Diary – Bhajana Kutir #148

Satsvarupa das Goswami – July 30, 6:36 A.M.

Yadunandana Swami and I went for a walk along the fence that surrounds the neighborhood. It was seventy-five degrees out, and my clothes were sticking to my body. As I walked, I felt like an old man with fatigue in my chest and legs. We rested at the bus stop on the way back. Dattatreya was just starting out for a walk.

Yesterday, I heard a lecture Prabhupada gave on June 11, 1969, at New Vrndavana. He was discussing Narada speaking to his disciple Vyasadeva. Such a learned scholar as Vyasadeva—he’s an incarnation of Narayana—still, he needs a spiritual master. The descending process is to hear from higher authorities. The ascending process is to speculate. There are three kinds of Vedic evidence. One is called pratjaksa, which is by direct perception. Another is anumana, or hypothesis: “It may be like this,” like modern science. Then there is sabda-brahman, receiving vibration from the higher authority. This is considered perfect. Narada told Vyasadeva that in order for souls to be released, they should simply hear about Krishna in uttama slokas. That will save all conditioned souls. Vyasa has already written the Mahabharata. But if you don’t write exclusively about the activities of the Lord, then it will not have effect. He told Vyasa that if he gives Krishna as a sidelight, that sort of description will not be good. People are not so steady. Their minds are like little boats at sea. He said Vyasa should give them complete knowledge about the Supreme Personlity of Godhead. But Vyasa might say, “I have already given so many books. Are they not sufficient?” Narada said that by nature, everyone has a tendency for sex life, meat eating, and intoxication. No one is taught how to do these things. It’s natural. He said that if Vyasa describes these things as religious principles, the people will be doomed.

For example, in the Dharma sastra, there is the marriage ceremony. In India, a man will spend millions for his daughter’s marriage if he is able to. But what is the marriage ceremony? It is just the animal tendency. Ritualistic ceremonies are there to restrict meat eating, intoxication, and sex. They are tamasic sastras. The meat eater is advised to sacrifice a goat. That is also for restriction, Kali puja on a dark-moon night. Sex is allowed once a month. Narada said to Vyasa that after all, he has described things for which a man has a natural tendency. Narada condemned this. “You are the leader of the sastras,” he says, “people will follow you.”

Lord Caitanya taught the chanting of Hare Krishna. He was chanting loudly in sankirtana, and the brahmanas complained. Chand Kazi sent the police to break the mrdangas and disperse the crowd. Nimai Pandit was so popular that He organized a civil disobedience at sixteen years of age. He had a discourse with Chand Kazi and settled the affair. Lord Caitanya said that cow sacrifice is not allowed in this age. Chand Kazi stopped the ban on sankirtana. Narada said to Vyasa, “Why have you bothered your head about animal sacrifices? They’ll take it that you’re teaching a Vedic process. You have done a great mistake.” Narada said that if they’re forbidden in the sastras, they will not accept it. It is against dharma. Karma kanda is abominable. They will not make further progress to the higher truth. They won’t accept. They will refer to karma kanda religion. Real spiritualists are seeking eternal happiness.

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