degree. Put some books in their hands. As toddlers are known to tear things apart and even attempt to eat them, find the small picture books that are something like blocks. This way they can’t be torn apart and there is a chance they will be read.

One of the books you purchased is titled “Big and Little.” The book features animals drawn as cute cartoon characters. Each set of pages features an animal exhibiting one end of a particular duality. The corresponding page has a different animal showing the opposite condition.

Though intended for children, this serves as a great introduction into the science of self-realization. Spiritual life for the intelligent, going beyond basic faith and fear of eternal damnation, use the intelligence gifted from above to understand the most important concept.

1. Up and down

The bird is up on the tree. It sits there beside its nest. That is the preferred home. No GPS device is needed for returning after flying away. Somehow the bird just knows. The panda bear is down on the ground. Both conditions are relative. The bird is up in comparison to the panda. The bear is down with respect to the bird’s vision.

The Supreme Lord is available in both juxtapositions. He is above me in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha. There He enjoys in the four-handed form of Narayana. There are dear associates close by. That realm never succumbs to the devastation brought on by time. It is considered both imperishable and unmanifest, avyakta.

Bhagavan Vishnu is also below. He can be found in any realm where the conditioned living entity, the jiva, travels. This is because Supersoul is always with the individual. This is a plenary expansion of the same Vishnu who eternally resides in Vaikuntha.

2. Small and large

The cat is small. It can be picked up by human beings. It is a pet in the home. No risk of severe damage, as the cat likely cannot cause large objects to fall. The elephant, on the other hand, is large. It would destroy an entire garden just by walking. It does not require intent to be a risk to others.

The Supreme Lord is small in the incarnation of Vamanadeva. He takes the form of a dwarf to beg from the charitably disposed king named Bali. The promise is to get as much as three steps will cover.

Vamanadeva then surprises everyone by expanding to the largest size. The first step is from heaven to earth. The next covers the netherworld. There is one step remaining and it gets placed on Bali’s head. This is both symbolic and literal in significance. The devotee Bali is fully surrendered at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From this pastime Vishnu earns the name Trivikrama.

3. Inside and outside

The dog plays inside of the house. It runs from room to room, eagerly anticipating the return of the master of the house. The zebra lives outside. It is a jungle animal. Different physical appearances and habitats.

Lord Vishnu can be found inside of the temple. This is the established house of worship. The object receiving prayers, offerings, kind words, praises and the like is the archa-vigraha. This is the deity. Vishnu is kind enough to appear in this merciful incarnation.

He is also outside of the temple. In fact, at any place I can find Vishnu. One of His features is antaryami. This means “the all-pervading witness.” The advanced devotee sees God everywhere and inside of every person. God could never be limited to a single space, a single area, a single religion, a single name, or a single revered sacred text.

4. Dry and wet

The children’s book says that the giraffe on the grass is dry. Meanwhile, the alligator in the water is wet. Two different conditions which the human being can experience on a daily basis. One second I am wet from the pouring rain outside. The next moment I am dry, escaping into the comfort of a heated building.

The Supreme Lord can tolerate dryness to such a degree that a blazing fire enters His mouth without issue. This was one of the pastimes in Vrindavana for Shri Krishna, who is the same as Vishnu. The fire threatened to kill Krishna’s friends and there seemed to be no escape mechanism. Krishna swallowed the blaze to avert the crisis.

One of Vishnu’s avataras is known as Matsya. This is a fish, which shows that Bhagavan can be considered wet at the same time. Worshiping such avataras is as good as connecting with Vishnu directly.

In Closing:

From children’s book to read,
Spiritual knowledge to feed.

Though tiny pages in adult hand,
Range of perception to understand.

That God both inside and out,
Wet in water and moisture without.

Inside of the temple residing,
And in every sphere presiding.

Five Examples Of Lack Of Satya-Sankalpa

“It is said, ‘Man proposes, God disposes.’ Thus a person may desire many things, but unless these desires are fulfilled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they cannot be fulfilled. Fulfillment of desire is called satya-sankalpa.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 8.16.22 Purport)

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It is yet another way to describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is beyond the limits of the imagination. He is not bound by dualities. He is both up and down. He is high and low, simultaneously.

One of the limitations for the mere mortals is the lack of fulfillment of every desire. I can think of something. I can contemplate, but the future manifestation is not guaranteed.

1. Hoarding napkins

“It’s part of the daily routine. Visit a certain restaurant for lunch. Order takeout. The cashier always stuffs the bag with napkins. Way more than I need for a given meal. Therefore, why not stack up in a corner of the office? You never know when the napkins will be required. One day I will have so many that others will be envious.

“At a future date, someone sure did take notice. They walked into my office when I wasn’t around. They took all of the napkins I had saved. Later on, they half-heartedly apologized, giving the excuse that they needed to clean up a spill in their office. There goes all of my work.”

2. Stock investments

“When I started learning about investing, the general consensus was that stocks outperform bonds in the long-term. Something like a ten percent average rate of return over a thirty-year period. I was sold on the recommendation. I started putting money away from every paycheck into the retirement account. I had it all calculated; early retirement.

“Today, things look different. The consensus is now that stocks return about seven percent a year in the long-term. What happened? Why the decline? I certainly do not have enough to retire. I understand that others have it worse, but there was a plan in place. Now I have to alter my strategy moving forward.”

3. Planning for a son

“The wife is pregnant. We were so excited when we first heard the news. For some reason, we both assumed it was going to be a boy. I had everything planned out, from the furniture in the baby room to the clothes that he was going to wear. I looked forward to years of playing sports and teaching lessons on how to deal with women, as if anyone can ever figure that out!

“Well, we went to the doctor today. As you might guess, we’re not having a boy. My wife is pretty excited. I honestly don’t mind in the long run, but the news just went against my expectations. Shows how little control you have over such things.”

4. Counting on the train schedule

“This happens to me often enough that I should expect it by now, but it still bothers me. I leave home at exactly the same time each morning. I have an easy walk to the train station. No obstructions. No delays. A straight path.

“But there are the days when I reach the stairs to see the train pulling out of the station. It’s not that big a deal. Another one usually arrives within five minutes. Still, I had everything planned. If I reach the office at an intended time, I can leave for home that much earlier. I wish the trains were a little more consistent.”

5. Visit to the pizza restaurant

“I waited all week for this. I followed a healthy diet. I controlled my appetite. Now that it is the weekend, I am ready for my trip to the pizza restaurant. Nothing beats sitting at a table, reading a book and being served a fresh pie.

“I don’t devour the whole thing, mind you. Granted, I probably could, but I would regret it later on. No, I usually finish about half. Anyway, this past weekend the pizza was terrible. They overcooked it and the dough was too thick. My expectations were not met. I was not happy.”

…

Indeed, there are too many desires in a given day to count. The mind is always on, so to speak. The living entity can never be God for the mere fact that their desires sometimes are not fulfilled. I do not have full control over outcomes.

The Supreme Lord, however, is known as satya-sankalpa. Whatever idea pops up becomes fulfilled. The determination is always true. He is so kind that He extends this feature to His devotees. Those who always want to serve Him through activities such as chanting the holy names have their desires made true: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

The desires made immediately true,
Satya-sankalpa Krishna from who.

So that promise of devotion made,
And to that standard obeyed.

Where the holy names repeating,
And influence of maya defeating.

In any other area frustration,
So glad with Lord a relation.

Is Chanting Different Mantras Considered To Be Tapasya

“In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

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कृष्ण-वर्णं त्विषाकृष्णं
साङ्गोपाङ्गास्त्र-पार्षदम्
यज्ञैः सङ्कीर्तन-प्रायैर्
यजन्ति हि सु-मेधसः

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

Friend1: Let’s talk about tapasya.

Friend2: Austerity and penance.

Friend1: It is particularly important in the Vedic tradition.

Friend2: You could say that the emphasis begins from the very time of birth.

Friend1: Would that be considered cruelty to children, though?

Friend2: Not that you make them engage in austerity, but you automatically create conditions where sense attachment is not artificially inflated. The idea is that kids are not very smart. It makes sense, as they are so young. You could put them in an empty room with a few boxes and they would find a way to be happy.

Friend1: Instead of the practice of buying so many toys for them.

Friend2: Where they play with one for a few minutes and then forget about it.

Friend1: I’ve heard it said that the human life is meant for tapasya.

Friend2: Think about it. There is no analogous concept in the animal community. That is because tapasya has to be voluntarily imposed. Otherwise, it is something like torture from an aggressor.

Friend1: We are living with less on purpose. There is a higher goal to reach.

Friend2: And people already follow tapasya without acknowledging it as such. Restrictions on diet to improve health. Hours of dedicated practice on the guitar to learn how to play like the rock stars. Running for miles a day in order to compete in that marathon.

Friend1: That’s true. Here’s something I was pondering the other day. Would you consider chanting mantras to be a form of tapasya?

Friend2: What kinds of mantras?

Friend1: Let’s take ones dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu. You could be chanting, “Om namo narayanaya.” Is that tapasya?

Friend2: Are you viewing it as such?

Friend1: What if someone does view that as austerity and penance?

Friend2: I would say that is not good. This is not some type of punishment, used to atone for sinful behavior. There are mantras for that, I’m sure. There are remedial measures. But Vishnu-mantras are not to be used for that purpose.

Friend1: Why not?

Friend2: It is considered an offense to the chanting of the holy name. The name of Vishnu, the personal God, is everything. It is not material in any way. It is not used for furthering any type of purpose for the present existence related to the body. Do you understand why?

Friend1: Hmm, maybe. You could probably better explain.

Friend2: Because Vishnu is synonymous with bhakti. Saying Vishnu’s name is for the purpose of devotion, which is actually akama, or desire-less. It is difficult for someone to understand this pure devotion without actually practicing. The theoretical explanation is not enough; it is something you have to see for yourself.

Friend1: Alright, but if chanting those mantras is not tapasya, then what is it?

Friend2: Yajna. It is a sacrifice, which is a kind of dedicated practice in worship. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagates the sankirtana-yajna. This is the sacrifice of chanting the holy names.

Friend1: Distinguished from other kinds of sacrifice, where you sit in front of a fire, make offerings, and the like.

Friend2: Exactly. Conduct a yajna every single day. Chant the holy names. You should know that bhakti as a devi, as a goddess, has two sons: jnana and vairagya. Knowledge and renunciation are automatically incorporated in devotion. You do not have to strive separately for them. Tapasya will take care of itself if you try to connect directly with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In Closing:

From sinful life to atone,
Repeating mantra of serious tone.

Practice of tapasya the name,
With Vishnu mantras the same?

Offense for such comparison to make,
Since holy name for bhakti’s sake.

A yajna but one easy to repeat,
Whether standing or in meditation’s seat.

What Is Satya-Sankalpa

“It is said, ‘Man proposes, God disposes.’ Thus a person may desire many things, but unless these desires are fulfilled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they cannot be fulfilled. Fulfillment of desire is called satya-sankalpa.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 8.16.22 Purport)

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Friend1: I heard an interesting term the other day.

Friend2: What is that?

Friend1: It’s in the Sanskrit language. I am familiar with many of the terms, but I hadn’t heard this one before. Satya-sankalpa.

Friend2: That is interesting. Satya is truthfulness. That which is real. Sankalpa has several meanings.  Determination. Desire.

Friend1: Yes and you put them together to get the concept of fulfilling desires immediately.

Friend2: Explain further.

Friend1: Say that I want to build a house. A large property. Three floors, with the basement as the modern day man-cave. A backyard sufficient for the children to play on a daily basis.

Friend2: That sounds like a nice plan.

Friend1: Well, that’s exactly what it is. Only a plan in the beginning. I have to put in some work for the dream to materialize.

Friend2: Surely a lot of work. Find the right property. Hire an expert architect. Builders who can do the job on time and within budget.

Friend1: The entire thing could take years.

Friend2: For sure.

Friend1: Well, with satya-sankalpa everything would materialize as soon as I think of it.

Friend2: Oh.

Friend1: It is said that expert yogis can acquire this ability.

Friend2: The prapti-siddhi of yoga. I am sitting in front of you. You ask to see an apple. I produce one out of thin air. This isn’t a magic trick. It’s not an optical illusion. A real apple.

Friend1: I heard the satya-sankalpa term in the context of the difference between God and ourselves. We are supposed to be vikalpa. There is a difference between mind and identity.

Friend2: Mind is a material element.

Friend1: A subtle one, and we are spirit. That is why I cannot have a huge house just by thinking of it. The mind is separate from my existence.

Friend2: Yes, and with God it is different.

Friend1: There is mind, but it is part of His identity. The idea is that the mind of the Supersoul is the same as the Supersoul itself.

Friend2: And satya-sankalpa is proof of that.

Friend1: Okay, but where does the prapti-siddhi of yoga fit into this?

Friend2: That is a good question. We discussed how a yogi can acquire this ability. This implies work and also two different states.

Friend1: What do you mean?

Friend2: Before and after. At one time the yogi is without the ability. Then they put in some work and acquire it. Before they were vikalpa and afterwards they are sankalpa.

Friend1: I see.

Friend2: And even that is not perfect. The yogi cannot always get everything they want. Anyway, God is never devoid of this ability. He is always satya-sankalpa. Do you see the difference now?

Friend1: Yes, but I can understand why someone would chase after this ability. I can also foresee others considering that person to be God Himself.

Friend2: For sure. That is the concept of cheaters and the cheated. If you apply a little brainpower you would ask the supposed divine personality to explain why they weren’t divine to begin with.

Friend1: If you are God today, why weren’t you God yesterday?

Friend2: Exactly. The knowledgeable person is not cheated. They worship the true satya-sankalpa. They know that the Supreme Lord can immediately grant whatever is desired, and so the opportunity to chant the holy names will persist: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

As satya-sankalpa known,
By immediate fulfillment shown.

That with greatest power is He,
Produced now, not illusion to see.

Whereas to others sometimes denied,
Vikalpa no matter how much tried.

So better with Shri Krishna staying,
And not with foolhardy playing.

Four Effects Of Associating With The Tulasi Plant

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraj [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.” (The Nectar Of Devotion quoting the Skanda Purana)

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1. Freed of distresses and diseases

It is a familiar sight in the home of a Vaishnava. Someone who worships the personal God, the one who can be seen. The formless is based on the form, after all. The individual is the anchor, the frame of reference. He is a person, and He extends throughout the entire universe in the avyakta-murtina, which can be translated as “impersonal form.”

The individual speaks. He gives recommendations. He provides a location for His fixed residence. He reveals ways that He can be pleased, though He begins with a neutral disposition towards everyone. This means that no one automatically incurs the wrath of God.

समो ऽहं सर्व-भूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्यो ऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्य् अहम्

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

See or touch a special tree. Known as tulasi, it is actually a devi, which is a goddess. She is dear to Vishnu, and so she is dear to those who worship Vishnu. A person may be fully engaged with the illusory energy known as maya. They may forget God for ninety-nine percent of the day.

Yet just by seeing tulasi, which they keep in their home, there is relief from distresses and disease. Notice the tree for a moment and remember just how dear the devotees are to Vishnu. Touch the tree and release the amazing benefits of association with those connected to the Divine.

2. Freed from the fear of being sent to Yamaraja’s court

Something like the grim reaper or presiding officer at judgment day, Yamaraja is the god of justice. His position is described in Vedic literature. Ironically, he is also known as Dharmaraja. Follow the ways of ideal life and there is no worry.

But slip up to a certain extent and there is guaranteed punishment. Just exactly how severe will be determined in the court. This is only fair. If I have done something wrong to someone else, I may be able to slip past the watchful eye of the government. They are flawed to an extent. Sometimes the guilty get away with crimes.

Yamaraja ensures that the proper rewards and punishments arrive in due course. The spirit soul lives on. There will be a next life. The deeds from this experience influence the type of existence moving forward.

By offering water to the tulasi plant, a person can rest assured that Yamaraja will not bother them. There will be no judgment day since the devotional act carries the protection of Vishnu.

The story to illustrate this concept is Ajamila. He accidentally called the name of Vishnu at the moment of death. The attendants of Yamaraja were ready to carry him away, but they were intercepted by the Vishnuduttas. They came to the scene since they heard the devotional plea, even if it wasn’t intentional.

3. Becomes a devotee of Krishna

There is something superior to escaping punishment from Yamaraja. When I am healthy again, freed from disease and fear, I still need something to do. There has to be an engagement, and it must not carry any risk of future punishment.

This highest engagement is Krishna-consciousness. Worship of the personal God, Vishnu, in His all-attractive form of Shri Krishna. There are many ways to become a devotee, and one of the easiest is to sow a tulasi plant. Set one up in a specific location and give the chance for so many to benefit.

4. Full development of love of Godhead

This is the highest achievement of an existence. Once there is full love for God, there is no concern over life and death, heaven and hell, rich or poor, or healthy or sick. This is because the devotee knows that wherever they are, the Supreme Lord is with them. There is always the chance to at least chant the holy names and connect: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Through offering tulasi leaves at the lotus feet of Shri Krishna this love can easily develop. In these ways and more that sacred plant is so beneficial. Bhagavan has made devotional life very simple and straightforward. It is available to every person to take up.

In Closing:

If through bad habits straying,
Fixed through simply praying.

If from dharma’s standards to depart,
Devotional life easy to start.

A tulasi plant just sow,
Nourishment allowing to grow.

So that to Vishnu and devotees connected,
From Yamaraja’s attendants protected.

Holi 2020

“Since it was almost night, and all the inhabitants of Vrindavana, including the cows and calves, were very tired, they decided to take their rest on the river bank. In the middle of the night, while they were taking rest, there was suddenly a great forest fire, and it quickly appeared that the fire would soon devour all the inhabitants of Vrindavana. As soon as they felt the warmth of the fire, they immediately took shelter of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He was playing just like their child.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 17)

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Despite what the perception may be of the influence of the material elements, the spirit soul is always above. It belongs to a different energy. It is the superior one emanating from the source of all energies, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो
मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां
बुधा भाव-समन्विताः

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.8)

Because of illusion, I think otherwise. When the body gets destroyed, I lament. The tragic accident affecting those people I know. The sudden loss of a loved one or family member. The inevitable nature of death, how a countdown clock is lurking in the background. Who wouldn’t be saddened at realizing such a state of affairs?

The self-realized soul is not bewildered. They are dhira because they understand the distinction between body and spirit. The body is always changing. At every moment, but especially noted at the two significant events of birth and death. These are actually acceptance and dismissal.

देहिनो ऽस्मिन् यथा देहे
कौमारं यौवनं जरा
तथा देहान्तर-प्राप्तिर्
धीरस् तत्र न मुह्यति

dehino ‘smin yathā dehe
kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir
dhīras tatra na muhyati

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

To help us understand the difference, the Supreme Lord sometimes puts on amazing displays. These events seem to defy the laws of nature, but if we actually understand the source of the energies, we wouldn’t be so amazed.

One example is the forest fire in the town of Vrindavana. This is a documented moment from Krishna’s lila. These are the pastimes of God in the transcendental visual of Shri Krishna, the all-attractive youth who enchants everyone He meets in that place full of devotees.

The fire appears suddenly. Moments prior, everyone is taking rest, after surviving a harrowing incident involving a poisonous serpent in the Yamuna River. They are not prepared and they have no time to devise an escape plan. Their only recourse is to take shelter of Krishna, who is with them.

The remedy is straightforward. Krishna devours the forest fire. Not a magic act that is based on illusion. Not a trick of the eyes based on hallucination. The actual material element of fire enters Krishna’s mouth, and there are no negative consequences.

Krishna can do this because God retains full potency in every situation. In whatever visual He displays, He has full control over His energies. He can lift a mountain with His pinky finger. He can rescue a planet submerged in an ocean and raise it to safety. He can battle a fierce whirlwind. He can change the nature of any material element.

On the occasion of Holi, we celebrate the extension of this amazing ability to the dedicated servants. The boy named Prahlada once survived a bout with intense heat. He was brought into a raging fire by an elder, who is normally supposed to be a guardian. Sadly, this time the elder was acting at the direction of the king, Hiranyakashipu.

Prahlada happened to be Hiranyakashipu’s son. It was the aunt taking Prahlada into the fire, but through meditation on Krishna there was no harm. Hiranyakashipu’s sister is the one who perished, and she left behind colored ashes. These are the colors happily thrown about on the annual occasion celebrating the incident.

This is not to say that from devotional service a person will automatically be able to transcend any element of nature, but the incident supports the truth that a person’s devotional life will always be protected. Krishna makes sure of it, so that many more Holi celebrations can take place in the future, either in this lifetime or the next.

In Closing:

Many more celebrations to take place,
Time never devotional efforts to erase.

Proven by forest fire to devour,
Krishna always with this power.

By devotees also earned,
Where Prahlada not burned.

But Holika the one to perish,
The timeless incident to cherish.

Gaura Purnima 2020

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 19.151)

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ब्रह्माण्ड भ्रमिते कोन भाग्यवान् जीव
गुरु-कृष्ण-प्रसादे पाय भक्ति-लता-बीज

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

If you have heard the maha-mantra you are very fortunate. You fall into the category of “bhagyavan jiva”, as expressed in a wonderful Bengali verse by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatara appearing specifically to rescue the souls lost in this dark age of quarrel and hypocrisy, Kali-yuga. The occasion of Gaura Purnima falls on the day of the year of His appearance, based on the lunar calendar .

The seed of the creeper of devotion, bhakti, arrives through the via medium of the spiritual master. Such contact is not a chance occurrence. A person must be very fortunate; they have to be favored by the Almighty, who is known as Bhagavan since He possesses every fortune simultaneously and to the fullest extent.  He is also known as Krishna since He is all-attractive.

In the form of the human body I can find myself in a variety of situations. We notice the vast difference between taking birth in a poor country versus living in a place full of modern amenities, where there is no shortage of food or clothing.

I could be surrounded by sense gratifiers; people who are only interested in the animal activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Increasing the degree of indulgence in each area, but never finding true happiness. Considering this life to be everything; not preparing for the next. Having no idea of the distinction between body and spirit; overjoyed at acceptance and deeply saddened at separation.

On the other side, I could know the differences. Confirming my suspicions aroused through many years of experience, I learn that simply engaging the senses will never make a person happy. Not that dry renunciation will help much, either.

I must have a higher goal. I must work towards the satisfaction of the master of all senses, Hrishikesha. He is all-attractive, so the effort to please Him is not devoid of fun and excitement. The bliss only increases, with the reservoir impossible to fill, as confirmed by Maharishi Valmiki in his conversation with Shri Rama wonderfully presented in the work of Goswami Tulsidas known as the Ramacharitamanasa.

If I know the futility of material life and how serving God is everything, I have been blessed by higher powers. The spiritual master has reached my world to influence me. Another person may not be so lucky. They may not be favored, in spite of being blessed with the same auspicious human form.

Because of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, so many more people have become fortunate. Rather than wait for the possible meeting, the Supreme Lord increases the chances of it happening. He does not remain satisfied with creating a system of parampara and supporting it with sacred texts like Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam.

He arrives in this manifest world as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to display how to live the principles of those important works composed in the Sanskrit language. He distributes the mercy of the Divine to every person, irrespective of their pedigree determined by birth. He does not discriminate between man or woman, as every person is an individual soul eternally tied to the Supreme Lord.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu creates auspicious circumstances through the sankirtana movement, which is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Chaitanya earns the honor of being the most munificent avatara of the Almighty, and on Gaura Purnima we take special time to remember and serve Him.

In Closing:

So fortunate is He,
Chaitanya’s form to see.

Because then easily to understand,
That identity not from leg or hand.

That spiritual life with purpose meant,
From village to village Gaura went.

So that every person getting the chance,
Their fortunes greatly to enhance.