Fix your mind on Krsna | SB 2.1.18 | HH Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj

In this Bhagavatam class at a Preaching Centre in Surat, HH Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj covers the following points:

1. Everything in devotional life begins from attentive hearing. Without hearing, we cannot purify our intelligence. Maharaj emphasizes that until we regularly hear about Krishna - His names, activities, forms, qualities and incarnations, we cannot truly understand how to serve Him.

2. He describes how human beings are constantly pulled by the 24/7 working senses, which don’t have any compassion and just do what they want to do. The mind, when uncontrolled, accepts whatever the senses dictate. He also gave an example of how Arjuna objected when Krishna asked him to control the mind, saying it’s very restless and almost impossible to control, as it is like the wind.

3. He explained how intelligence is captured by the mind and senses. When the senses are attracted to something, the mind likes it and then the intelligence forms goodness around it and makes us believe that this is what “I am.” He also explained how difficult it is to take care of subtle things compared to gross things. Hence, intelligence is even more difficult to control than the mind because once the mind takes over, intelligence is controlled by whatever the mind desires.

4. Maharaj also explains how attractive this process of hearing in Krishna Consciousness is by giving the example of Sukadeva Goswami, who came out of his mother’s womb after being there comfortably for 16 years, just because he heard the glories of devotional service and desired to experience Bhakti.

5. He also explains that the mind can either become our greatest friend or our worst enemy. When conquered and fixed on Lord Krishna, the mind elevates the soul toward spiritual perfection. But when dictated by material senses, it traps the soul in repeated birth and death. He suggested that one should conquer the mind by attaching it to Krishna and by seeing Krishna in our hearts as the goal of everything and the purpose of life and worship Krishna. Prabhupada describes this as Samadhi.

6. Maharaj also explains what Avanti Brahmana said about the mind that not people, demigods, the soul, ruling planets, the reaction of work (karma) or time are the reasons for our happiness and unhappiness ; it’s the mind. He also explained that all religious activities people do, like sacrifices and charity, are meant to control the mind. A person who has controlled the mind through chanting the holy names of the Lord doesn’t need to give charity or perform sacrifices. And those who, even after doing these, haven’t been able to control the mind - all their activities are pointless.

7. Maharaj also explained that all anxiety has one source - ignorance. It means not understanding that there is one reality but we divide it with duality. Thus, our intelligence perceives things incorrectly. Hence, we should always hear about Rathangapani (Lord Krsna, holding the chariot wheel on His finger), who is so attracted to His devotees, that He even breaks His own promises for them. Maharaj further explained how can we approach Krishna, by meditating and glorifying His birth and pastimes.

8. Maharaj concluded by quoting Srila Prabhupada: “Hearing and chanting are the root and essence of devotional service. Everything comes from these two.” He further explained that sometimes we think we are too busy to do this, and then Krishna will keep us busy. Busy in this cycle of life and death!