Eye is not Only Instrument to Convince Truth

2017-07-26 Srimad Bhagavatam 11.03.26(D) - Eye is not Only Instrument to Convince Truth (download mp3) by Srila Haridas Thakur Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 11.3.26sraddham bhagavate sastre ’nindam anyatra capi himano-vak-karma-dandam ca satyam sama-damav api Translation: One should have firm faith that he will achieve all success in life by following those scriptures that describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures. One should rigidly control his mind, speech and bodily activities, always speak the truth, and bring the mind and senses under full control. Purport: The definition of sraddha, or faith, is given as follows in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.62): ‘sraddha’-sabde — visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya “By rendering transcendental loving service to Krsna, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called sraddha.” Thus a devotee should be confident that by carrying out the injunctions of bhagavata-sastra, or Vedic literature that directly, rather than indirectly, describes devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one will easily achieve all knowledge and the perfection of life. According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, mano-vak-kaya-dandam, or strict control of the mind, speech and bodily activities, means manasa-vacika-kayika-vikarma-rahityam; that is, one should rigidly abandon all sinful activities with his mind, speech and body. As Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly pointed out, sense control does not mean stopping sensory activities, thus becoming like a dead body, but rather engaging one’s mental, vocal and bodily activities in the service of Krsna. Srila Rupa Gosvami has stated: iha yasya harer dasye karmana manasa giranikhilasv apy avasthasu jivan-muktah sa ucyate “A person acting in Krsna consciousness, in the service of Krsna, with his body, mind, intelligence and words is a liberated person, even within the material world, although he may be engaged in many so-called material activities.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187) Thus one can achieve vikarma-rahityam, or freedom from unauthorized, sinful activities, by engaging one’s senses, mind, intelligence and speech twenty-four hours daily in the service of Krsna. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says that only those pious living entities who are vikarma-rahita, completely free from sinful life, can achieve freedom from the illusory duality of material nature (samatvam dvandva-samjñayoh). The Lord says: yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanamte dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drdha-vratah “Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion engage themselves in My service with determination.” (Bg. 7.28) In his purport to this verse, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has stated, “Those eligible for elevation to the transcendental position are mentioned in this verse. For those who are sinful, atheistic, foolish and deceitful, it is very difficult to transcend the duality of desire and hate. Only those who have passed their lives in practicing the regulative principles of religion, who have acted piously and have conquered sinful reactions can accept devotional service and gradually rise to the pure knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, gradually, they can meditate in trance on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the process of being situated on the spiritual platform. This elevation is possible in Krsna consciousness in the association of pure devotees who can deliver one from delusion.” Srila Madhvacarya has quoted the following statement from the Brahmanda Purana: “One should have complete faith in transcendental literature such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and