SB 5.19 A Description of the Island of Jambudvipa - The Transcendental Teachings of HH Bhaktividyā Pūrṇa Svāmī

CHAPTER 19 started 18th Apr 2016 Lecture 3 at 22 min 10s

Universe is laid out as it is for various stage of development of Krishna consciousness. Earthly plane is mainly meant for Krishna consciousness.

In these chapters we see many different viewpoints expressed in just a few verses. We know more from previous study and therefore can perceive the subtleties here.
We should forget about using our material possessiveness for ourselves.
Varnashrama dharma can be revived in the society at any time.
In other places in the universe varnashrama is not so distinct as on this earth.
Karmis, jnanis and bhaktas here on earth all have to perform their duties. If the demigods do something devotional that's nice, but they are not obliged to.
In 1970s in India devotees got the opportunity to do many programs in India, because varnashrama was widely followed.
Basic principles of sinful life is breaking the 4 regulative principles, and from there it snowballs.

Verses 1-8

Kumbhakarna had a wife from each human species of life.
In varnashrama system it's not that one position is better than others for pleasing the Lord.
There are so many highly elevated personalities, but Lord is the best of them.
Being Aryan is based on the position of the soul.
Lord Ramacandra is a Deity of abhideya, dhirodatta. He is all about good qualities.
The devotees in Ayodya, Dvaraka, Hastinapura, Mathura have a mix of sweetness and majesty in their relationship with the Lord.
Lord Ramacandra can relate to all people - from Lord Brahma to a washer man.
Lord Ramacandra keeps His promise, accepts authority and is kind to all.
He is true to His promise - one can count on Him.
Krishna is the original personality, and all the moods are in Him.
Ramayana is all about miseries that come from association with women.
Humans follow dharma, or are devotees; those who do neither are subhumans.
Husband follows dharma, the wife follows him. He endures pain because of her.
Shanta-bhaktas usually don't feel separation.
Vishvanatha Cakravarti's commentaries come in more and more as we discuss more and more rasa.
Ashraya is that particular love. He is that bliss with opulences.
Lord's form is unlimited, but we perceive Him how we want through His internal potency. The Lord manifests according to the mood of His devotee. Since we don't have any mood, we follow in the footsteps of those who do.

19th Apr 2016 Lecture 1

All bhavas appear by the grace of bhakti.
Prema is attained by the mercy of spiritual master and Krishna, there is nothing we can do to attain it.
Sthayi-bhava - feeling for Krishna is fixed. Without that one cannot use one's spiritual position.
Prema controls herself, no one controls her.
Abhideya and prayojana start to to be introduced more at this point of the Bhagavatam.
It's not the knowledge, it's not the skills, it's not even what we are doing - it's about our devotional mood.
Serious means that our focus is on the mood, the attitude, even though we also practice skills.
Skill-based means neophyte.
Gopis' husbands are sandhini potency, otherwise which jiva would want to be in the way of relationship between Radha and Krishna?
Cows etc may be sandhini potency, or jivas controlled by the sandhini potency.
Lord Caitanya attracts people to Krishna
Vishvambhara is about preaching
Gaura is about tasting internal mood of love of Krishna.
We don't worry about relationships with husbands etc in Goloka Vrindavana.
Here we see Krishna as the source of all rasas trying to break down the material rasa.
Hanuman has very unique moods of bhakti.
Rama banished Sita to induce the bhava of separation, but the catalyst of that act was dharma. If He would not have banished Sita, people would have always talked bad about Him. But He gave Her up in prema.
Devotees should use dharma as needed. If things fail on the platform of dharma despite our endeavors, we move on.
One cannot establish relationship with the Lord on the basis of material qualifications.
When service is done in sincerity, the Lord is satisfied.
Acaryas have that eagerness to satisfy the Lord. We should associate with those who want that, then we will develop it also.
Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya and Lord Ramacandra are the most special forms with the widest range of pastimes. Lord Balarama is the next following Them. Lord Nrsimhadeva has very specific pastimes.
Verses 9-28
Realizing the distractions of the heavenly planets demigods pray to be born in Bharata-varsha.
We should see and practice all good qualities in connection to Krishna, otherwise we end up in some other destination in the universe.
Dharma already includes artha and kama, so we focus on dharma engaged in Krishna's service. We don't have to worry separately about artha and kama.
Even paramahamsas should practice religion, knowledge, renunciation, spiritual power, sense control and freedom from false ego.
We are going upwards from dharma, or up to dharma and then upwards.
Three-lined tilaka is for staying in the material world.
Different Vaishnava tilakas just emphasize different aspects of devotional service.
We are cultivating both developing love for Krishna and getting out of the material world.
Success seminars should be teaching varnashrama dharma.
We are only interested in daivi-varnashrama, varnasrama engaged in the Lord's service.
On the social level we may sometimes adjust rules due to devotees' higher consciousness. But we have to know how to obtain that higher principle.
Usually one sitting on the Vyasasana does not have to stand up, otherwise it would disrupt the class. But if actually someone superior in knowledge walks in - then one would.
The brahmanas in Naimisaranya were actually brahmanas, so they could make the statement about Romaharshana Suta that 'He was never a brahmana anyway.'
Devotees mostly are not from brahmana backgrounds, so they should not say such things about other devotees.
If a devotee is actually able to function on a higher platform we accept him as such.
Daivi-varnashrama is not about the rule, it's about the principle. The actual principle is devotional service, serving Krishna while being situated in the

Varnashrama system. If there is some problem, adjustments are made to improve devotional service.
Devotional service is the principle, the detail is in which ashrama a particular devotee has the best situation to serve Krishna.
Varnashrama works due to the devotion.
A younger person is less bothered by the environment than an older person, therefore grihasta life works better at a younger age.
Nara-Narayana Rishi are teachers of Paramahamsas, and also of those who want to become Paramahamsas.
The Lord is interacting only with those who are interested in spiritual life.

19th Apr 2016 Lecture 2

The Lord is not affected by false prestige, even though He is doing so many things.
The Lord is not affected by hunger, even though He may manifest it in His pastimes.
A governor taking tour of the prison is not attracted to it.
From studying shastras we are supposed to come to realization.
Developing a family is only a part of our duties.
At the end of Kali-yuga a castor plant will be considered a big tree.
There are some things to learn from the crows - never mating in public, cleverness etc.
If one is afraid of giving up his body, one does not yet have a proper realization.
We perform service wanting to actually be able to function on the spiritual platform.
By Krishna being pleased we will get the strength to perform devotional service.
Skills is what we first notice, but skills is not devotion. If taking skills from the materialists we also take their mood, we have missed the whole point.
We want to control mind and senses to fix them on Krishna.
All study is a waste of time if we do not transcend bodily conception. We are used to the concept that the activities themselves are a value, but actually their connection to Krishna is.
We have to understand - things have absolutely no value without Krishna consciousness.
Fearlessness means that we don't identify with what's here, we just use it.
The whole world can be renounced for the sake of the soul, because it has no value without connection to Krishna - but at the same time anything can be used for Krishna.
Reality of the world comes by connection to Krishna.
To transfer our attachment to Krishna we have to let go of material things.
Life is structured around Pancaratra, and whatever remains is dovetailed in Varnashrama.
Yoga is not useful without bhakti. Identity has to be that we are a devotee.
Narada Muni is a brahmachari, and he preaches naishkarmya varnashrama.
We talk about the best tools, even though sometimes they may not be available.
One's position has to be ascertained, and one has to be trained to act in that.
For those who have a stronger ashrama side it is easier to adjust with varna.
We should try to engage individual's good qualities, tolerate the flaws of their character and gradually train them.
Bharata-varsha is the station from where we can get anywhere in the universe. Therefore here we have everything - from Paramahamsas to total demons.
Mayapur also has a very wide range of devotees.
Madhvas and Sris take varnashrama as dasyam.
For us it is just social system to be engaged.
In Vaikuntha it's the means of expression.
Pancaratra means verses from the Vedas that are just for the worship of Vishnu.
Pancarantra structures our lives.
Vrindavana all works on Varnashrama concept, but there it's just a situation. They only need varnashrama as much as it carries sweetness.
Everything has its position, but we have to know where it fits.
Neophytes demand that everyone does things the way they do.
One category of Vrajavasis can appreciate only what they themselves do.
Another category acknowledges others, but are not interested in what others do.
Yet another can appreciate others. We are supposed to follow that last one.
Those who were professionals themselves but lost attraction to it by Krishna consciousness can actually preach to professionals.
Varnashrama may be revived at any moment.
What everybody is looking for is there in the Varnashrama.
One has to be against the Lord in order to not like varnashrama, at least on the social level.
Demons want a classless society, but they still want to be on the top of it.
In this age there are no brahmanas and kshatriyas, but through Krishna consciousness they can be established.
The changes of Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali yugas are only taking place in 1/9th of the Bharata-varsha.
We come in contact with Krishna consciousness many, many times, but only when it matures we contact pure devotees. Pure devotees make our good fortune.
It's always association of devotees that makes things work.
The actual meaning of kaivalya is nothing except pure devotional service.
One who is following varnashrama has more chance to associate with devotees.

For example, one regularly feeds brahmanas.
For mlecchas and yavanas it's just a moment of frustration that they meet devotees.
The Lord extends down into material platform through liberation.
We engage in the Lord's service however much dharma, artha and kama are necessary.

19th Apr 2016 Lecture 3

In the beginning we learn to see Krishna in the mechanics of our activities - Brahman understanding.
Paramatma understanding - what should we be doing according to Lord's laws.

Bhagavan - when one is attracted by the beauty of the Supreme Person.
We can only function where our attachment lies, but we have to become attached to Krishna.
Niyamagramaha - those who are still attached to the material world - the liberals and the conservatives.
We may consider an activity or a thing useful - but does it help us in Krishna consciousness? If not, it's a waste of time and we should reject it.
From acaryas we learn how to actually use things from sruti and smriti.
A skill on its own is quick to learn, but it takes 12 years to transform the consciousness, to perfect the skill. The skill itself is quick to learn.
The process of Krishna consciousness is so perfect - if we stick with it long enough, it will work.
The happiness of the living entity depends on his spiritual self-realization.
Lord is bliss with opulences, His energy is pure bliss, we are part of that pure bliss.
When we accept Lord's authority, it's no longer a tribulation to follow so many rules.
People who come to surrender to Krishna:
Arto cannot control emotional environments.
Artharthi can't control their money.
Jijnasu can't control knowledge aquiring.
To the extent that we see details in the spiritual , we will be able to see them on the mechanic level.
Even all the demoniac people can become attracted to Krishna by their mentality being turned around.
Demigods feel human beings in Bharata-varsha are very fortunate. We are in this position by the mercy of the Vaishnavas.
Demigods understand Bhagavan, but being distracted they don't take Him so seriously. Their general understanding is more that of Paramatma.
Things that are not nice here inspire us to think.
It's by the Lord's arrangement that people always return to Bharata-varsha.
It's so designed that by one short life in Bharata-varsha anybody can fully surrender to the Lord.
Too nice of a situation in which we forget Krishna is actually unfavorable.
There is no bliss here, but we make a curve.
The experience of frustration is the same for both the poor and the rich person.
The 2nd generation of devotees have very specific distractions. If they get good association they can move forward very quickly, but also get quickly distracted by bad association.
'Save from death' means saving from taking another birth.
It is favorable to understand that this place is not so ideal.
We only work to make things comfortable and to maintain that, not beyond.
We situate ourselves where there is always Krishna consciousness going on, devotees are interested and where there is expansion of the mission.
Too soft preaching is very meager - but it should flow like a tasty river.
We should respect and offer obeisances to devotees abundantly.
When we are looking around in the God's creation we should see things for what they are.
The more demigod worshipers see the demigods' connection to the Lord, the more benefit they get.
The Lord is very kind, and He wants to benedict His devotees.
5th Canto speaks on abhideya - people who live in the universe, how Bharata-varsha is the best, and how association with pure devotees is the most important and enables us to achieve all perfection.
The scientific 'revolution' does not take the earth as a special place.
The only value of anything we are here for is its connection to the Lord.

21st Apr 2016 Lecture 1

In the beginning our devotional service is about the secondary. Pure bhakti means we are doing things to please Krishna, though on the side we may have some material desires.
We call the stages of bhakti by what is prominent, what is moving things ahead in that particular stage, even though other stages are also present. E.g. sadhu-sanga has more faith than sraddha.
5th Canto brings out the element of madhyama adhikari - devotee is engaging everything in Krishna's service and is comfortable to engage his conditioning.
Renunciation is a situation, it is not a process or a goal.
5th Canto is a canto of sociology. We use whatever conditioning we have in Krishna's service.
I the beginning of our devotional practice we may appear more Krishna conscious because our consciousness is very small. Later our consciousness expands, but we become more focused on the secondary. So then we have to adjust our consciousness to focus it all on our chanting.
Madhyama who knows their specific conditioning may sometimes to appear to an inexperienced person less advanced than a neophyte who doesn't really know who they are and therefore it seems they can do any service.
Self-realization means that we engage our conditioning in Krishna's service. We should know the philosophy and apply it, that's actually universal.
Those in the West have a very personal philosophy, but in their dealings they are totally impersonal.
When Krishna fulfills our material desires, we either get a bad experience if we are more in illusion, or the fulfillment just wasn't as good as we expected.
Krishna always deals personally, demigods don't.
In actuality nothing mundane is great. The medium of the mode of goodness appears nice, since that's what we would use in Krishna's service, but its only actual value is its connection to Krishna.
In the areas we keep attachment to our own things advancement does not come so easily.
By the time we get to the 5th Canto we should have already accepted that Krishna's system is The System.
49:00 Manifestation of Krishna for vegans - that picture in vegans' homes that they offer their vegan food to. Krishna eats pizza here, not in the spiritual world.
At a more advanced stage we get taste from interaction with Krishna instead of the material things that He gives.
Discussing how Dhruva Maharaja and Hanuman became perfect - Hanuman's position is greater from our perspective, but once people come to the level of prema, no distinction is made any longer on the basis of how they got there.
The point is being born in the Brahmana varna AND remember the Lord.
In Bharata-varsha one is naturally Krishna conscious, but we should not put too much emphasis on this because then we will think that we are perfectly fine without any work.
The actual piety manifests when we are using things for Krishna consciousness.
The best birth in Bharata-varsha is in Gokula-lila. Then we have a suitable body and suitable association to develop prema.
The inhabitants of Dvaraka who died in Prabhasa went back to heavenly planets, but after that back to the spiritual world, since they had taken part in the Bhauma-lila.
We usually take that the 5th canto is about geography or astronomy, but it is actually about people's consciousness.
The most pious thing is being born in Bharata-varsha and using one's piety for Krishna consciousness.

v.29-31
Krishna knows the Vedic knowledge and He acts according to it.

SB 5.19.7
All pious things are mentioned, but they are not a qualification to establish a relationship with the Supreme Lord. Piety is only glorified in connection with Krishna.
The jungle produces O2, current city jungle produces CO

SB 5.19.14
We should be happy to give up this body and get a spiritual body. But while we have this body we engage in Krishna consciousness.