Krsna Consciousness

1. Bhakti-yoga: The Supreme Path to God-Realization

Of all yogīs, the one who is constantly thinking of Me within himself, meditating upon Me within the heart, is the first-class yogī.

Bhakti-yoga is the pinnacle. Bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, is presented as the most direct and effective path to realizing God. It emphasizes love and devotion to Kṛṣṇa, making it accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or abilities. This contrasts with more rigorous and physically demanding forms of yoga, such as haṭha-yoga, which are deemed impractical for most people in the current age.

Thinking of Kṛṣṇa. The core of bhakti-yoga involves constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa. This is achieved through various practices, including:

• Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
• Hearing about Kṛṣṇa's qualities and activities
• Serving Kṛṣṇa through devotional activities

Love is the key. The ability to constantly think of Kṛṣṇa stems from developing a loving relationship with Him. Just as one naturally thinks of a beloved friend or family member, cultivating love for Kṛṣṇa makes it easy to keep Him in one's thoughts.

2. The Limitations of Materialistic Yoga Practices

Eightfold meditation cannot be performed in a fashionable city. It is not possible.

Impracticality of traditional yoga. The text critiques traditional yoga systems, particularly the eightfold yoga (aṣṭāṅga-yoga), as being too difficult for most people to practice effectively in the modern age. The demanding requirements of these systems, such as secluded environments, strict dietary restrictions, and complex physical postures, make them largely inaccessible.

Control of the senses. True yoga is defined as the control of the senses. Simply performing physical exercises or gymnastics without genuine sense control is considered a superficial and ultimately ineffective practice. The focus should be on internal purification and detachment from material desires.

Arjuna's admission. Even Arjuna, a highly capable warrior and close friend of Kṛṣṇa, admitted his inability to practice the eightfold yoga system. This highlights the inherent difficulty of these methods and suggests the need for a more accessible approach.

3. The Nature of the Soul and Its Journey

Actually, we are all spirit soul.

We are not the body. A fundamental concept is the distinction between the body and the soul. The body is temporary and constantly changing, while the soul is eternal and unchanging. Understanding this difference is crucial for spiritual progress.

Transmigration of the soul. The soul transmigrates from one body to another, experiencing different forms of life based on its karma (actions). This process continues until the soul achieves liberation and returns to its original, spiritual state. The Bhagavad-gītā explains that just as we change bodies in this lifetime, we will continue to change bodies after death.

Lack of spiritual education. The text laments the absence of serious study on the nature of the soul in modern educational institutions. This lack of spiritual knowledge perpetuates ignorance and prevents people from understanding the true purpose of human life.

4. Love as the Foundation of True Yoga

If you love someone, you can think of him always within you; otherwise it is not possible.

Love facilitates constant remembrance. The ability to constantly think of Kṛṣṇa, a key aspect of bhakti-yoga, is directly linked to love. If one loves Kṛṣṇa, thinking of Him becomes natural and effortless. Without love, such constant remembrance is impossible.

Direct relationships with Kṛṣṇa. Bhakti involves establishing a direct, loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa. These relationships can take various forms, such as:

• Friend
• Servant
• Parent
• Lover

Superior to material profit. These relationships are devoid of material motivations and are based purely on love and devotion. This contrasts with indirect attachments to Kṛṣṇa, such as that of King Kaṁsa, who was Kṛṣṇa conscious out of fear and enmity, not love.

5. Kṛṣṇa: The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Kṛṣṇa includes Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and everyone else.

Kṛṣṇa is the origin. Kṛṣṇa is identified as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of everything, including other deities like Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. He is the original Viṣṇu, the ultimate reality from which all other manifestations emanate.

Śyāmasundara. Kṛṣṇa is also known as Śyāmasundara, meaning "beautifully blackish," referring to His cloud-like complexion. This name emphasizes His attractive and captivating nature.

Authority of Vedic scriptures. The text cites various Vedic scriptures, including the Bhagavad-gītā and Brahma-saṁhitā, to support the claim that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Godhead. These scriptures provide detailed descriptions of Kṛṣṇa's qualities, activities, and position in the universe.

6. The Power of Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra

In this age of Kali one must chant the holy names of the Lord for deliverance. There is no other alternative.

The recommended method for Kali-yuga. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is presented as the most effective means of spiritual realization in the current age of Kali-yuga, characterized by quarrel and disagreement. This method is simple, accessible, and can lead to the same perfection attained through more rigorous practices in previous ages.

The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra:

• Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
• Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Caitanya Mahāprabhu's contribution. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, popularized the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra 500 years ago. He predicted that this saṅkīrtana movement would spread all over the world, bringing spiritual awakening to every town and village.

Direct appeal to the soul. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra directly appeals to the soul, bypassing the limitations of the body, mind, and intellect. This makes it effective for people from all backgrounds and with varying levels of understanding.

7. Beyond Material Laws: Transcending the Cycle of Birth and Death

In materialistic life we cannot control our senses and mind.

Materialistic life is sense gratification. The text defines materialistic life as being driven by sense gratification, leading to repeated birth and death in different species. This cycle is governed by the laws of nature, which are beyond our control.

The desire for sense gratification originates from Kṛṣṇa. Our desire for sense gratification is a reflection of Kṛṣṇa's own enjoyment, but in the material world, this desire becomes perverted. True fulfillment comes from gratifying the senses in association with Kṛṣṇa.

Purification through Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness involves purifying the desire for sense gratification by offering everything to Kṛṣṇa first. This transforms ordinary activities, such as eating, into spiritual practices that free us from material contamination.

8. The Importance of a Spiritual Master

One must take instruction from a guru, a spiritual master.

Guidance is essential. The text emphasizes the necessity of taking instruction from a qualified spiritual master (guru) for spiritual progress. A guru can provide guidance, answer questions, and help one navigate the complexities of spiritual life.

Qualifications of a guru:

• Coming in disciplic succession
• Fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth
• Devoted to Kṛṣṇa

Determination is key. Even with a good guru, one cannot progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness if they are determined to remain attached to material enjoyment. A genuine desire for spiritual advancement is essential.

9. The Perfection of Human Life: Inquiring About the Absolute Truth

This human form of life is meant for searching out the spirit, the Absolute Truth.

Human life is for spiritual inquiry. The human form of life is uniquely suited for inquiring about the Absolute Truth and understanding our relationship with God. This distinguishes humans from animals, who are primarily concerned with eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.

The Vedānta-sūtra. The Vedānta-sūtra states that human life is meant for brahma jijñāsā, the inquiry into the nature of the Absolute Truth. This inquiry leads to self-realization and liberation from suffering.

Detachment from material life. To effectively pursue spiritual inquiry, one must develop detachment from the materialistic way of life. This involves recognizing the futility of seeking happiness through material adjustments and focusing instead on spiritual growth.

10. The Vedic Social Structure: A Harmonious System for Spiritual Advancement

I have created the four divisions of society, according to quality and work.

Four divisions of society. The text describes the Vedic social structure, which consists of four divisions (varṇas) based on qualities and work:

• Brāhmaṇas (intellectuals and priests)
• Kṣatriyas (warriors and administrators)
• Vaiśyas (merchants and farmers)
• Śūdras (laborers and service providers)

Importance of brāhmaṇas. The brāhmaṇas, or spiritual leaders, are considered the head of society. Their role is to provide guidance and maintain spiritual values. A society without brāhmaṇas is likened to a headless body.

Training and qualification. Each division requires specific training and qualifications. For example, brāhmaṇas should be trained in spiritual knowledge and practice brahmacarya (celibacy). The current system of sending everyone into technology is criticized as being unbalanced and detrimental to spiritual progress.

11. The Essence of Vedic Knowledge: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is just like the ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge.

The ripened fruit. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is presented as the essence of all Vedic knowledge, the ripened fruit of the Vedic desire tree. It provides direct access to spiritual understanding, bypassing the need for extensive study of other Vedic texts.

Spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. The Bhāgavatam was first spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, a highly realized soul. This makes it even more potent and effective, just as a fruit touched by a parrot becomes sweeter.

Hearing from a devotee. It is crucial to hear the Bhāgavatam from a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Hearing from non-devotees is likened to drinking milk touched by a serpent, which becomes poisonous.

Last updated: February 11, 2025