Srimad Bhagavatam 11.10.17 | HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj | ISKCON Chennai | 4 April 2021
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Reading from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11 Chapter 10 Verse 17.
ŚB 11.10.17
tatrāpi karmaṇāṁ kartur
asvātantryaṁ ca lakṣyate
bhoktuś ca duḥkha-sukhayoḥ
ko nv artho vivaśaṁ bhajet
Synonyms
tatra — in the matter of one’s ability to obtain happiness; api — furthermore; karmaṇām — of fruitive activities; kartuḥ — of the performer; asvātantryam — the lack of independence; ca — also; lakṣyate — is clearly seen; bhoktuḥ — of the one who is trying to enjoy; ca — also; duḥkha-sukhayoḥ — happiness and unhappiness; kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; arthaḥ — value; vivaśam — for one who is not in control; bhajet — can be derived.
Translation
Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?
Purport
Although materialistic persons reject Kṛṣṇa consciousness and instead pursue temporary sense gratification, even that sense gratification is often beyond their reach. If a person could really control his destiny, why would he create problems for himself? No intelligent person would impose death, old age or disease upon himself or his loved ones. One should recognize that these unwanted miseries are forced upon one by a higher power. Since we are all obviously under superior control, the atheistic philosophy advising one to simply perform fruitive activities and create a happy life is most imperfect.
Due to the influence of time, happiness and misery are created. When a woman becomes pregnant, her husband, relatives and friends eagerly await the birth of the child. As time passes and the child is born, everyone feels great happiness. But as the child grows into old age and eventually dies, that same passage of time is a cause of suffering. Ignorant persons vainly seek help from scientists who work feverishly and fruitlessly in their laboratories to stop death. In modern times, inventions have been created to eliminate the inconveniences of life, but the maintenance and production of such conveniences has proven to be unbearably inconvenient for hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. Only the most foolish person will propose that there is no superior controller and that one can achieve favorable results by expert performance of material activities. Ultimately all material activities are useless because they end in annihilation. If one is driving a car but has only limited control, the situation is most dangerous and must lead inevitably to disaster. Similarly, although we are trying to direct the material body to happiness, we are not in full control of the bodily demands, and therefore there will inevitably be disaster. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.3):
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā
dharmasyāsya parantapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani
“Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world.” If one is not a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the eventual result of his activities is simply mṛtyu-saṁsāra — repeated birth and death.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: So this verse is describing the situation of a person in the material world. And the main subject here is that, that person is asvātantrya or not independent. He is not in control. And though he strives for happiness, he doesn’t necessarily get that happiness. So an intelligent person will then think, Well, if I strive and I’m not getting it, why should I act in this way? So in the Vedic system, then the advice is given, well, you should act in a certain way, then you will get more predictable results. If you follow the process of karma yoga, then you will get majority of happiness and minimum of distress. So the problems of birth and death and old age and sickness, etc, will be minimized. So, of course, we cannot completely eradicate birth and death. But we can lengthen the lifespan. So, of course, on this planet, we can may be live up to 100 or 105 or 110 years maximum. But if you follow the process of karma yoga and you go to swarga loka, then you can increase your lifespan by many hundreds of times. So, one yuga cycle is over 4 million years and you multiply that by 71. So that’s the general lifespan on swarga loka [Laughs]. And that type of lifespan is, we cannot even imagine, it is so long.
So, there are methods by which we can minimize the problems of material life. If we don’t follow karma yoga, we refuse to even participate in varnashrama, etc., then we’d simply have to struggle in the material world. Of course, to some degree, if we put effort, we can avoid some of the problems. But then, we cannot avoid the problems and then there are unpredictable problems that also appear. So, if we don’t follow that system of karma, then you can say the percentage of happiness is less. The reason is that, there is no recognition of the law of karma. So, according to the law of karma, the less you do the violence and the more you do the punyas, then the greater amount of happiness you get. So, the whole process of karma yoga is to avoid the sinful activity and increase the punya. And in this way, life after life, you can increase your material enjoyment. So, for some people, this is fine. But the intelligent person will say, well its all, still, happiness is relative, so I have go to swarga loka or Brahmaloka and enjoy. Still, I have to give up my body, so I have to suffer anyway.
So, we have our hundred years, the devatas have their hundred years, and Brahma has his hundred years, and anyway [Laughs], it’s [Laughs], it’s a similar type of situation [Laughs]. So, no one likes to die. So, then the intelligent person will then ask the question, So, how can we solve that problem? So, of course, in the modern world, they have science and whatever, and they try to prolong your life that way, but they haven’t succeeded very well. So, at maximum, may be 70 something years is the average lifespan [Laughs]. And may be 100 years ago, may be 50 years, I’m not sure [Laughs]. So, may be after 100 years, we get the lifespan up to 80 years or 90 years[Laughs]. But, there’s never any promise of eternal life with no death. However, that is the promise of the scriptures. Don’t strive to go to swarga loka or Brahma loka, strive for eternal life. The only problem is, to do that, we have to give up a lot of things [Laughs]. And nobody wants to give up those things [Laughs]. So, they’d rather stay in the material world, than give those things up and go somewhere else and have eternal life. So, that is why, even though the Vedic literature has been there since the beginning of the day of Brahma, still, most people don’t take advantage of it. Of course, lower species cannot take advantage, only the human species can take advantage of this. And of all the human beings, even those that accept the karma portion, the karma yoga and karma kanda are very few. And those who go beyond karma kanda to jnana or bhakti are much fewer. Nevertheless, that is the only solution to the problem of this material world.
So, as I mentioned previously, after this karma yoga, then the next stage is jnana. Because if you go to sattva guna, then jnana is the natural result of that. So, therefore, it is much more common than bhakti. So, it is part of the material world. And thus, we have plenty of scriptures and statements concerning jnana. And we have much fewer scriptures concerning bhakti. However, that doesn’t mean because it is rare, we should therefore just ignore it. It is certainly the ultimate solution. And if we can understand it, then we can accept it and then we can practice it. So, the only problem is to get that understanding of bhakti.
So, the first qualification is faith. If someone says there is a soul and there is a Supreme Lord, and we should develop prema, if we can accept that, then that is faith. And if we don’t accept the existence of atma or we don’t accept the existence of the Supreme Lord, then we cannot even begin the process of bhakti. So, to develop that faith is a qualification, but then that qualification of faith also is rare. It is not a natural result of progress in the gunas. Simply because you come to sattva guna doesn’t mean that you take to bhakti [Laughs]. Certain aspects of sattva guna are favorable for bhakti. But certain elements are also unfavorable. So, the favorable element, of course, is that we are not too attached to the material world. And we accept that there is an atma separate from the body. The unfavorable aspect is that we get too attached to the atma. And then we don’t go further to investigate about Supreme Lord. So, we get stuck in jnana and we strive for liberation, and then we end at that point. So, that’s the negative aspect of sattva.
So, the process of bhakti does not depend on evolving through the gunas. In fact, as I mentioned, bhakti is not in the gunas at all. So, it cannot arise in the gunas [Laughs]. So, how is it possible then for bhakti to arise at all in the material world? So, of course, it doesn’t arise in the material world. It actually comes from the spiritual world. And, of course, we will say, well, how can the Lord appear in the material world? But He appears in the material world from the spiritual world. And when the Lord appears in the spiritual world, He also brings all of His associates and His dhama. So, it is possible for the spiritual world to appear within the material world. And when it appears, then we say, well, it’s material, that’s illogical [Laughs].
So, like the Lord and like the dhama and like the associates, process of bhakti can also appear in the material world. The name of the Lord, Harinama can also appear in the material world from the spiritual world. So, therefore, it is not surprising that bhakti can manifest within the material world. We say that the name is non-different from the Lord. So, just as the Lord comes as avatar, so He comes as the name. And in the form of the name, then the process of bhakti becomes easier to attain. So, of course, it acts as sadhana to get prema. It is the means, it’s also the end. It is sadhana, it is sadhya. But how do we practice? We need the faith. So, the name can also manifest the faith. Of course, it is little indirect. We say don’t preach to the faithless people. So, how can a faithless person get faith if we don’t preach to him [Laughs]? So, to solve that problem, then, we have the process of, we can say, accidental bhakti [Laughs]. When we chant the holy name with faith, it’s not accidental, because we have faith, then we intentionally chant. So, how to chant without intention? So, therefore, it’s described that if people happen to chant the name of the Lord to mean something else, even that is beneficial for them, and through that they can gradually develop faith. So, by this accidental bhakti or ajnata sukrti, eventually that faith will develop. What this means is, by that accidental contact with bhakti or the holy name or devotees, the jiva begins to change.
The nature of the jivas in the material world is called bahirmukha. Which literally means to face outwards. This means that the jiva is interested in material enjoyment. Not interested in giving enjoyment to the Lord. So, by that accidental bhakti or ajnata sukrti, then gradually that bahirmukha tendency becomes less and less. And how does that happen? That accidental bhakti will make, influence the jiva to develop a little bit of interest in the Supreme Lord. So, as that interest in the Lord develops, then attachment to material things decreases. So, that change is very gradual. When that, the change reaches the point where consciously then the jiva thinks, well, may be I’ll accept the Supreme Lord, that is called faith. And then from that point, they begin to inquire, they get knowledge in scripture and then they can start the practice of bhakti. So, by spreading that ajnata sukrti to all sorts of people, we are planting the seeds of faith. And when that faith develops, then we can plant the seed of bhakti. So, because the holy name can be distributed everywhere and everyone can hear it, then the possibility of more people taking up, getting faith and taking up bhakti is more. And thus, bhakti is not so rare. And so, that is the strategy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in distributing the holy name. Okay. Hare Krishna.
Q & A :
1.) Maharaj, Hare Krishna. Maharaj, the people who are following karma yoga, they only progress to sattva or people who are in sattva guna, they only follow karma yoga?
Well, karma yoga means the whole varnashrama system. So, it starts with tamoguna, sudras [Laughs]. So, all gunas.
2.) Second question Maharaj, you said, we do, normally people do pious activities to go to swarga loka. Then what kind of people go to pitra loka? What they are doing actually?
That’s also considered to be a heavenly planet.
Devotee: So, that comes under swarga loka only?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, of course, it’s a pitra loka down there in the bottom [Laughs] with Yamaraja etc. But Yamaraja is also a devotee. So, he is also a devata. So, not necessarily up in that sphere, but.. I think Yamaraja also has an abode on top of Mount Meru [Laughs].
3.) What should be the right understanding when Dhruva overcame death?
Well, Dhruva is a devotee of the Lord. So, naturally he ends up in the spiritual world. So, therefore he surpasses material body completely.
4.) Maharaj, is it right understanding that pure devotees have potency to bring spiritual word into the material world? As Thakur Bhakti Vinoda sung that he saw spiritual world as he was doing arati.
Well, actually the name of the Lord is non-different from the Lord. So, therefore if you chant the holy name, spiritual world is here [Laughs]. It says Golokera Premadhana Harinama Sankirtana. So, Harinama comes from Goloka down here. So, when it comes down here, it brings Goloka with it [Laughs].
5.) In the kali yuga, more prominent is bhakti yoga as Maharaj said. Then why most of the scripture is saying about jnana yoga?
Of course, in the modern world, probably we can say even jnana is not that popular [Laughs]. At least the jnana that is mentioned in scripture where you study vedanta, not many people are studying vedanta as far as I can see [Laughs]. And just even not many people are following yoga in the pure sense. Of course, in the western world everybody is in yoga, but it is not that yoga that is [Laughs] defined by Patanjali. But they have some manifestation of sattva, so therefore they go in that direction.
6.) How does a prema bhakta perceive Krishna? Is he able to see, touch, talk to Krishna directly?
In prema, all of the senses are able to perceive Krishna. So, the ear, the eye, taste, touch, smell, etc, all, it’s related to Krishna.
7.) Maharaj, this is in the continuation to Dhruva question. We hear that the death personification put his head at the feet of the Dhruva as a formality for Dhruva to overcome death. Is it right?
You are saying that Yamaraj asked to overcome death? No.
Devotee: No, no, Yamaraj asked Dhruva, he put his head on the feet of Dhruva and asked Dhruva to overcome death.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Oh, well, I don’t know, Yamaraj asked but he stepped on the head of death, which means he simply overcame death.
8.) Sometimes we fall asleep during chanting even after sufficient sleep. How to overcome it?
Sleep at the proper hour, I suppose [Laughs]. Don’t eat too much at night [Laughs].
9.) We say Lord is expanding continuously, then every minute and second new spirit souls are generating. Then spirit soul is having starting point, right? But why we say spirit soul is beginningless?
New souls are not created, they simply manifest from Maha Vishnu. They are already there from previous universes [Laughs].
10.) Brahman is nirguna, jnani says. Astanga yogis concentrate on Paramatma. Why then process of jnana and yoga is within gunas?
The process is within the gunas. That is all the practices they do like austerities, control of the senses, etc. are part of sattva guna. The liberation they achieve is beyond the gunas. When they get that goal, then they must give up the practice which is in the gunas. So in liberation there is no jnana and there is no yoga.
Devotee: What they do Maharaj when they get liberated?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: No activity, no perception, nothing.
11.) Maharaj, last question. We say bhakti is independent but it appears and grows on certain jivas who recognise it, consciously endeavour. Does it mean it depends on jiva as well, for it’s expansion?
When we say independent, it is independent of any material cause. With karma, jnana and yoga are dependent on material cause. So bhakti comes from Krishna. So we can say bhakti is dependent on Krishna [Laughs]. But Krishna is independent. Of course, even jnana and yoga and karma ultimately come from Krishna [Laughs]. But He is in control of the gunas and material nature etc. But they are directly coming out of the gunas. Whereas bhakti is directly coming from Krishna.
Devotee: Independent [not audible] still we see devotees [Not audible].
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah. We could say mercy of devotees. And the mercy of the devotees is not dependent on the gunas or even on Krishna [Laughs]. So the Lord gives the devotees, independence to distribute mercy where they want.
Devotee: [Not audible].
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: So mercy can come from either source, the Lord directly or the devotees, but usually it comes through the devotees. The Lord only appears once in each yuga [Laughs]. So when He is not present, then he gives the job to the devotees.
12.) Hare Krishna Maharaj. Why long age span is given to higher planetary denizens, as in this material world, more age span means the being tries to enjoy more. Just like demons like Bali, Hiranyakasipu, etc want to live a longer time and then they create problems to others.
Well, the whole thing is you can live longer, but to do that, then you have to be more sattvic [Laughs]. So the demons try to invade swarga loka and occupy the post illegally, and they do so for a few years, but that is [Laughs] temporary, and they have to come out. So the less they have the influence of tamo guna and rajo guna, then the longer you can live. But then it is sattvic life, which is preferable to rajasic or tamasic. So certainly it is enjoyment, but it is, in that sattvic enjoyment, there is control, automatic control of the senses, control of the mind etc. And we see that all of the inhabitants of the higher planets, they recognize the Lord. The Lord is present on swarga loka and Brahma loka and other planets as well, so He is actually present there. So, therefore, the enjoyment that we experience on earth planet is not there. It is a much refined type of enjoyment.
13.) Maharaj, Mayavadis go into the Brahmajyoti and there is no activity, but if someone realizes Paramatma, then after that, what happens to him?
If they are more or less impersonalist and they simply worship Paramatma to get liberation, then they merge into Paramatma or its effulgence.
Devotee: Narada Muni also saw Paramatma, but then after that he came into devotion. Is that very rare?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, of course, the devotees can see Paramatma and they can even understand Brahman, but they prefer Bhagavan. So a yogi also, if he is a devotee, then he can see Paramatma and also progress to devotional service.
Devotees: Grantharaj Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai!!! HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj ki jai!!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!! Nitai Gaura premanande Hari Haribol!!!