(Kadamba Kanana Swami, May 2016, Coimbatore, India, Hospital Conversations)
Desire and hate, lust and anger manifests because we do not understand Krsna and this is due to our attachment to the body, iccha-dvesa-samutthena (Bhagavad-gita 7.27). We relate to our working senses – working, surviving and struggling – thinking we need just a little more and then we will be successful. This is perplexing. But our main focus is Krsna, hearing about Krsna, and chanting his names and glories.
When we cannot chant then we serve the movement. It is by lust that we become covered and manipulate the material energy. The living being is trying to exploit the material energy but everything is for Krsna and we must find some purpose for it in Krsna’s service.
There is a gradual awakening of bhakti in us except for few like Katwanga Maharaj who was given a benediction by the demigods to ask for something and he asked to know the time of his death. He was told he had only a moment to live so he surrendered immediately.
Chanting is our sadhana (daily practice) and with chanting, we have Krsna. We are already there but we are lacking awareness! Out of the nine processes of bhakti (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23): the first three – hearing, chanting and remembering (śravaṇaṁ, kīrtanaṁ, viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ) are bhagwat viddhi and rest are pancharatrika vidhi: pāda-sevanam – serving the lotus feet of the Lord, arcanaṁ – deity worship, vandanaṁ – prayers, sakhyam – we must be favourable, dāsyaṁ – mood of a servant, ātma-nivedanam – fully surrendered. Pancharatrika is basically a collection of favourable principles whereas bhagwat viddhi is an internal process. Although pancharatrika is external, it is still necessary as it allows us develop internally.
Live transcription by Man Beharini dd from Pune who visited Maharaj at the hospital.
