1. SB 1.2.12 – 1.2.17

2. O FFERING RESPECTFUL OBEISANCES näräyaëaà namaskåtya naraà caiva narottamam devéà sarasvatéà vyäsaà tato jayam udérayet “Before reciting this Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Näräyaëa, unto Nara-näräyaëa Åñi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvaté, the goddess of learning, and unto Çréla Vyäsadeva, the author.” SB 1.2.4

3. nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké “By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” SB1.2.18

4. SB 1.2.12 How to realize the Absolute Truth?

5. SB 1.2.12 tac chraddadhänä munayo jïäna-vairägya-yuktayä paçyanty ätmani cätmänaà bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä “The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedänta-çruti.”

6. P UNCHING STATEMENT FROM THE PURPORT Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge combined with detachment from material association and which is fixed by the aural reception of the Vedänta-çruti, is the only perfect method by which the seriously inquisitive student can realize the Absolute Truth. Devotional service is not, therefore, meant for the less intelligent class of transcendentalist.

7. FORMULA FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS What is the qualification to realize the absolute truth in full? By Devotional service based on Full knowledge Detachment Fixed by aural reception of Vedanta Sruti Seriously inquisitive

8. EAGERNESS tac chraddadhänä - Seriously inquisitive, Faith Eagerness to see, want to love Krishna Jewel thief, Dhruva maharaj

9. SRILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA “Of course, if you are eager to see Kåñëa, the motive may be different, but somehow or other, due to your eagerness, you'll see Kåñëa. That is the only qualification. So Rüpa Gosvämé advises that "Kåñëa consciousness, if it is possible, please purchase. Don't delay." Kåñëa-bhakti-rasa-bhävitä matiù kriyatäm. "Purchase immediately!" Kåñëa-bhakti-rasa- bhävitä matiù kriyatäà yadi kuto 'pi. "Where it is available? It is very nice thing." "Yes, it is available. You can purchase. The movement is going on." "And what is the price?" "Price?" "It is such a nice thing; you have to pay price." "Yes, there is price." "What is that?" Tatra laulyam ekalaà mülyam: "Simply your eagerness. That is price. This price you have to pay." Then you get Kåñëa. Immediately. So this eagerness is very important thing. Tac chraddadhänä munayaù. Those who have developed that eagerness, faith, that "I must see Kåñëa in this life..." This life is meant for seeing Kåñëa. It is not meant for becoming dogs and hogs. “

10. SB 1.2.12 Jnana vairagya yuktaya – Equipped with Knowledge and Detachment Jnana – “I am not the master but I am simply the servant of the Supreme Lord” Vairagya – Knowledge leads to Detachment Jnana & Vairagya are the subset of Bhakti

11. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA “So this is jïäna, as Caitanya Mahäprabhu enunciates, not to become master or God, to become servant of the God. Not only servant, but servant, servant, servant, servant, hundred times downward. Then you become perfect. That is the demand of Kåñëa, that you first of all become servant. Sarva- dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëam [Bg. 18.66]. Because that is your real position. Caitanya Mahäprabhu confirms it. Jévera svarüpa haya nitya- kåñëa-däsa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. This is our position. This is jïäna. Anyone who is claiming other that this is not in knowledge. He is ajïäna. “

12. B ASED ON VEDIC KNOWLEDGE bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä – through aural reception from the Vedanta Sutras Bhakti is on the basis of Vedic Knowledge The goal of Vedanta is to understand Bhagavan çruti-småti-puräëädi- païcarätra-vidhià vinä aikäntiké harer bhaktir utpätäyaiva kalpate "Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upaniñads, Puräëas and Närada-païcarätra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society." (BRS 1.2.101)

13. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA “What kind of bhakti? Bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä. Çruta, by hearing çruti, or Vedas. Completely on the basis of Vedic knowledge, that bhakti, not sentimental. Real bhakti, Çré Jéva Gosvämé has commented that bhakti based on understanding of Vedänta- sütra is perfect, on the basis of jïäna, knowledge, and vairägya. “

14. T HREE CLASSES OF DEVOTEES Devotional service therefore is not meant for less intelligent class of transcendentalist First class, second class and third class devotees Kanista adhikari – no knowledge, not detached from material association, more attached to material benefit than transcendental profit. Madhyama adhikari – sees four principles in devotional line At least be on the platform of Madhyama adhikari to realize the absolute truth. How to raise oneself to the platform of Madhyama adhikari?

15. SB 1.2.12 Importance of Hearing Neophytes have very little taste to hear from authorities Prepared to hear from 1 st class devotees From right source Without following devotional service based on Vedic literatures is simply a disturbance How we hear has a reciprocal effect on our consciousness Difference between listening and hearing

16. S IMPLE HEARING IS NOT ALL … “Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviñöa means that Süta Gosvämé drank the juice of Bhägavatam through his ears. That is the real process of receiving Bhägavatam. One should hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once realize the presence of Lord Kåñëa in every page. The secret of knowing Bhägavatam is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if someone hears with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning one can assuredly see Lord Çré Kåñëa in person in the pages of Bhägavatam. “ – SB 1.3.44 Purport

17. R ECEIVE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PARAMPARA Important to accept a Guru who is coming in Parampara - Bhagavata Pranipatena – Approach a bonafide spiritual master Prasiprasnena – Inquire submissively Sevaya – Render menial Service

18. P RACTICAL A PPLICATION Hearing Applying Engage in devotional sevice, strictly following rules and regulations as laid down by Acharyas and Scriptures

19. What is the goal of realizing the Absolute Truth?

20. SB 1.2.13 ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù svanuñöhitasya dharmasya saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.

21. H IGHEST PERFECTION To Please Supreme Lord Krishna with the Social institution of Varnasharama system “Everyone should know how to become perfect. That education is not there. They do not know what is perfection. They do not know that "I am eternal. My struggle for existence is for perfection of life, to come to my original position, Kåñëa consciousness, so that I may regain again my eternal, blissful life of knowledge.That is the aim” – Srila Prabhupada

22. VARNASHRAMA SYSTEM What’s not Varnaashrama System Division by birth Not for selfish purposes, Sense gratification Not for artificial dominance

23. SRILA PRABHUPADA UVACA So it is required therefore that the social system should be organized in such a way that automatically people become interested in the ultimate goal of life. That is civilization. This is not civilization, simply animal propensities: eat voraciously and sleep twenty hours and have sex life without any restriction and have atom bomb for the defense. That's all, finished, civilization. Ähära-nidrä-bhaya-maithunaà ca sämänyam etat

24. PURPOSE OF VARNASHRAMA SYSTEM Division by one’s work and qualification Best interest of human society Each of them performing occupational duty for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord Smooth social intercourse and high thinking self realization Cooperate jointly to please the supreme personality of Godhead

25. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACA Because it is said, varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù. A brähmaëa, brähmaëa-varëa, he can satisfy Kåñëa by his tapasya, by his truthfulness, by his knowledge of the çästras. He can preach the knowledge of the çästra to the world. He can eat on behalf of God. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was a kñatriya. He was not a brähmaëa; he was kñatriya. He was not a sannyäsé; he was a gåhastha, king. His business, he knew how to kill. So by killing he satisfied Kåñëa. Saàsiddhir hari- toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. So this is the real dharma, saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. If you, someway or other, can satisfy Kåñëa... Just like Arjuna, by killing, he sat... Killing art is not very good art. But because by killing he satisfied Kåñëa, Kåñëa gave him certificate, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me [Bg. 4.3], "Oh, you are My very dear friend."

26. SB 1.2.13 Performances of occupational duties with different motivations Satisfaction of the self (Mind, senses, ego) Family Society, Nation, etc. Purification Satisfaction of the Supreme (Highest perfection) by which is one awarded devotion

27. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA Anything you do, if you can satisfy Kåñëa by your art and intelligence and education, by your work, then your life is perfect. So this is our proposition. Svanuñöhitasya dharmasya saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam [SB 1.2.13]. It does not matter, varëäçrama-dharma, eight categories, four social and four spiritual or four material and four spiritual, but when the material activities are enacted for spiritual advancement, then it is no more material; it is spiritual.

28. P RACTICAL APPLICATION How should we act? Samsiddhir hari tosanam – Using our work, intelligence, abilities etc for the satisfaction of Krsna Bhakti means – transforming material to spiritual

29. How do we act to attain perfection?

30. SB 1.2.14 tasmäd ekena manasä bhagavän sätvatäà patiù çrotavyaù kértitavyaç ca dhyeyaù püjyaç ca nityadä “Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.”

31. S INGULAR FOCUS Four things are required: 1. Srotavya – Hearing 2. Kirtitavya – Glorifying 3. Dhyeya – Remembering 4. Pujya – Worshipping Nityada – Regularly Whom? – Bhagavän sätvatäà patiù – The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, protector of devotees Ekena manasa - Love means singular focus

32. P UNCHING STATEMENTS FROM PURPORT If realization of the Absolute Truth is the ultimate aim of life, it must be carried out by all means. Especially in modern society, all activities are more or less dependent on hearing and glorifying. The tendency to glorify others or hear others must be turned to the real object of glorification- the Supreme Being. And that will bring happiness.

33. S RILA P RABHUPADA UVACA Tasmäd ekena manasä bhagavän sätvatäà patiù, çrotavyaù. How you can satisfy God if you do not know God, if you manufacture God? Çrotavya, hear about God, what is God……. Çrotavya and kértitavyaç ca. And spread that knowledge. Just like you are hearing about God. Now you have to spread it. Kértitavyaç ca.. So what is real God, you must preach. Çrotavyaù kértitavyaç ca, dhyeyaù. And you should always think of God; then you will get intelligence. If you think of something else, for sense gratification, then it will not be done. Always thinking of God, always thinking of Kåñëa. Dhyeyaù püjyaç ca, and offering worship, just like we have got this in the temple. Chanting Hare Kåñëa, that is dhyeya; and püjyaç ca, and offering worship to the Lord.

34. N ITYADA So preaching, hearing, always thinking of, and worshiping. These four things are required. Then everything will be all right. It is not official business, that after one week you go and "God give us our daily bread" and go home. No. Nityadä, twenty-four hours we should be business, engaged in this business. Nityadä.

35. E KENA MANASA Ekena manasä. Concentrating fully. Ekena. With one attention. No diversion. Ekena manasä, bhagavän sätvatäà patiù. Don't be afraid that "If I simply concentrate my mind in Kåñëa, then how other things will go on?" No. Bhagavän sätvatäà patiù. He is very careful about His devotee. – Srila Prabhupada “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.” [BG 9.22] Story of Arjunaacharya

36. P RACTICAL APPLICATION Hearing is the basic foundation of our spiritual life Singular focus – My goal is Krsna sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam and arcanam are the four essential processes that we should follow in our life to advance in Krsna Consciousness

37. Now, how can I remove the karmic reactions that bind me to the world and cause me to value things other than Krsna?

38. 1.2.15 yad-anudhyäsinä yuktäù karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidäs tasya ko na kuryät kathä-ratim “With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?”

39. B ENEFITS OF K RSNA CONSCIOUSNESS yad-anudhyasina yuktah : Being engaged in this process of KC Karma-grandhi-nibhandanam – the spool of the result of our activities one after the another Chindanti – cut off Kovidah – Intelligent man tasya ko na kuryat katha ratim – Why an intelligent man should not engage himself in hearing about the topics of Kåñëa?

40. P UNCHING STATEMENT FROM PURPORT They are all-attractive spiritual activities, and therefore constant association with the spiritual activities of the Supreme Lord gradually spiritualizes the conditioned soul and ultimately severs the knot of material bondage.

41. KARMA Our karma is compared to tangle of knots They are Obstacles on the path of devotion Solution: Remembrance of the Lord in any situation of life

42. H OW TO UPROOT SINFUL PROCLIVITIES kecit kevalayä bhaktyä väsudeva-paräyaëäù aghaà dhunvanti kärtsnyena néhäram iva bhäskaraù “Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to Kåñëa can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays.” (SB 6.1.15)

43. P ADMA PURANA aprärabdha-phalaà päpaà küöaà béjaà phalonmukham krameëaiva praléyeta viñëu-bhakti-ratätmanäm “ For those who are engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all sinful reactions, whether fructified, in the stock, or in the form of a seed, gradually vanish. Therefore the purifying potency of devotional service is very strong.”

44. D EVOTIONAL SERVICE Eradicates sinful reactions Nullifies Counteracts material sinful proclivities Uproot Ignorance

45. W HY AM I NOT GETTING TASTE ? Srila Jiva Goswami – who will not hear about Krishna who saves mankind from the greatest misery? Chanting can easily focus our mind on Krishna, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had said – Durdaivam Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur lists four causes of this misfortunte Tattva brahma Aparadha Asat trsna Hrdaya daurbalyam

46. As easy and important as the process may be, I simply have not acquired the taste either for Chanting or hearing Krsna Katha. HOW TO GET THE TASTE FOR HEARING?

47. 1.2.16 çuçrüñoù çraddadhänasya väsudeva-kathä-ruciù syän mahat-sevayä vipräù puëya-tértha-niñevaëät “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.”

48. 1.2.16 The confidential servants of the Lord appear to save the human society They urge people to become devotees They are to be respected as God, but they never tolerate being called God

49. S ERVING DEVOTEES WITH LIFE AND SOUL Mahat- seva : Rendering service to a pure devotee Who is a mahatma? – vasudeva sarvam iti Nobody in the history has attained love of Godhead without serving and pleasing devotees Adi Purana – “Those who worship My devotee is more dear to Me” Examples Ramanujacharya, Pundarik, Uddhava By serving a Bhagavatam, a person understands Bhagavatham.

50. P UNCHING STATEMENTS FROM PURPORT By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord. The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and so are very dear to the Lord. Parents and Kids Eg: Maharaj Prataprudra, Dukhi, Madhai,

51. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA “Now how this taste is created, that is also explained in the next line. Syän mahat-sevayä. Mahat-sevayä. Mahat means... I have already explained. A devotee, pure devotee, whose..., who has no other business than to serve Kåñëa, he is called mahat. So one has to engage himself in the service of the pure devotee. As soon as we serve a pure devotee... As it is spoken by Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, yasya prasädäd bhagavat- prasädaù **. Yasya prasädät. If you satisfy a pure devotee by your service, then, even there is some discrepancies, you get all these qualities. Syän mahat-sevayä räjan.”

52. H OW ONE DEVELOPS TASTE By serving/interacting with great souls one develops faith in them By the purity of these mahatmas we get attracted When we develop faith and attraction, we open our heart to hear To hear about what? What they are relishing in Krishna consciousness Thus we also become attracted to Krishna [Yudhistra Maharaj to Vidhura] My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage. [SB 1.13.10]

53. P UNCHING STATEMENTS FROM PURPORT By serving the servants of the Lord, one gradually gets the quality of such servants, and thus one becomes qualified to hear the glories of God. By serving one gets attached and by attachment we remember often If you want to get some quality, you serve or associate with a person who has that quality Eg: A Moth enters in to cocoon & meditates on Butterfly and transforms to one

54. D IFFERENT STAGES OF DEVOTION Sraddha – Beginning stage Sadhu-sanga – Association of devotees Bhajana-kriya – Chanting of the Holy Names Anartha-nivrrti – Unwanted material desires are wiped out Nishta – Steadiness Ruci – Taste Asakti – Firm attachment Prema – Devotional love

55. P RACTICAL APPLICATION Service to Vaishnavas is our life and soul Think ourselves to be the insignificant servant of our spiritual master and Param Guru, Srila Prabhupada Service mood will award a taste for hearing Krsna-katha.

56. After serving devotees, we begin to desire to hear about Krsna. What happens next?

57. 1.2.17 çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù puëya-çravaëa-kértanaù hådy antaù stho hy abhadräëi vidhunoti suhåt satäm “Çré Kåñëa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramätmä [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.”

58. P UNCHING STATEMENT FROM PURPORT Messages of the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kr ̣ s ̣ n ̣ a are nondifferent from Him. Whenever, therefore, offenseless hearing and glorification of God are undertaken, it is to be understood that Lord Kr ̣ s ̣ n ̣ a is present there in the form of transcendental sound, which is as powerful as the Lord personally.Śrī Kr ̣ s ̣ n ̣ aKr ̣ s ̣ n ̣ a Holy name, Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatham Attentive chanting, Personally associating with Krishna Putting Krishna in the center, inviting the Lord in to our heart One mantra at a time If we listen to one mantra – difference is like day and night.

59. P UNCHING STATEMENT FROM PURPORT Most of us do not desire at all to go back to Godhead. Only a very few men want to go back to Godhead. But anyone who desires to go back to Godhead, Çré Kåñëa helps in all respects. We could have come to KC with different motivations Keep track of end goal Eg: Hanumanji

60. P UNCHING STATEMENT FROM PURPORT To become restless in the contact of women and wealth is not an astonishment, because every living being is associated with such things from remote time, practically immemorial, and it takes time to recover from this foreign nature. But if one is engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord, gradually he realizes his real position. By the grace of God such a devotee gets sufficient strength to defend himself from the state of disturbances, and gradually all disturbing elements are eliminated from his mind. Eg: Srila Haridas Thakur

61. A NARTHAS THAT CAUSE UNSTEADINESS Hrdy antah sthah – Contaminations accumulated in our heart 1. Utsaha-mayi – Enthusiasm indicating pride 2. Ghana-tarala – Moving unsteadily between diligence and negligence 3. Vyudha-vikalpa – Flickering determination 4. Visaya-sangara – Ongoing struggle with sense pleasure 5. Niyamaksama – Inability to improve devotional practices 6. Taranga-rangini – Delighting in the material facilites that bhakti produces

62. S RILA PRABHUPADA UVACHA “So our Kåñëa consciousness movement is giving this chance to everyone. Everyone, without any discrimination. So how it is purified? One may say that "Simply by hearing how one becomes purified?" No. Kåñëa helps. Here it is said: hådy antaù stho hy abhadräëi vidhunoti suhåt satäm. Kåñëaù vidhunoti. Kåñëa helps you. Those who are hearing with attention... Kåñëa is within you, everyone, Paramätmä. Éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäà håd-deçe 'rjuna tiñöhati [Bg. 18.61]. Kåñëa is with you. Kåñëa is so kind, Kåñëa is so sympathetic, as soon as He sees, "Oh, this soul..." Because every soul is Kåñëa's son... So He's very much anxious. Just like a father. If a son is in difficulty, the father is more anxious; "How this boy will be rescued from this difficulty?" Similarly, we are suffering in this material world. Kåñëa is more anxious to get us back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore, as soon as He sees, "Oh, he is hearing about Me. Oh, thank you. I shall help you." Immediately He vidhunoti, He washes all the dirty things.”

63. H EARING GIVES HIGHEST PERFECTION “By hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Lord, one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead, and, as explained before, by hearing about the Personality of Godhead, from within, all accumulated sins of the mundane creature are cleared. Thus being cleared of all sins, the hearer gradually becomes liberated from mundane association and becomes attracted to the features of the Lord. Närada Muni has just explained this by his personal experience. The whole idea is that simply by hearing about the Lord's pastimes one can become one of the associates of the Lord. Närada Muni has eternal life, unlimited knowledge and unfathomed bliss, and he can travel all over the material and spiritual worlds without restriction. One can attain to the highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Çré Närada heard them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedäntas) in his previous life. This process of hearing in the association of the devotees is especially recommended in this age of quarrel (Kali). “ SB 1.5.26 Purport

64. P RACTICAL APPLICATION Sravana kirtana – Chanting and Hearing Krsna from within removes contaminations So much depends on our eagerness to attentively hear and chant

65. SUMMARY 1.2.12 – The Absolute Truth is realized only by performing Devotional Service 1.2.13 – The goal of all prescribed duties is to satisfy the Supreme Lord 1.2.14 – It can be accomplished by hearing, chanting, glorifying and remembering Him with one pointed attention 1.2.15 – By this process of remembering the Supreme Lord, all reactionary work (karma), which binds one to the body, is completely cut. Intelligent men therefore constantly remember Krishna.

66. S UMMARY 1.2.16 - I do not have this taste for hearing and consequently for chanting, remembering etc. Serving the pure devotees gives an affinity to hear. 1.2.17 – When the Lord sees that our sincerity and eagerness to hear and chant His glories, then He so mercifully removes our material contamination so that we may easily go back to Him.

67. REFERENCES Unveiling His Lotus feet by HG Bhurijana Prabhu ISKCON DESIRE TREE Lectures - ISKCON Swamis – Indradyumna Swami, Romapada Swami, Giriraj Swami (according to the verses) www.rompadaswami.comwww.rompadaswami.com – SB 1.2.12 – 18 lectures Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture transcriptions