1991-096: Introduction To Chaitanya Charitamrita Lecture Mumbai

Adi lila Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Of the Gaudiya Vaishnav literature, Chaitanya Charitamrita
is of paramount importance. There are many authorized biographies of Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu and spiritual descendents of those associates such as Chaitanya Bhagvat Chaitanya
Mangal, Bhakti Ratnakar, Prem Vilas, Narottam Vilas and many other acharyas. But from all of
them all the great acharyas have agreed and concluded that Chaitanya Charitamrita is most
important because Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami has so deeply explained the philosophical
principal behind every aspect of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life and teachings. Chaitanya
Bhagavat written by Srila Vrindavana Das Thakur, who according to Kaviraj Goswami is
accepted to be the incarnation of Vyasa dev, has written in such a way to mark within history, the
record of most important activities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in this world and specially his
various relationship with his devotees. Of Course as it is explained in Chaitanya Bhagvat Shri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed so many past times that if Ananatsesha with all of his hoods
in entire span of creation want to try to delineate what Chaitnya Mahaprabhu did in One hour it
would be impossible that is the fullness and the depth of unlimited past time of the lord but some
of the important and beautiful past time of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu have been given by Srila
Vrindavana Das Thakur to yhe world for all time to come, Now Krishnaraj Kaviraj Goswami
explained in Chaitnya Charitamrita after glorifying Srila Vrindavana Das Thakur that he has
explained everything in essence and in truth. I am only chewing the remnants of what he has
already spoken and elaborating on certain points that he hasn’t taken the time to discuss and
Kaviraj Goswami in his great humility considers himself to be the most obedient and humble
servant of both Vrindavana Das thakur- his predecessor & author; as well as all of the
Vaishnavas. In fact we find in Chaitanya Charitamrita how it is that Krishna Das Kaviraj who
has elaborated with such deep explanation on every point so people within the heart can be
utterly convinced of the supremacy of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu’s incarnation and the truth
underlying all of his teachings . It is explained that Swarupa Damodar Goswami was the personal
secretary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and that what we should do in this class is whoever is
here is till 1030(4.43). Krishnaraj kaviraj Goiswami- how did he come to write Chaitnya
Charitanrita. it is explained that Swarupa Damodar Goswami was the personal secretary of
Chaitnya Mahaprabhu and specially during his antya lila -his last years on this earth, he was
constantly in association of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu- both day and night .and Raghunath Das
Goswami was personally put under the care of Swarupa Damodar Goswami by Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu himself. Raghunath das Goswami was from the coyest community very very
wealthy father and uncle -tremendous amount of land, tremendous influence on society and
Raghunath was his only son, he is the only one to carry on the families name. not only that he
was the only one to carry on the all of the efforts and endeavors that his father and uncle has
given their lives to developing.They were solely dependent on Raghunath Das. So there was
tremendous social pressure, tremendous family pressure and endless amount of temptations that
were put before him. Practically speaking his father and uncle was like the king of that village
and he was to be like the king. So of course at very very young age they married him to a very
beautiful women with the most exalted qualities conceivable, trying to settle him very nicely in
what they called it swadhrma, his duties in the life but some how or other when Raghunath was
very young his family’s guru whose name was Raghunanadanacharya, he was a devotee of
Haridas Thakur. So at times he would bring Raghunath to meet Haridas thakur and when he
heard the glories of the holyname and when he heard the glories of decent of Sri Chaitnya
mahaprabhu in that association it awakend within his heart an incessable desire for devotional
service, he cared nothing for his material life. and when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was
travelling on His journey to Vrindavan, I am sorry I believe there first meeting was after Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sanyas, when He was in Shantipur. at that time Raghunathdas first
came and met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his heart changed, his heart was committed to the
mission of the lord at the exclusion of every thing and any body else.And he told to his parents
what his the plan was , and of coure they went wild with grief ,with disappointment ,with anger
with everything. Everything they lived for they were depending on him to preserve and to
expand upon- future of their name ,future of their fortune was solely in his hands.It is a long
story but it is explained by Kaviraj Goswami in the antya lila how Raghunath Das was gaurded
by all the sides from the 12 bodyguards who were specially kept, for keeping him from running
away. At one point Chaitnya Mahaprabhu told him do the needful, be like a woman who is
married but in love with the another man ,do your duties very carefully so nobody can suspect
that you have any other motivation except taking care of the husband. Do your responsibility but
in heart always meditating upon Krishna and due course of time Krishna will liberate you from
this bodily bondage. and of course at the right moment Srila Raghunath das escaped from the
home and he went directly to Jagannath Puri. when he arrived in puri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
was very happy to see him and embraced him . He said it is only the mercy of Krishna that one
can be relieved from the bondage of worldly life and he accepted Raghunath as Sanyasi. He
personally took his hand and gave him as a gift to Swarupa Damodar Goswami and he said that I
want you to take care of him I want you to train him and allow him to be your assistant. And for
that time for many many years -over a decade Raghunath lived in the direct service of Swarupa
Damodar who was in personal association of Sri Chaitaya Mahaprabhu. And Swarupa Damodar
was keeping a brief diary about activities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Raghunath Das
expounded on this very deeply and of course after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world and
after Swarupa Damodar in the pain of separation can no longer endure life in this world, he left
and Lord Nityananda left and Gadadhar Pandit had left so many great vaishanavas
left.Raghunath thinking what the use of my living what is purpose of my existence, I want to
join Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu but I am so materialistic, I am so worldly, I am so attached to
this body and the senses that I am living in the separation from the Lord and His associates. He
decided to go to Vrindanvana and climb on the top of the Govardhan hill, to leap from the top
and commit suicide. So he made his journey to Vrindavan. But of course Rupa and Sanatan were
specially told by Sri Chaitya Mhaprabhu to be the acharyas to direct and guide all of the Gaudiya
Vaishnavas and establish the principles that Gaudiya Vaishnavism should follow for rest of the
eternity. So Raghunath understanding the love and intimacy between them paid obeisances and
receive blessings from Rupa and Sanatan Goswamis.How fortunate we are that he did because
when he did they told him that you were with Chaitnya Mahaprabhu practically continuously for
the last 18 years of His lila in this world. Therefore we and the rest of the world can’t understand
and know what he has done. so you can’t leave this world you must stay with us and discuss
daily the beautiful past time and teaching of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as you have seen them
and heard from Swarupa Damodar. So every day Raghunath Das Goswami at various places
specially on the banks of Sri Radha kunda, he would narrate the beautiful past times of the Lord
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through his own direct experience and experience of the intimate
associate that he was constantly in contact with. And the vaishnavas of Vrindavana with great
great anticipation and love they would listen every day with rapt attention. One such vaishnav
was Krishnadas Kaviraj goswami . He would hear every day from Raghunath. In Chaitnya
Charitanrita Krishna das Kaviraj explains how he came to Vrindavana. He was living in a small
village in Bengal and it is described that one of the very very personal associates of lord
Nitayananda of the name Miniketana Ram Das came to visit his village, and he is the one of the
12 gopals one of the 12 most confidential cowherd boys of Goloka Vrindavana who descended
along with Lord Nityananda to manifest the divine lila of Braja in this most confidential manner
of Chaitanya lila in this world. So Meniketana Ram Das came to this village and he preached,
had beautiful kirtana he danced very very much. He was a very spontaneous devotee. People
have so much regard affection and love for him that people vow down to him sometimes he
would jump on their back and he would take his flute and slap them and they start to laugh. In
this way he was simply in the mood of cowherd boy while he was there but he was also very
very conscious that he is the representative of Lord Nityananda. Some time in the preaching
mission, a devotee representing the great soul,accepts respect ,accepts obeisances on the behalf
of the great soul. Never think it for himself and of course any offence committed to that soul is
also delivered to the acharya or great soul to whom he is representing. So it is described on time
the brother of Krishna Das Kaviraj nGoswami was worshiping the deity and Meniketana Ram
Das came into their home and brother ordurely neglect to show any hospitality and respect to
Meniketana Ram Das, he was humble, but he realized that this the offence to Lord Nityananada
this is not offence to me.And therefore he became very angry. He spoke that I see here another
example of Romaharshasuta who has failed to show respect to Lord Balram.He specially used
that example because Nityananada is no other Lord Balaram himself and as the messanger of
Nityananda, he was representing Balaram.Romharshan although he was discussing philosophy
sitting on the Vyasasan even that sacred activity one has no rights to neglect the great personality
one he comes in.Infact Rupa goswami explained in Bhakti Rasamerita Sindhu even if one is
worshiping the deities and great personality comes in, the first priority to stop deity worship and
greet him because deity would take greater offence if you neglect a devotee. So in this way
Meniketana Ram Das the aspure servant of Lord Nityananda could understand the very very very
precarious position of the brother of Kaviraj goswami was in for neglecting to offer respect to
Lord Nityananada through his transpiring medium. He said I see here another Romaharshasuta
too proud and caught up in his rituals to show the proper respect to Lord and we see the same
principal when Krishna sent his cowherd boys to beg the food stuff from the brahman they were
representing Krishna and Balaram they were his representatives they were coming from his
behalf on his order so as you treat cowherd boys in that situation that’s how you treat Krishna
and Balaram but those Brahman were so much engrossed in those rituals that they could not
understand what the essence of rituals was, to please the Krishna and Balram.Therefore when
they offended cowherd boys they offended Krishna. Now krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami was the
true devotee of Lord Chaitnya and Nityananda So Meniketana Ramdas left from that place to
another place to chant the holy name.And Kaviraj became very angry to his brother and said you
do not see the offence you commited to the representative of Lord Nityananda. And he explains
my brother had great faith on Lord Chaitnya but no faith on Nityananda.And he explains that his
brother, accepting Lord Chaitanya’s without accepting the mercy of Lord Nityananda is like that
accepting half of the hand sometimes a former he likes the back half because it gives eggs he
could sell those eggs and make money but he doesn’t like front half because he has to feed the
front half, so just to make profit cut the front half and keep the back half and just make money
but is that possible? If you try to cut the half of the hen then whole the hand is dead,
spoiled .Lord Nityananada is the original spiritual master. Lord Nityananada is the founder of
guru tattva. He is Balaram. The guru is the manifestation of the mercy of Balaram. Therefore to
try to approach Krsna, to try to love Krsna, to try to serve Krsna without recognizing, adoring
and worshiping the representative of Lord Nityananda, the bonafide spiritual master you have as
much chance to learning love of God as you do getting eggs from a hen,a chicken cut in half and
Kaviraj Goswami was very strongly presenting his brother. And Kaviraj Goswami explains that
very day his brother fell down from all of his spirituals discipline, and because Kaviraj Goswami
defended guru tattva in this way, Lord Nityananda was very pleased upon him and that night he
had a dream .Lord Nityananda appeared to him in the form of cowherd boy. He had a beautiful
bluish complexion with eyes like blooming lotus flower, lips red like pomegranate fruit because
He was chewing on the beetle and he had beautiful turban, beautiful dhoti, and He was shining
like lightning and in an apparently intoxicated state He was swinging back and forth. and around
him were beautiful cowherd boys blowing bugles and conch shell. and then Lord Nityananda
looked at Kaviraj Goswami with great pleasure and He pointed in a particular direction towards
Vrindavana and He said go to Vrindavana, and you shall attain all things. Go to Vrindavan and
you shall attain all things. then Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami when he woke up that morning early,
that dream was so fresh in his mind, this is the order of the supreme guru he didn’t even consider
that he was an old man and travelling to Vrindavana is very troublesome , what would he eat?
where he would sleep?most of the travel those days was through Jharkhanda Jangle which is
very very dangerous. He didn’t consider what his relatives would think? He didn’t consider his
prestige or his mental and physical conveniences. He left that very moment after he rose early in
the morning and began his journey to Vrindavana and how he praises the mercy of Lord
Nityananda and we would read this beautiful chapter –later on in our classes, discussions, but
the most wonderful glorification of Lord Nityananada that he expresses, is how he is so fallen,
how he is so undeserving but by the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananada He has brought
Kaviraj Goswami to the Lotus feet of Rupa and Raghunath. this is the humility of a Vaishnava,
he understands that the greatest gift of Lord Nityananda is He has given him the mere association
of a guru and taking the mercy of Lord Nityananda seriously to the heart and motivated him to
take utterly shelter of Rupa Goswami and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and all of the
Goswamis, but specially he had a very very intimate relationship of being a servant and
submissively hearing from them. and every day Krsnadas kaviraj Goswami who was living at
that time at Radhakund would sit and hear the beautiful narration of the past time of Sri Chaitnya
Mahaprabhu from Raghunathdas Goswami. and by the grace of the Lord as Raghunath das was
speaking the past times of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu were literally manifesting in being re-
enacted in the heart of Kaviraj Goswami and through his memory and his notes he had
understood in full everything that is spoken to him. and the Vaishnav devotees of Braja dham of
Gaudiya Sampradaya they approached Kaviraj Goswami asking him to write what he has heard
and to elaborate in deep philosophical terms ,according to teachings of Rupa and Raghunath
Goswami .and of course Kaviraj Goswami was thinking himself very very undeserving and
unqualified of this great service and unqualified. Devotees are never ambitious to put himself
forward in being an authority. Devotees through-out history we find, they are usually very much
pushed forward by other Vaishnavas to take on these responsibility. just like our own
Gurumaharaj’s life, he just considered himself very very ordinary Vaishnava, very insignificant
in comparison to his own godbrothers but Bhakti Sidhdhant Saraswati Thakur specifically
wanted him to preach, and in order for him to preach as Bhakti Sidhdhant Saraswati Thakur
wanted. He had to detach himself from family life and take sanayas but Prabhupada thought how
can I do this. I don’t have such qualification. It would be arrogance for me to even attempt to
fulfill this order. and Bhakti Sidhdhant Saraswati Thakur on several occasion appeared to him in
the dream and said take Sanyas and preach all over the world. Prabhupada was very frightend.
Why he was frightend? Because he was humble, such a tall order. Bhakti Sidhdhant Saraswati
Thakur was ordering him to be world Acharya. Prabhupada just considered himself just a very
ordinary devotee. and to complement this dream, Prabhupada’s one, most dear Godbrother

Bhakti prajna Keshav Maharaj specifically insisted Bhaktivedant you must take Sanyas , you
must preach. Take on this mission which our guru maharaj has given you. Prabhupada explained
that to reconfirm my dream my God brother was speaking and I could hear, my guru maharaj
speaking through him and he accepted as we see, he has written over 60 volumes of books of all
vedic literature through out the history of the world Prabhupada’s books have distributed more
far more, wide and more languages then any other author. and his books had changed millions
of people’s lives and Srila Prabhupada himself ,how he established so many beautiful
temples ,highest principles of the vaishnavism. Recently just few years back, I was at the college
giving a lecture which happened to be the first place ,the Prabhupada spoke to the youth of
America. The first time he ever addressed the youth of America-it was at a college. Devamrita
Prabhu and Radhagopinath Prabhu are following Prabhupada’s footsteps. Prabhupada went to
Slippery Rock State College, which is just a few miles south of Butler Pennsylvania, where
Prabhupad first lived when he came to America. He lived at a middle class family’s home at
Butler .and a professor Larson saw an article explaining how in this very very middle class
conservative town of Butler Pennsylvania, there was an Indian Swami living at a house, of Sally
Agarwal. So he became very fascinated by this-Professor Larson and he called Prabhupad at the
house and asked ,"will you speak in one of my classes of philosophy class?'. so Prabhupada said
"yes". so professor Larson picked him up and brought him. and when I met Professor Larson, he
was showing me exactly which places Srila Prabhupada spoke. And he told me between classes
they sat on a bench together in the campus. Nice green grass. Trees all around. Very peaceful
atmosphere. And they just sat together and talked. And he took me on the same bench. And
Professor Larson and I were sitting together. And he said -you are sitting right where Prabhupada
was and I m sitting right where I was. This is many years before-this was in 1965- before
Prabhupad met anybody else. And i said that what did you discuss with Srila Prabhupada? He
said , he was asking, he looked at that tree and said, "what kind of tree is that? does it give
fruit?".He was just asking many questions. he just came to America. He did not recognize
anything in America around him. He was just asking about little things like that. he was
asking ,"how do you think the youth of America will accept the teachings of Bhagwad Gita and
Krishna Consciousness? And he said that often times he would just sit, just looking at the sky
fingering his little beads in his bag chanting Hare Krishna. And he said , I have never heard or
seen from Srila Prabhupada since then. Except he gave me as a gift three books, that he brought
from India and which i have put in the library. And he said what has Prabhupad done since that
time? and I told him that he has single handedly opened over a hundred centres. He has written
over about sixty books, which have been distributed by the millions every year. He initiated
thousands of disciples. And professor Larson said ,"i do not believe you, how is it possible? may
be he just at one place and his ambitious disciples did all these things for him, but i can not
believe that he could have done these things"." why is this?"."i could understand that he is a very
very holy man, very pure, very holy, very very high in loving God. But he was so simple, just so
non assuming, i can't believe that he was a leader. he was just very simple , very gentle. he just
presented himself very ordinary. And then he began to think about it. he said, "so humble". He
said ,"I have never met such a humble and simple man in my life". He said "if he has done this,
then there is no doubt in my mind that God has done everything through him because of his pure
heart. Now Srila Prabhupada was pushed by the vaishnavas to accept this great task. and in the
same way Krishnadas Kaviraj was very reluctant to take a high position. because they-such great
souls, they do not want distinction, they don’t want fame, they do not want recognition, they
would rather be invisible from everybody’s eyes. But for the sake of the service,they are willing
to please Vaishnavas, no matter what they have to do.So the leading vaishnavas of Vrindavana
approached Srila Krishnadas kaviraj Goswami, and told him we want you to write Chaitanya
Charitamrita.We want you to put in the eternal record of literature of all of humanity past time
and we want you to elaborate with the your deep deep realization and philosophy of Rupa and
Sanatan Goswami. And Kaviraj Goswami felt how could I do this, who am I to do this ? So first
he went to the deity of Madan Mohan to ask permission. When he went into the temple he was
praying to Madan Mohanji the deity of Sanatan Goswami in that beautiful temple.”If it is so your
desire please grant me your blessings. And just that moment a garland fell from Madan Mohan’s
body to the hands of pujari, and the pujari the representative of the deity came and placed that
garland on Krsnadas Kaviraj’s neck and when that happened all the vaishnavas present there in
great ecstasy cried out “Jai Jai”. And then Kaviraj Goswami in great great humility begged for
blessings from each and every vaishnava of Vrindavana and after receiving blessings from all the
Vaishnavas of Braja dham then he proceeded to write this beautiful epic Chaitanya Charitamrita.
If you go to Radha Kunda, exact spot of the bhajana kutir Krishna das Kaviraj is still there. And
that is the place where he sat in between Shyam kunda and Radha kunda and he wrote this
greatest treasure house of all literature.It is explained that the Bhagavat Gita is the study of the
essence of all vedic knowledge, and the Srimad Bhagvatam is the graduate study of Bhagavat
Gita and Chaitnya Charitamrita is the post graduate study of Srimad Bhagvatam. Bhagavat Gita
begins with the fundamental principal that you are not this body and you are the eternal soul and
I t goes through a very very deep philosophical explanation given by Lord Sri Krsna on the battle
of Kurushetra, What is the soul?, What is the nature of God?, What is this Prakriti or material
nature?, What is Karma? The love , action ,reaction affecting all living entities in this world, and
how we are all under the control of time.These 5 subject matter comprise the basis of Bhagavat
Gita, and the culmination of the gita.When all things are set and done Krishan explains “Sarva
dhrma parintyajya maam ekam sharanam ” abandon all verities of religion and just surrender to
me. Srimad Bhagavatam begins when Gita ends. It begins with unmotivated surrender “39.26”
Vyasdev explains the beginning of the fiorst verse of Bhagavatam with the thorough surrender to
Krishna,then ---- going beyond that by kicking out all subreligious principle. Bhagavat Gita ends
abandon of all variety of religion and Bhagvatam begins abandon from all varieties of religion
even before we start this book and only going to speak “ahaituki apratihata bhakti”
Unmotivated, uninterrupted loving service to Lord. And through first 9 cantos of Bhagavatam
our consciousness being escalated by Srila Vyasdev higher and higher of understanding of pure
love of Godhead and surrender, by the time we come to 10th Canto we are introduced to the 5
rasas of Gokola Vrindavana which culminates in the conjugal love between Radha and Krishna
that’s what Bhagavatam ends.Of course the name of Sri Radha is not in the Bhagavatam none of
the names of any of the Gopis in the Bhagavatam , because Shukadeva Goswami he has such
reverence and such spontaneous affection for the conjugal love of the Gopis that it would have
been impossible for him to continue to speak the Bhagavatam in short time of 7 days.
If he even mentions the names of the any of the Gopis what to speak of Srimati Radharani,
because of filled the heart with too much ecstatic love he was fearing he would go to trance . The
Chaitanya Charitamrita begins where the Bhagavatam leaves off.Explaining in the very
beginning of Chaotanya Charitamrita how Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu was Krishna who came to
this world specially to taste the sweetness of conjugal affection of Sri Rdharani.And from that
starting point the Adi lila, The Mdhya lila, the Antya lila simply grows and grows and grows into
deeper and deeper and deeper most profound explanations. At the beginning , in Adi lila Krishna
das Kaviraj Goswami explains everything in the deepest most sublime philosophical terms.And
in the Madhya lila he explains the sweetness of the relationships of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
with his devotees and glories of his preaching and toward the end of the Antya lila the ultimate
realization of Godhead is being revealed as it is never revealed in any other literature of the
history of creation. It is a very advance subject matter. Kaviraj Goswami explains in the last
volumes of the Antya lila the nature of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s feelings of separation from
Krishna which means the very very embodiment of Sri Radha’s love and how she is feeling in
the top most experience of her Rasa with Krishna in Vipralambha seva or separation another
words the Mahabhava of Sri Radha rani was exhibited to this world through the glory of Sri
Chaitnya Mahaprabhu and because this subject matter is so highly confidential and because the
people misunderstand the conjugal love affaires of Radha and Krishna so grossly thinking that
She is a girl, He is a boy that is the one main reason Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took Sanyas
because you can understand the essence of the conjugal love between Radha and Krishna but
there is no question of seeing it as anything immoral. When Radha and Krishna come together
people question and even in our hearts we think Oh My God! But when Sri Chaitnya
Mahaprabhu who is the staunchest,the strictness the most (44.10) - Sanyasi when He was feeling
these experiences towards Krishna we can understand the essence of Sri Radha’s love with no
interpretations what so ever . Of course perhaps none of us can really grasp this particular topic
but we are explained just how great and powerful this literature of Chaitaya Charitamrita is. In
the most glorious of all the attributes of Chaitanya Charitamrita is Srila Prabhupada has written
beautiful elaborate purports to explains the highest subject matter in simple terms that even the
ordinary devotee can grasp within their core of heart if they are simply sincere. We see according
to Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya , to simply translate one of the literature even of the Vedas or
of the previous Acharyas is practically meaningless unless there is an elaborate purport which is
pertinent to the people of the time and place to explain it to them therefore we find in all the
great Sampradayas Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Rupa Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Sanatana
Goswami, Gopalbhatta Goswami, they have taken so much of the vedic literatures, so much the
teachings of the previous Acharyas and expounded with eloquent purport Bhakti Siddhant,
Bhakti Vinod. Because to approach the vedic literature without the explanation of the Gurus and
previous acharyas is practically impossible, to comprehend; very difficult. Therefore Srila
Prabhupada told us in his books that 90% of your advancement is not in translation it is in my
purports.because you can’t approach the translation directly and hope to understand it that’s why
we have in our library you can see many translation in Vedic literature by scholars many of them
are very accurate but there would be practically be no purification by reading those books even
by reading original Sanakrit even original Bengoly there would be very little purification but
when you read the translation in enjoinment but the realization which are coming from the
purport of the previous Acharyas you can truly grasp the essence. The Chaitnya Charitamrita is
celebrated as the greatest of all the spiritual literature that have ever been revealed to man.
Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami accepted as the incarnation of Srila Vedavyas himself who has
gone way beyond any of his previous teachings in this most sublime literature how merciful is
Srila Prabhupada that he worked so laboriously to present this literature in thousands of
languages through out the entire place of the Earth and how merciful is his disciples who has
sacrificed their lives to distribute this message. By disciple we are speaking his disciples, his
grand disciples, his great grand disciples and all generations to come of those who can continue
this great mission. Rupa Goswami explins that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is most magnificent, most
merciful, most unique of all incarnations.Because he has given the highest principle the mellows
of love of God to every one. But he also teaching us the process how to receive it. So every day
we would meet together to have class, it will not be like today’s class. Today is the introductory
class, today I wanted to simply touch on some of the basic historical principles which give us an
understanding of how to approach Chaitanya Charitamrita. The Adi lila for our own
understanding and conviction in Krishna Consciousness and for our own preaching is so
essential to carefully analyze and comprehend between the writings of Kaviraj Goswami in the
Adi lila and the purport of Srila Prabhupada no one could possibly leave this movement if they
grasped what is said here it’s not possible due to weakness of the senses one may temporarily
deviate from the highest principles hopefully that will not happen to any of us. But one who
grasses the teaching of this first volume of Adi lila of Chaitanya Charitamrita his heart will be so
fixed and convinced in the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all of his descendends ,
he can never leave this movement, he can never leave the mercyof Mahaprabhu. The Adi lila is
teaching us systematically how to make advancement in krsna Consiouness, how to respect nad
how to worship what is sacred in Krsna Consiouness this is how we begins The Adi lila begins
by Kaviraj Goswami often his own personal respect and obeisances to those most sacred
principles in Bhakti. How to respect, how to adore, and how to serve these most sacred
principles.And we can simply grasp this the initial teachings our heart will never divert from the
path of Sriman Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy that is for sure.Srila Prabhupada told us so many
times that my devotees are leaving this movement because they have not understood the purport
from my books. If you understand the purports of my books, Maya can not conquer you it is not
possible but if you do not, you are subjected to the influence of Maya and Of Course this is a
Brahmachari Asharm and a Brahmachari has to have the highest and deep conviction to continue
it is not an easy life. This is very difficult life you know the story of the Profit. Prabhupada told
many timesThe Profit came to a village and he was giving a benediction he said to the prince
better you live and he explains in the purport to this better you live because you are committing
so many sinful acts for your sense gratifications barred by your wealth, so much intoxicated that
when you will die you have to suffer consequences in hellish condition of life. And he told the
butcher that you nether live nor die because now you are simply in the presence of all blood
shod, in terrible death and in the future you even have to suffer for every little bit of pain you
have caused to these animals and he said to a pure Vaishnav even you live or die it doesnot
matter because now you are simply chanting krsna’s glories and when you die you will continue
chanting krsna’s glories. And for the Brahmachari he said better you die, because in the
pursuance of living the life of Brahmachari such a simple life such a austere life such a obedient
life and so many difficulties, so many obstacles, so many temptations that you have to restrain
your senses from. You have to keep so incredibly busy in Krsna’s service, menial service. If it is
big service we will get proud we have to be completely immersed in the menial service to keep
our mind from being attracted from to the temptations of the lust and greed and menial to keep us
from even in that service being attracted from temptation of pride. The ideal mind is devil’s
workshop we have to keep it busy in the Krsna’s service to restrain from greed from money from
lust for sex otherwise mind will over come us. We have to fully engage but even if you will be
fully engaged, Maya still tempts you from pride, therefore a brahmachari is simply a menial
servant who wants to be a menial servant in this world people spit on the thought of the being
menial servant.Therefore some time people spit on you even own love ones this is brahmachari
life means , brahmachari life means willingness to break the heart of those who love you most in
this world on the physical platform and willingness to accept the broken heart the things we left
behind but for what to accept the lowest position of being menial servant, better you die because
the profit says because what you are doing in sacrifies to Krishna when you die you will go back
to Godhead directly all the hardships you are enduring for Him, you are on the royal road to
Goloka how to stay on this royal road. We find in the Madyalila when Chaitnya Mahaprabhu
took Sanyas Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya was very worried about Him because He was young .
everyone in this Asaram is young. We are following in the footsteps of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu
giving up the things in this young age for Krsna’s service It is the most glorious position
Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya was very worried, that such a young person in renounce order of life,
unless He really grasp Sastra is going to fall in victim to maya. Of course Sarvbhaum
Bhattacharya’s understanding of Sastras was all nonsense, Sankara’s philosophy and Chaitnya
Mahaprabhu heard him very submissively for 7 days Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya says why you
haven’t asked any question?He said because all this is nonsense. Vyas dev’s Vedanta sutra’s
understanding is so easy to understand like the shine sun and your interpretation is like dark
clouds which obscure the essence of what he is saying. Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya says what do
you mean , then He explains His own interpretations and Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya fell in His
feet and became His disciple. So in the same mood Srila Prabupada explained that the most
important austerity specially for Brahmachari but actually for all class of devotees is to
understand and grasp the purports of his books. You can read the books of others saint and
other source and translations of different lilas of the Lord but it will not purify your mind
properly. your own Guru and your own grand guru has given you his personal specific books and
Prabhupada has dedicated his life to writing these books. He would work and preach all day long
when other devotees were sleeping, he be up all night performing this scarifies just to write these
books for us. Therefore how much we need to grasp the purports We don’t need to understand
all the other vedic literature if we only understand the Chaitnya Charitamrita, the Bhagavatam ,
Bhagavat Gita according to Prabhupada’s purport. Prabhupada said every thing you need to
know to go back to Goloka Vrindavana and convince any body on earth to go back to godhead
you know it We don’t grasp any of Prabhupada’s said and yet wandering on so many other
things we should make a very very deep and analytical scrutinize study absorb the words of our
own guru maharaj he has written specifically personally for us and that is the purpose of this
class every day. We want to inspire devotees to deeply enter into the Spiritual the round of
Prabhupada’s books. Not just going through it and said that I read books but wondering what has
said and discuss among each other for further elaborations it is very important. In Vaishnav
history we find that devotees come together specially Sadhus to discuss what previous acharyas
have said share the own realizations to help one another to get deeper and deeper understanding
and deeper and deeper implicational methods of putting in our life. Therefore I seriously say that
this class is one of the most essential class of our spiritual life because we would learn how to
study these books and discuss and share the wealth of these books with one and other. This will
give you firm conviction and it will protect you from Mayavaad influence , it will protect you
from the Shahajiyas influence which so many vaishanava have come to over the years and
protect you from the influence of gross material energy and trying to drag you away from so
many subtle and gross attachments of mind and senses from their objects So the form of the class
would be at the beginning flexible because after all I never being to the college so I don’t know
much about mythotical teachings. All of you are PHDs, master degrees, Scholars various forms-
Pradyumna has degree in forestry, Radhagopinath has degree in Speech therapy and language-
masters’ degree , SanataKumar has master degree in law, Devamrita has master degree in
management and business , Syamanada has master degree in business management, Ashok
parekh has master degree and big big degrees in management. Satyavrata has master degree-an
honorary degree in deity worship by RadhaGopinath . Bhakti Siddhant maharaj has honorary
master degree by Lord Jagannath for his devotional service and book distribution and of course
many of others are working on high high degrees Abhijeet, Sarad and Myself , I am really one of
these orphan boys just basically coming out of dirt of material society and by the grace of guru I
am allowed to be with all of you ,that’s all I can say .So the way we want to have this class is at
the beginning, I will speak reading through the verses & purports of Chaitanya Charitamrita and
second part of the class ,every day one of the devotees would be assigned certain portion of the
shastras to give a lecture on. And we expect you to prepare very carefully to really understand &
digest the subject matter and really really learn how to give the same understanding to everyone
who is hearing. It will not simply be to give a lecture on one verse- you give a talk on a very very
deep and important and specific aspect of our philosophy and then we will have discussion,
questions, answers, realizations and discussion- Just as 6 Goswamis, it is described every day
they would meet in Radha Damodar temple to read scripture together and to discuss it. They
would each give their realization and would each give their presentation and discuss
together .And how much it made a bind of intimacy amongst them. This is one of the very very
important result that we hope to get from this class is that it really increases the intimacy of the
devotees to a very very high spiritual platform through Krsna katha and then for ½ hour or so we
would just sit and each one of us problems and the portions of the book that we studied and read
in silence .And we would all be here to keep each other awake and then we would end with short
kirtana So today we are just introducing the class and the beautiful book Sri Chaitanya
Charitamrita which will be a very prime part of our discussion and we hope that this class
continues on everyday for many years to come and I am taking this class very seriously and I
hope that you all too. But in order to take it seriously there cannot be distractions. I think this
class is better in this room then the temple hall. Every devotee must be here by 10.30 and door
closes at 10.30 and when door closes no one is allowed in and no one is allowed out unless there
is an emergency and our definition of emergency is something that happens exceedingly rarely.
Sometime, you know, the nature of mind is you could create an emergency several time every
day just to testify becoming less strict in your discipline. But we have to be very honest so
should plan our day in such a way that nothing and no one will bother us at this time and then
after the class we will have half hour japa, this we could do in the temple. If there is nothing
going on in the temple then we will in to the temple or if something is there then we can have it
here. Consciousness should be the menial humble servant, no question. That is the position we
are striving for. And of course the most important service that we have is to hear to the prime
instruction of Srila Prabhupad which is to attentively hear the holy name. Thank you very
much.