Harikesa: "Thus always merged in devotional service, the yogi visualizes the Lord standing, moving, lying down or sitting within him, for the pastimes of the Supreme Lord are always beautiful and attractive."

Prabhupada:

sthitaṁ vrajantam asinaṁ
sayanaṁ va guhasayam
prekṣaṇiyehitaṁ dhyayec
chuddha-bhavena cetasa
[SB 3.28.19]

This is meditation. These haṭha-yogis, they meditate in their impersonal feature, but our meditation, Vaiṣṇava, devotees' meditation is very easy. For the haṭha-yogis, they have to select place, asana. Dhyana, dharaṅa, asana... Asana is also one of the activities. But here, in Vaiṣṇava philosophy, you are seeing the Deity always, at least daily, so you have got some impression that "Our temple Deity is like this." That impression, either you are sitting in one place without any activities, sthitaṁ vrajantam... While walking on the street also, you can think of this Deity. There is no difficulty, either you are sitting or you are walking or you are standing, any way. Because the mind is there in Krṣṇa, in Krṣṇa's form. Therefore Deity worship is so essential for the neophyte. He can have always the opportunity to think of the Supreme Lord by the impression of the Deity within the mind. Sayanam. Even in lying down, even talking.

So this is our process. This is the perfect process. You don't require any artificial method to think of God. It is natural. If you simply come to the temple daily, chant in the front of the Deity, Hare Krṣṇa, Hare Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa Krṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, then you become advanced immediately. Sa vai manaḥ; krṣṇa-padaravindayor vacaṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇanuvarṇane [SB 9.4.18]. Now there are books. Either you chant, sit down in the Deity room in front of the Deity, see how aratrika is going on, how Deity is nicely dressed with flower, ornaments, so if you constantly be engaged in thinking of the Deity, that is first-class meditation, not artificially going to That is not possible at the present moment, that, as it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, you have to select a very solitary place and you have to sit down under certain posture, looking half-opened eyes on the tip of the nose so that you may not sleep in the name of meditation. There are so many. And you have to follow brahmacarya. All these rules and regulations are there: dhyana, dharaṅa, asana, praṇayama. Praṇayama. Then? What is called? Pratyahara. Pratyahara means you have to completely withdraw the senses from sense gratification. That is called pratyahara. Then there is samadhi. So this yoga system is recommended, but that it is very, very difficult. Five thousand years ago, when Krṣṇa explained this haṭha-yoga system in the Sixth Chapter to Arjuna Arjuna was honest man. He flatly denied, "Krṣṇa, these things cannot be done by me." Because in those days, especially a person like Arjuna, why he should speak lies? This meditation is not possible. It was only possible in the Satya-yuga when people were very peaceful, long duration of life, there was no artificial necessities of life. Krte yad dhyayato viṣṇum. At that time, to meditate upon Viṣṇu and for years Just like Valmiki Muni. He practiced meditation for sixty thousands of years. Then he got perfection. At that time people used to live for 100,000.

So this meditation is very difficult to execute at the present moment. That is the verdict of the Vedic literature.

krte yad dhyayato viṣṇuṁ
tretayaṁ yajato makhaiḥ;
dvapare paricaryayaṁ
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
[SB 12.3.52]

The meditation which was possible in the krte, in the Satya-yuga... Satya-yuga continued for twelve lakhs of years; then Treta-yuga, eight lakhs of years... No, Satya-yuga, eighteen lakhs; then Treta-yuga, twelve lakhs; then Dvapara-yuga, eight lakhs; and Kali-yuga, four lakhs. Altogether forty-three. So bhakti-yoga includes everything. So this process, this arcana process. If we... Everyone alternately they should learn how to worship. That will give the impression of the Lord within the heart, and then, either you are walking or you are sitting or you are lying or you are eating or you are talking, you'll always think of Krṣṇa. This is the process. It will be automatically done. Sthitaṁ vrajantam asinaṁ sayanaṁ va guhasayam. Generally the yogis, they try to find out the Viṣṇu murti within the core of the heart, but this is as good. When you are walking on the street, then, if you are thinking, there will be no hindrance to your activities, but you can think of Krṣṇa. Sa vai manaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;. Just like Maharaja Ambarish. He was emperor. He had many responsibilities, but he practiced how to think of Krṣṇa always.

Sa vai manaḥ; krṣṇa-padaravindayor vacaṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇanuvarṇane [SB 9.4.18]. You engage your senses. So this is practice. First of all think of the Deity. First of all think of the lotus feet, then the knees, then the eyes, then the belly, then the chest. In this way, as you become practiced, then go further, advance. In this way, when you become fully practiced, then automatically, in whatever condition you are, you will be able to meditate upon Krṣṇa. That is the highest perfection of life. Satataṁ kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. Satataṁ cintayanto mam. If you always think of Krṣṇa, always chant... Chanting is also meditation. As soon as you chant, you immediately remember Krṣṇa, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes. So where is difficulty? The Gosvamis practiced it.

krṣṇotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi
dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau
sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

The six Gosvamis, they were always engaged, krṣṇotkirtana, loudly chanting. The same process we are following: loudly chant always; be engaged in arcana. Always there is possibility of Krṣṇa consciousness. The facilities are there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us kirtaniyaḥ; sada hariḥ; [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Then prekṣaniya, "He is worth seeing." We are accustomed to see so many things. That is our bondage. Akṣnoḥ; phalaṁ. If by the eyes you see the Deity, the Vaiṣṇavas... The Vaiṣṇavas, with tilaka, with kunti, with chanting beads, as soon as you see... And practically you know. As soon as they see these Hare Krṣṇa movement people, they also chant, "Hare Krṣṇa," giving a chance to the others. The dress is also required. You should be always equipped with tilaka, kunti, and sikha, sutra. Then, as soon as a common man sees, "Oh, here is a Hare Krṣṇa man. Hare Krṣṇa," he'll chant. Automatically you give a chance to chant Hare Krṣṇa.

So this is required. The foolish rascals, they say that "What is the necessity of this, that?" No. This is necessity. You must always remain dressed like a Vaiṣṇava. That is necessity. So prekṣaṇiya: "is very beautiful to see." Otherwise how they became impressed? Immediately they become so pious that they chant Hare Krṣṇa. The chanting of Hare Krṣṇa is not so easy. So many people come here, but when there is chanting, they do not chant because it is not easy. Yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. In the sastra it is said, aho bata sva-pacato 'pi gariyan yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. Anyone who is chanting Hare Krṣṇa, jihvagre, with the tongue, even if he is born in a family of dog-eaters he is glorious. He is glorious. Yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. So we give this chance. As soon as he chants Hare Krṣṇa, immediately he becomes glorious. Immediately become glorious. Aho bata sva-pacato 'pi gariyan yaj-jihvagre na..., tepus tapas te [SB 3.33.7]. That means in his previous life he has already performed many sacrifices. Therefore he has got this qualification of chanting Hare Krṣṇa. Tepus tapas te jihuvuḥ; sasnur arya [SB 3.33.7]. They are really Arya, Aryan, who is chanting Hare Krṣṇa.

So we should practice ourself to chant Hare Krṣṇa always. Kirtaniyaḥ; sada hariḥ;, Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended.

trṇad api sunicena
taror api sahiṣṇuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyaḥ; sada hariḥ;
[Cc. Adi 17.31]

Hari-nama, this chanting of Hare Krṣṇa mantra, one should practice always. Hare Krṣṇa, Hare Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa Krṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So prekṣaṇiya ihitaṁ dhyayet. This is meditation. Dhyayet chuddha-bhavena, suddha-bhavena. Not artificial. But even if you do artificially, you will be purified by chanting. Artificially, if we do... That is in the sastra. Still, the chanting of the holy name is so powerful that it will make you... Because it is directly associating with God. Dhyayet. So as soon as chant, immediately there will be meditation, suddha-bhavena cetasa, by consciousness, by the mind, by intelligence. So this is the recommendation.

(reads purport) "The process of meditating on the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within oneself and the process of chanting the glories or pastimes of the Lord are the same." There is no difference. This is called advaya-jñana: no difference, absolute. Either you chant, hear, or you try to see within your heart the Supreme Lord—the same thing. "The only difference is that hearing and fixing the mind on the pastimes of the Lord is easier than visualizing the form of the Lord within one's heart, because as soon as one begins to think of the Lord, especially in this age, the mind becomes disturbed, and due to so much agitation, the process of seeing the Lord within the mind is interrupted." Suppose one is big businessman. He is always thinking of his business, how to sell this, how to purchase this. This is... His mind is absorbed with these things. So if he sits down to meditate upon the Lord, it will not be possible. It will not be possible. His mind will be disturbed, and he will think of his business transaction. So that is natural. But if you chant Hare Krṣṇa loudly, you will be forced to hear "Krṣṇa," and that Krṣṇa immediately comes within your mind by force. So it is better process than sit down and think of Krṣṇa.

"When there is sound vibrated passing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, however, one is forced to hear. That hearing process enters into the mind, and the practice of yoga is automatically performed. For example, even a child can hear and derive the benefit of meditating on the pastimes of the Lord simply..." Now, just like these children. They do not understand English, they do not understand language, but when there will be chanting, they will stand up and dance. See how this process is easy. There is no question of language understanding, no question of being young or child. Anyone who will hear the chanting of Hare Krṣṇa Mantra, he will be enthused immediately, and that is natural. Unless he is covered with sinful activities very much, he will be enthused. Ceto-darpaṇa-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. But even if he is covered with sinful activities, by chanting, immediately the process of cleansing begins. Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ; [SB 1.2.17]. Simply by hearing and chanting, he becomes pious. And the more he becomes pious, he understands what is God, what is Krṣṇa. Without being pious, nobody can understand. Yeṣaṁ tv anta-gataṁ papaṁ jananaṁ puṇya-karmanam, te dvandva-moha-nir...

So the puṇya-karma means yajña-dana-tapasya... That is called puṇya-karma, pious activities. So in this age who is going to perform yajña? Where is that capacity? It is not possible. And who has got money to give in charity? Everyone is poverty-stricken. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyaḥ; [SB 1.1.10]. Everyone is unfortunate, everyone in this age. So how he can give in charity? Any country you go-maybe in some special-otherwise you will find poverty-stricken men, hungry men, without any culture, without any education. They are majority. Manda-bhagyaḥ;. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo. And mostly, cent percent Why? Cent percent men, they are mandaḥ;, bad men. They won't hear about their real necessities of life. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo. And if they are at all interested for progress of life, they will accept some so-called system, sumanda-matayo. It has no meaning, simply bluff. They will accept that. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo. Why? Manda-bhagyaḥ;, unfortunate. Unfortunate. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutaḥ;. And always disturbed. This is the description of the men in this Kali-yuga. And beyond that, they are short-living. The duration of life is very short. Under the circumstances, the general process is impossible. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended,

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Cc. Adi 17.21]

So this should be taken.

So, "Hearing includes applying the mind. In this age of Kali-yuga, Lord Caitanya has recommended that one should always engage in chanting and hearing Bhagavad-gita." Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krṣṇa-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128].' Krṣṇa also said... Somebody questioned me, that "Where is chanting is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita?" That is there: satataṁ kirtayanto maṁ yatantas ca drḍha-vrataḥ; [Bg. 9.14]. And they say, "Where is chanting in the word?" Here is chanting. Mam. Satataṁ kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. Mam-Krṣṇa-kirtana, not this kirtana, that kirtana. They have imitated. No. Sravaṇaṁ kirtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ; [SB 7.5.23]. Sravaṇaṁ kirtanam means of the, by the name of Viṣṇu. The Mayavadis, they have invented. In Calcutta, in Bengal, they have invented Kali-kirtana, Kali-kirtana. The Ramakrishna Mission, they have invented Kali-kirtana. "Why Hari-kirtana? Kali-kirtana." They have got a party. As we say... Because they are rival, if we say, "Hare Krṣṇa," they will say "Kali, Kali, Kali," like that. This is going on. Kirtana does not mean any other demigod. Kirtana means of Viṣṇu. Sravaṇaṁ kirtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ;, clearly state. But these bogus, so-called swamis and yogis, they cheat people, bluff people by their own concoction. That is the difficulty. Even if you speak the right truth, they are unable to receive it because they have been deceived by so many rascals. So kirtana means... Krṣṇa says in the Bhagavad..., satataṁ kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14], Krṣṇa. He doesn't say that "Any kirtana will do." No. He doesn't say. Satataṁ kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drḍha-vrataḥ; [Bg. 9.14].

So everything is there. Stick to Hare Krṣṇa maha-mantra and see the Deity always and have impression of the Deity. In whichever position you are, you'll be meditating and your life will be successful.

Thank you very much. Chant Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

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