Question: Although I heard in different classes about the temporary nature of this body and associated attachments and relations, when it comes to practicality I forget everything and act in a very unpleasing way, for which I regret very badly later. Could you kindly explain me how is it possible to remember this at the very unpleasant situations and apply practically and take shelter in such difficulties?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Without being attached to Krishna, we will be attached to the temporary. Asat-trsna means ‘thirst for the impermanent’.
This ‘thirst’ comes from the contaminated subtle body. Jiva Goswami calls this the ‘antahkarnah’. See the below for explanation; association with and hearing from sadhus is the means to overcome this contamination:
Canto 3, Chapter Twenty-nine
Kapila Describes the Types of Bhakti
Commentary by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura
|| SB_3 29 18 ||
ädhyätmikänuçravaëän
näma-saìkértanäc ca me
ärjavenärya-saìgena
nirahaìkriyayä tathä
The mind should become purified by continually hearing about the good and bad qualities of the antaùkaraëa, by chanting my names, by sincere association with great devotees without pride.
The mind should become purified by continually hearing about the good and bad qualities of the antaùkaraëa (“the internal sense”, the subtle body, refined + concentrated intelligence; the mind). To perform bhakti using the antaùkaraëa, one must hear about its good and bad qualities. Understanding one has bad qualities like pride, one can conquer those bad qualities by worship of great devotees. The devotees should engage in such a practice.
Bhakti unmixed with the Modes
|| SB 3.29.11-12 ||
mad-guëa-çruti-mätreëa
mayi sarva-guhäçaye
mano-gatir avicchinnä
yathä gaìgämbhaso ‘mbudhau
lakñaëaà bhakti-yogasya
nirguëasya hy udähåtam
ahaituky avyavahitä
yä bhaktiù puruñottame
Because the mind, by hearing about my qualities, flows continuously to me, the Supreme Lord residing in the hearts of all people, just as the Gaìgä flows to the ocean, it is said that the quality of bhakti beyond the guëas is absence of results other than bhakti and lack of obstructions from other processes.
Here is a very appropriate verse from SB which similarly expresses how to go beyond this contamination very nicely, quoted in Tattva Sandabha Text 47 (Bhanu Swami’s translation).
By hearing Bhagavatam, prema for the Supreme Lord Krsna appears. Hearing it also destroys lamentation, illusion and fear in the human being. [SB 1.7.7]
In Jiva Goswami’s commentary, he writes –
Karmas make the mind fixed upon further action. Since the jiva is engaged in action by ignorance, having accepted a subtle body, as long as he does not have devotion for me, Vasudeva, he will not be liberated from the body. [SB 5.5.6]
Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s commentary similarly expresses –
With the appearance of prema, the impressions (samskara) are destroyed.
The seeds of lamentation, illusion, and fear, deeply rooted in the soil of bodily attachment, are destroyed by love for Lord Vasudeva.
There is no way to eradicate bodily attachment ‘at its root’ other than by becoming attached to Krsna.
One can easily attain attachment to Krsna by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, in the association of elevated vaisnavas! Taking shelter of the Holy Name similarly carries us to Krsna!
