Conversation with a Prabhu around the Sadhana App: I

Jai Sri Hari! This incident I am going to describe happened nearly three weeks back, and I learnt quite a lesson!

Background:

There is a newly built Hare Krishna temple near my residence which I used to visit often and befriended a Prabhu-ji there. Let me name him as C-Prabhu. He is aware of Swamiji and watched a couple of YouTube videos by Swamiji. In fact, at his request, in my recent trip to Sri Badrika Ashram last December, I carried two books given by Prabhu-ji to Swamiji. I wrote about it here.

The Conversation (?):

The conversation happened in the form of a series of WhatsApp chats. Actually, I posted a quote by Swamiji in a particular WhatsApp group, created by C-Prabhu ji. The quote was about not getting hard on oneself. The conversation between me and C-Prabhu-ji happened the following way. I am not editing anything, copied it verbatim.

C-Prabhu: There are people searching for GOD…Prabhupad and Sankardeva says WHO IS THAT GOD👍
Now we hv to follow their footsteps to realise 👍that’s all
Hope you hv read once fully BHAGAVAT GITA As It Is…isn’t?

Me: Well, I am walking on the path slowly. I will be careful. 🙏
For me my Gurudev is supreme. 🙏

C-Prabhu: Gita 4.34
Krishna Himself says so
Tell something more Which is not in Gita

Me: 🙏Prabhu ji, Lord Krishna says one should follow a spiritual path as per his temperament. This is why there are so many lineages in Sanatana Dharma. His holiness Srila Prabhupada’s lineage is one of the many paths. But whatever be the lineage, without Bhakti nothing can be achieved. This is what my Gurudev says. I am following the lineage of Om Swamiji Maharaj. 🙏I will no longer post anything on any groups related to lineage of Srila Prabhupada now onwards. Please forgive me if I hurt any sentiments.

C-Prabhu: Not only lineage
The CONCLUSION of What & Who is God also very important.
What Arjun concluded is what we expected to arrive at.
Krishna is the ONLY Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Not any devatas.
Am i clear?

C-Prabhu: Krishna never told any devata or any mantra
Only onto Him we should surrender
If guru or devatas not taking you to that conclusion…Srimad Bhagavatam says…. SRAMA EVA HI KEVALAM

Me: Prabhu ji, my sincere request to you. Please don’t make any judgment about Om Swamiji Maharaj based on comments or forwards made by a beginner, a very ignorant person like me. Kindly please read His memoir, ‘If truth be told’, which I brought for you. It would be a great injustice to our sages if we make judgments without knowing them. Please do read His memoir along with the other book. I pray to Lord Krishna, that someday you get an opportunity to meet Swamiji. Thank you so much for your kindness! Jai Sri Hari! Hare Krishna! 🙏

C-Prabhu:  I am waiting for your reply still

Me:  I am ignorant. I am not capable enough to understand deep meanings. Only thing I know is that I love my Gurudev and Sri Hari! 🙏

C-Prabhu:  I am just asking simple query that Hv u read Bhagavat gita??
Its for all  human being given by Sri Hari Himself
Why dont you make one attempt
How long u claim yourself beginner

Me:    I have gone through all the discourses by Swamiji on Bhagavad Gita.

C-Prabhu:  Good…tell me where Krishna tell according to temperament one can choose god and worship? Where its mentioned about multiple God?
Where its mentioned Othar than KRISHNA someone else as God?

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam Saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami mä sucah

Abandon all varieties of religion and
just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver
you from all sinful reactions. Do not
fear.

C-Prabhu:  Isn’t clear in this 👆sloka crystal clearly telling whom to surrender?? [18.66]

Me: Sri Hari and Lord Krishna is the same!

C-Prabhu:  Of course
This is the conclusion…u accept this?
Then y Om swami ji is promoting SHIV JI, DURGA MA, GANESH PUJA all? isn’t dilution???

And Sri hari himself saying NOT to worship any demigods…can you tell me the exact gita sloka?
Sorry for asking Quiz

But i feel necessary…

Me: There is something called Ishta Devata. Each person has a Ista Devata. Your Ista can lead you to supreme Lord. This is my understanding. And Sri Hari never says not to worship others, as He resides everywhere. This is where issues of temperament come as per Sanatana Dharma.

Me: Even in Mahabharata Lord Krishna asked Pandavas to worship Goddess Durga. Same happened in Ramayana where Sri Ram worshipped Goddess Durga. So, I think things are pretty deep. 🙏

C-Prabhu:  These all clarified by Prabhupad ji very well and defeated…problem is u are not hearing any one of his lecture😞😀

And Krishna Ji lifted Govardhan for this mentality and teached lesson to His own father and Indra…hope u know the lila that Nanda maharaj planning to workshop devata Indra who is incharge of Rains…

Me: Why there are so many temples in Sadhana App, Swamiji answers Himself in it’s launch👇:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_AjLWB48T5I

C-Prabhu:  
I heared that day itself fyi

WHERE IS THE ANSWER WHAT I ASKED U??

He is telling that he is not going to tell which is better than others…which ever path/devata/mantra you like ..one can can choose in this app

So he himself not clear what is Supreme !!

Thats y i request you to read atleast once BHAGAVAT GITA once

Is that so difficult for u??

Now u understood what is the danger of following  our MIND…It conditions u…and addicts you not open even TRUTH comes in front of you

We will discuss after you read once

C-Prabhu:  
Krishna in gita 7.20👇

C-Prabhu:  
kāmais

 tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ

prapadyante ‘nya-devatāḥ

taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya

prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.

Those who are freed from all material contaminations surrender unto the Supreme Lord and engage in His devotional service. As long as the material contamination is not completely washed off, they are by nature nondevotees. But even those who have material desires and who resort to the Supreme Lord are not so much attracted by external nature; because of approaching the right goal, they soon become free from all material lust. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is recommended that whether one is a pure devotee and is free from all material desires, or is full of material desires, or desires liberation from material contamination, he should in all cases surrender to Vāsudeva and worship Him. As stated in the Bhāgavatam (2.3.10):

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā

mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ

tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena

yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. Generally, such people do not go to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are in the lower modes of nature (ignorance and passion) and therefore worship various demigods. Following the rules and regulations of worship, they are satisfied. The worshipers of demigods are motivated by small desires and do not know how to reach the supreme goal, but a devotee of the Supreme Lord is not misguided. Because in Vedic literature there are recommendations for worshiping different gods for different purposes (e.g., a diseased man is recommended to worship the sun), those who are not devotees of the Lord think that for certain purposes demigods are better than the Supreme Lord. But a pure devotee knows that the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is the master of all. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 5.142) it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya: only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is master, and all others are servants. Therefore a pure devotee never goes to demigods for satisfaction of his material needs. He depends on the Supreme Lord. And the pure devotee is satisfied with whatever He gives.

Me: 

Please follow your path Prabhu ji! You have neither met my Gurudev nor you have read His memoir. Swamiji always says ‘discover your own path’. One needs to do rigorous tapas, whether that is chanting or meditation, to realise the Supreme. Thinking that one’s spiritual path is superior than the others is sheer ignorance. Experiential knowledge is far superior than bookish knowledge.  I never want anything material from the Divine. I only pray for pure devotion and love towards my Gurudev and Sri Hari. Prabhu ji, I have already surrendered to my Gurudev, perhaps the way Srila Prabhupada ji surrendered to his Guru. Thank you so much for the engaging chats. I am very clear about my path. As I told you, I explored various paths in the last 20 years and finally I found my Guru in Swamiji. I shall try to do my best to walk the path. I am sure the siddha in my lineage will help me. Intellectual arguments no longer inspires me. I am after real experience now; bookish knowledge no longer appeals me. Please forgive me for my ignorance, I am not well read like you. I only know that Swamiji is my Guru, and it’s my Dharma to follow Him. He is taking care of my spiritual progress. I wish you all the best on your path, Prabhu ji! Jai Sri Hari! Hare Krishna! 🙏

To be continued…

Part II could be read here.

Related Q&A

What is the meaning of yogah karmasu kaushalam?

Arun B... asked in Truth 5mo ago 2551 views 4

Hello everyone, Is this correct that 'Yogah karmasu kaushalam (योगा कर्मसु कौशालम्)' is a Sanskrit phrase that means “from action, [good] karma results”? It is often cited to imply that karma or the consequences of an action will come from one's intent and not from an outside force. Can anyone share the deeper meaning of 'yogah karmasu kaushalam' or elaborate in detail? Thank you in advance.

Dr. Va... replied 5mo ago Goto discussion

Its the sign of a true karmayogi. Single pointed concentration or focus and dedication to action without expectation of the results or fruits  is the yoga. That means excellence in action is yoga. As one is focussing only on the action and not the results, the mind doesnt get anxious or distracted....that is the yoga ( mind without distractions.)

Does mantra Japa affect Karma?

Grands... asked in Truth 10mo ago 1653 views 10

Does mantra Japa affect Karma?

A replied 10mo ago Goto discussion

Hi Anirudh,

I totally get it and this is indeed a long process. However, I can assure you that the very fact that you are preoccupied with thoughts that you haven't yet attained your inner self means that you have already burnt through vast karmic reservoirs! To quote Sri Yogananda " it takes very very VERY GOOD KARMA to even want to know god ". So my dear friend you are closer to your liberation than what you may be aware of, so pls take heart in this, you are doing great as is! 

Coming to your statement "I was wondering if Japa has impact on Karma..and seems like it does, though not sure of the exact relationship"...I would ask you one question: Do you chant your mantra like it were a spiritual tool you implement or do you have a relationship with your mantra? In my experience, getting to know a mantra is very much like the process of courtship. At the first stage of your relationship, you ask someone out on a date and then you try to prove to the other person that you are sincere in your intentions and that you deeply care for them and make them your highest priority right? At this point the other person is still evaluating you and hasn't yet decided to invest their energy in you. Only after a period of proving your love and commitment does the other person finally yield and they start to get invested in you. 

All the sadhana part of mantra japa is like the first stage of a courtship where you are trying to convince the mantra that you are someone that it should invest in. At one stage, the mantra starts to reciprocate your love and in turn starts to get invested in you! I can say from my personal experience this happens. When your mantra starts to reciprocate your love, your connection with the mantra goes to a whole new level, and you start to relate to your mantra like you would with a person you absolutely adore. Even once two partners are invested in each other, the relationship hasn't reached the climax yet. Only once you are married does your relationship reach fruition right? Same way only once you and your mantra merge into one where there is no separation between you and your mantra will you attain final liberation.

So, I would say do continue with your Japa, dont lose heart, keep going and you will succeed.

Who composed/wrote/written the gayatri mantra?

Venika S asked in Truth 5mo ago 1609 views 4

Dear Friends, is this information correct about the Gayatri Mantra? Please elaborate if you know something different and please also share the source link so that I can read more about it - The Gayatri mantra was written by Rishi Vishvamitra in his book called Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad (Brahma’s Great Secret) about 5000 years ago.

Anup v B replied 5mo ago Goto discussion

The mantra is attributed to the much revered sage Vishwamitra, who is also considered the author of Mandala 3 of Rig Veda

How do you look at Gurudeva? As God or as Guru?

Anitos... asked in Truth 1 year ago 1336 views 31

Do you see Him as Shri Hari or Maa? Or do you worship Him separately as your Guru? 

Are the existences of Shri Hari/Maa and Gurudeva different for you?

➡️If Yes, then how do you deal with the duality of their existences?

➡️If No, then can you share and elaborate your feelings regarding this?

Sri Devi replied 1 year ago Goto discussion

You've asked a beautiful question that made me think! Thanks for asking the same.

Even though Swami also functions as my Guru, I don't perceive him as my Guru. For me,

• Swami in the physical body: 
  • He is Shiva - The Yoga Yogeshvar!
  • He is an instrument of Devi, the Divine Mother.
  • Like all physical bodies, his body has limitations. 
  • He too experiences aches and pains like all of us. So, I feel care and concern for him.

• Swami in functioning:
  • He is Hari - The Raja Rajeshvar!
  • He alleviates our sufferings and protects us, like Hari.
  • His love for the world is unconditional and pure, like Vishnu.

• Swami in essence: 
  • Is the Formless Divine Energy, which is beyond names and forms.
  • I refer to that as Devi or Om, which is what Swami truly is.

What is your say on worshiping or doing pooja of small idol or Statue of God at home ?

Keerth... asked in Truth 1 year ago 1266 views 12

Hi,

I hear this saying- not sure maybe it is more common say in south India. 

Anyhow my question goes like this:- 

Instead of keeping big glass photos of many gods, I want to buy a small Idol or Statue of Devi (Sringeri Sri Sharadamba, Maa Kali, or Sri Annapoorneshwari - yet to decide) but my mother says idol or statue we can not keep it at home only allowed to place it in the temple !

reason 1. offering prasad to god statue every day without fail. 

reason 2. my family cook nonvegetarian food at home.

What's your opinion on this? 

Om Narayani Namostute. 

Thank you. 

regards:

Keerthi

Sri Devi replied 1 year ago Goto discussion

I'm from South India, and I can relate to what you've asked. In my view, not having idols at home is just a superstition.

Our home is also a temple, and our altar is also a Garbha Griha. Therefore, Swami recommends that we stop cluttering our altar. Instead, he advises that we have just one or two images/idols of the Divine at our place of worship. 

Following the same, throughout his Sadhana, Swami had only one idol of Vishnu with him.

This is the only idol I have had at my altar for quite a while now... She is my Divine, friend, father, mother, family, and everything... https://www.amazon.in/Kartique-Bronze-Standing-Sherawali-Navratra/dp/B08BYF442H/

Also, I've been a vegetarian all my life, but I'm jotting down what Swami said about non-vegetarian food. Non-vegetarian food is your personal preference, and it has nothing to do with your spiritual life or your relationship with the Divine. The only time non-vegetarian food isn't allowed is during specific Sadhana (like Gayatri Sadhana). 

I hope that helps. My love to you.