(a) The most successful spiritually realized person: Very rare
One who understands Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Unborn, the Supreme Proprietor
Out of millions, one may endeavor and out of many one may succeed (Ref. Bg. 7.3)
(b) ‘Unborn’ (aja) – This ‘unborn’ is different from ‘living entity’ described as ‘unborn’ in Chapter 2
(Ref. Bg. 2.20)
Living entites are taking birth and dying due to material attachment – Thus they are changing bodies under external energy
Lord as unborn – Lord comes to the material world as the self-same ‘Unborn’ – Comes By His internal potency; body is unchangeable (Ref. Bg. 4.6)
Argument – But Krishna is the son of Devaki, how can He be unborn
Refutation – Ref. SB: He appeared before Devaki and Vasudev in His Original form, not as an ordinary child; and then transformed into an ordinary child
(c) How to understand Krishna
Lord indirectly declares “Here I am, As the Supreme Personality of Godhead”
Simple Way – Simply by studying His words in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam we can understand Him in full (‘sat-cit-ananda’)
Different Conceptions of God As:
‘Krishna As The Personality of Godhead’ – can be conceived only when one is in the transcendental position
‘As some ruling power or the impersonal Brahman can be reached by persons who in the inferior energy of the Lord
Krishna’s favor/grace is essential to understand the Supreme Lord fully
Only devotees who have fully surrendered achieve this grace
Devotees of the Lord do not bother about impersonal Brahman conception. Their faith and devotion bring them to immediate surrender and thus attracts Krishna’s causeless mercy
Only those who are contaminated by material energy consider the impersonal Brahman to be the Supreme, despite the Supreme Lord’s uncommon activities
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 10.3 & 10.4: Now Krishna tells us that “All the qualities possessed by any living
entity comes from Him”
Texts 10.4* – 10.5*
COMMON THEME: He is the origin of all qualities, by which one seeks to understand the Truth
FOCUS OF LEARNING IN 10.4 – 10.5
(a) Different qualities, be they good or bad are all created by Krishna – Nothing can manifest in
material world which is not in Krishna
(b) Where does Krishna manifest all these qualities – Throughout the universe, in human society and
the society of demigods
(c) For whom, are these created – Krishna creates for those who want to advance in Krishna
consciousness but
The person has to develop from within
Ofcourse, by devotional service one automatically develops all good qualities
(c) “Vetti loka maheshvaram” – This phrase means ‘Supreme Lord of all the worlds/planetary
systems’ because:
He was existing before the creation and is different from His creation
Demigods were created; He is not created
Thus Krishna is different even from great demigods (Brahma and Shiva)
(d) Only way to know Him as such as given in translation – Devotional service
Who can know – One who is free from all sinful activities
Result of knowing – Immediate Freedom from all sinful reactions
(e) How not to perceive Krishna
Foolish Mentality – To try to understand Him as a human being (Bg. 9.11)
Sign Of Intelligence – Understand the constitutional position of Godhead
(f) Transcendental and real auspicious activities
Transcendental – Anything done under the direction of Krishna is transcendental
Inauspicious material world – Nothing in the material world is auspicious ; We simply imagine it to be auspicious
Real auspiciousness – depends upon action in Krishna consciousness in full devotion and service
How to get such directions – From Guru, Sadhu, Sastra
Transcendental attitude of a devotee – Attitude of renunciation in the performance of all activities – This is called Sannyasa
Real Sannyasi
▪ Acts as a matter of duty / Not take shelter in the fruits
▪ Ref. Bg. 6.1 defines real Sannyasi and real yogi
Wrong conception of Sannyasi – Not the man in the dress of a Sannyasi or Yogi
QUALITIES MENTIONED IN 10.4 – 10.5
S. NO.
QUALITY
DEFINITION
Intelligence
The power to analyze things in their proper perspective
Knowledge
Knowing the distinction between matter and spirit
Academic university education – talks about only matter; therefore incomplete
Freedom from doubt and
delusion (Asammoha)
Can be achieved when one acts without hesitation based on understanding transcendental philosophy
Slowly but surely he becomes free from bewilderment (Text 10.3 speaks about “unbewildered”)
Nothing should be accepted blindly / But with care and caution
Tolerance and Forgiveness
(Ksama)
Excuse the minor offences of others
One should be practiced to bear insult and dishonor from others
Truthfulness
Facts presented as they are, for the benefit of others: Not distort truth for some personal interest
Social convention – To speak palatable BUT it is not always good (One must call a thief a thief)
Control of senses
Senses should not be used for unnecessary personal enjoyment.
Control of the mind
Restrain the mind from unnecessary thoughts
Misuse of the thinking power – to spend one’s time pondering over money
Power of thought should be used to understand the prime necessity of human beings and to present authoritatively
Power of thought should be developed in association with Guru, Sadhu and Sastra
Happiness and distress
(Sukham)
Always considered in relation to what is favorable or unfavorable to Krishna consciousness.
Bhava (Birth)
For soul there is no birth or death
Fear / Fearlessness
(Abhayam)
Due to worrying about the future; absorption in illusory energy (Ref. SB 11.2.37)
Fearlessness is possible only in Krishna consciousness
One is confident of his spiritual identity
Engages in transcendental services
Surety of his bright future that he is going back to Godhead
Non-violence (Ahimsa)
Not do anything which would put others in misery, confusion, all distress
Not checking anyone’s progressive life
Equanimity (Samata)
Freedom from attachment or aversion
Accept the material world without attachment or aversion
Accept whatever is favorable to Krishna consciousness and reject unfavorable
S. NO.
QUALITY
DEFINITION
Satisfaction
Not be eager to gather more and more material things by unnecessary activity
One should be satisfied with what is obtained by the Lord’s grace
Austerity and Penance
(Tapas)
Voluntary accepting hardships or suffering for a higher purpose e.g. rising early and taking bath ; fasting on recommended days.
Charity
Give 50% of income to Krishna consciousness
To brahmanas and sannyasis (study purport)
Fame
A man is famous when he is known as a great devotee