(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta part 6

Bhakti or devotional service means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord. Sanatana Goswami wrote a book called, ‘Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta’, which describes how Gopa Kumara is searching for the topmost abode. At one point Gopa Kumara had gone into the higher regions of this universe. He went to Tapaloka, which is just before the Brahmaloka. So it is the planet – the one before the last. That planet was filled with all yogis who are just focusing on the Lord within their mind. So Gopa Kumara was there and everyone said:

“Let’s just meditate on the Lord within the mind.”

But Gopa Kumara said:

“No, I want to see him!”

“But seeing is only the process of the senses which send signals to the mind. So seeing really happens in the mind! Therefore what it is really all about is the meditation, it is not the seeing, it is the meditation. So you should just meditate.”

So that was their point, but Gopa Kumara said no, because he wasn’t satisfied. What he wanted was: With all his senses to drink in the Lord. He wanted to see the form of the Lord; to think of the Lord; to smell the Lord; to hear the Lord; touch the Lord. He wanted to engage all of his senses in perceiving the Lord – that is bhakti!

So it sounds logical when one hears the arguments – yes it’s all meditation, because everything leads to meditation, but then that is defeated. Gopa Kumara said:

“No!”

To engage all the senses in the service of the Lord and experience all of the senses – and that is higher. And you get descriptions about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saying:

“All my five senses are like a wild horse running to Krishna simultaneously, and each one of them is competing with the other for prominence!”

So it is very confusing, the sound….the smell and the sight are all competing with each other. So it is very interesting how love of God is about engaging all the senses. So even in practise we are already meant to engage all of our senses in the service of the Lord, and therefore a flower, water and flame – and all these senses are all engaged in the service of the Lord. And in the perfect stage each one of these senses becomes totally awoken!

Related posts:

1. Spoiling the senses
   (Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011) By gradually being firm with the senses, they become weaker. Some people have spoilt senses which are just like spoilt children. Every time they cry,...
2. Give The Senses A Positive Experience
   Transcribed by Annie(Kadamba Kanana Swami March 2011, Melbourne)Spiritual life is based on austerity. What is this austerity? Does it mean we have to try and do great austerities? No, it's...
3. Engage our senses in practical services
   (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011) Srila Prabhupada told us to engage our senses in practical services – our senses in dealing with the material energy, because we are so...
4. “Lose Your Mind And Come To Your Senses!”
   The fact is that transcendental knowledge has to enter within the heart, and one has to accept it. One has to embrace it. One has to give up all inner...
5. The Tortoise Described In The Gita
   To not be concerned by the pushing of the mind and the senses and to control this mind and senses – That is the business of a sanyassi. He is...
6. "Ring! Ring! This is your senses on the line…!"
   Tongue: “Ring, Ring! This is your tongue! We haven’t eaten for 15 minutes! We want to taste something; at least a sweet! Something light okay!”“Yes Mr. Tongue, just a moment...
7. A Movement For The Most Fallen!
   (Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 29 December 2011, Munich, Germany) We should know that Lord Caitanya’s movement is not to reclaim those who are in pure goodness.  It is not the movement...