BG In Essence - Suhotra Maharaja Archives

Lord's form, qualities and activities. In the stage of asakti however,absorption of the mind in the Lord is automatic, without effort.Lord Caitanya likens transcendental devotional service to the sowing of a seed inthe heart of the living entity. There are innumerable living entities travelingthroughout the different planets of the universe, and out of them there are a fewwho are fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee and get the chance tounderstand devotional service. This devotional service is just like a seed, and if itis sown in the heart of a living entity, and if he goes on hearing and chantingHare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama,Rama Rama, Hare Hare, that seed fructifies, just as the seed of a tree fructifieswith regular watering. The spiritual plant of devotional service gradually growsand grows until it penetrates the covering of the material universe and entersinto the brahmajyoti effulgence in the spiritual sky. In the spiritual sky also thatplant grows more and more until it reaches the highest planet, which is calledGoloka Vrndavana, the supreme planet of Krsna. Ultimately, the plant takesshelter under the lotus feet of Krsna and rests there. Gradually, as a plant growsfruits and flowers, that plant of devotional service also produces fruits, and thewatering process in the form of chanting and hearing goes on. This plant ofdevotional service is fully described in the Caitanya- caritamrta (Madhya-lila,Chapter Nineteen). It is explained there that when the complete plant takesshelter under the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, one becomes fully absorbed inlove of God; then he cannot live even for a moment without being in contact withthe Supreme Lord, just as a fish cannot live without water. In such a state, thedevotee actually attains the transcendental qualities in contact with the SupremeLord.Notes:1. In Bhagavad-gita 10.9, Sri Krsna glorifies sravanam-kirtanam in the association ofpure devotees of the Lord. He is advising the wise Vedantists who have developedpreliminary devotional sentiments by appreciating His greatness to take theassociation of His devotees and thus become perfect in Krsna consciousness.Quotation from the first verse of Svetasvatara Upanisad:Hari Om. The Brahmavadis say: What is the first, the great cause?From where were we born? How do we remain alive? Where do we goat death? O knowers of Brahman, by whose will are we subject topleasure and pain?Quotation from the last verse of the same Upanisad:yasya deve para bhaktiryatha deve tatha guarutasyaite kathita hy arthaprakasante mahatmanah