(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 January 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta 21.54)
We see a contrast in the mood of Goloka and the mood of Vaikuntha. So, it is for this reason that we are studying the map (of the spiritual world). One might think, “Oh boy! A geography class – three dhamas and a river. Of course, there is always a river.”
I remember my school days and I remember having to learn the geography of Russia. I hated it. I must say. So I drew a big map of Russia on a door with chalk with all the cities and threw darts at the cities to make the learning process little easier. But when it came to Nyazepetrovsk, my mind went, “Why in the world do I have to know where Nyazepetrovsk is? I am never going to go to Nyazepetrovsk.” I still have not been there. I was convinced I was never going to go there, so it was useless knowledge.
But that is not the case with the descriptions that we find in Caitanya caritamrta. This is not useless knowledge. This is essential knowledge. Without understanding the makeup of various worlds (the three dhamas), one cannot actually understand the nature of Krsna because Krsna is manifesting himself in different features in the different worlds.
