{"id":3077,"date":"2000-06-13T04:26:27","date_gmt":"2000-06-13T04:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=3077"},"modified":"2023-04-12T08:42:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T03:12:15","slug":"a-particle-of-dust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/krishna-talk-articles\/srila-bhakti-gaurava-narasingha-maharaja\/a-particle-of-dust\/","title":{"rendered":"A Particle of Dust"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question: <\/strong>What should be the highest aspiration of a Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava? Should one aspire after the position of a ma\u00f1jar\u012b<\/em> who can enter the groves of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana to serve R\u0101dh\u0101 and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a? What should be our aspiration?<\/p>\n

Answer: <\/strong>We are to conceive of the plane of divine l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> or pastimes of the Supreme Lord as infinitely greater than we are. In that subjective plane of reality all things animate and inanimate are superior to us. We are units of finite consciousness, yet we falsely think that we can demand a position in the highest plane of divinity. It is ludicrous. It is heresy to think such.<\/p>\n

We want so many things of the higher plane, but we are not fit for that service. We are not ready to pay the price of the highest service, but we think that we are somehow or other qualified for that. We have heard that some position is there in the ma\u00f1jar\u012b<\/em> section which is most desirable, but we think that leaving all else aside we can simply jump to that position or march through that world as a soldier and conquer our objective. But it is not like that.<\/p>\n

First we must qualify: “first deserve, then desire.” We want not the position of the master but of the most negligible. First we must aspire for the most negligible position in the subjective plane of divinity, not for the highest position. What is that most negligible position? It is this:<\/p>\n

ayi nanda-tanuja ki\u1e45kara\u1e41 patita\u1e41 m\u0101\u1e41 vi\u1e63ame bhav\u0101mbudhau
\nk\u1e5bpay\u0101 tava p\u0101da-pa\u1e45kaja-sthita-dh\u016bl\u012b-sad\u1e5b\u015ba\u1e41 vicintaya<\/em><\/p>\n

“O son of Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, I am your eternal servant, yet because of my own karma<\/em>, I have fallen into this terrible ocean of birth and death. Please accept this fallen soul and consider me a particle of dust at your holy lotus feet.” (\u015aik\u1e63\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dakam<\/em> 5)<\/p>\n

The most negligible position one can hold in the relativity of the Absolute Truth is that of a particle of dust in the infinite world of l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>. Such is to be the highest aspiration of any Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava in this world. We are not to aspire in the beginning for the service of others, we must first aspire to be accepted into that domain by the Lord and His personal associates.<\/p>\n

If we say that we want the highest, it is paramount to sense gratification. \u2018We want\u2019 means sense gratification. \u201cI want this, I want that\u201d, it is sense gratification. It is not for His pleasure, this \u201cI want, I want\u201d mentality. It is better, for His (K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a’s) pleasure, to prepare oneself in this life to become a particle of dust or a blade of grass in that higher plane of infinite l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>. That is more desirable and such a noble desire will not go unnoticed by the residents of that plane.<\/p>\n

\u0101s\u0101m aho cara\u1e47a-re\u1e47u-ju\u1e63\u0101m aha\u1e41 sy\u0101\u1e41
\nv\u1e5bnd\u0101vane kim api gulma-latau\u1e63adh\u012bn\u0101m
\ny\u0101 dustyaja\u1e41 sva-janam \u0101rya-patha\u1e41 ca hitv\u0101
\nbhejur mukunda-padav\u012b\u1e41 \u015brutibhir vim\u1e5bgy\u0101m<\/em><\/p>\n

“The gop\u012bs<\/em> of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana gave up their husbands, children, and families who are very difficult to renounce, and sacrificed even their religious principles to take shelter of the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, which are sought after even by the Vedas<\/em> themselves. O! Grant me the fortune to take birth as a blade of grass in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, so that I may take the dust of the lotus feet of those great souls upon my head.” (Bh\u0101g<\/em>. 10.47.61)<\/p>\n

To become a blade of grass in the plane of the infinite is no small achievement, what to speak of seeing or associating with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a directly. It is no small thing. Such is shown to us by Uddhava, the intimate friend of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. And taking it one step further, \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu has shown us that the position held by a particle of dust at the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is the most desirable.<\/p>\n

To achieve the most negligible position in the infinite will require the highest qualifications possible in this present plane. The highest qualifications attainable here for the s\u0101dhaka<\/em> (devotee) may earn him the most negligible position in the higher subjective world of l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>. It is not a cheap thing.<\/p>\n

We must become a slave to His (K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a’s) will. Then it may be possible that we are taken there by the higher agents of that plane. Otherwise, it is heresy to think that I will get that higher position by my own endeavour. Our \u015bik\u1e63\u0101-guru<\/em>, \u015ar\u012bla B.R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja used to call such a mentality, wild goose-chasing. In reality, any aspiration that has no basis in the concept of divine slavery has no practical application in the pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Smara\u1e47a<\/em>, meditation on l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>, and so many other things of the sahajiy\u0101<\/em> school are not the qualifications to be admitted there. Only surrender is necessary, the surrender of a slave.<\/p>\n

When the necessity arises in the divine l\u012bl\u0101s<\/em>, then the qualified slave of divinity is admitted to that arena and no others. Without surrender, without the slave’s mentality, we are not qualified for the higher service. So that should be the aspiration of one who understands the nature of the transcendental world: let me become the slave of the Lord.<\/p>\n

\u0101\u015bli\u1e63ya v\u0101 p\u0101da-rat\u0101\u1e41 pina\u1e63\u1e6du m\u0101m
\nadar\u015ban\u0101n marma-hat\u0101\u1e41 karotu v\u0101
\nyath\u0101 tath\u0101 v\u0101 vidadh\u0101tu lampa\u1e6do
\nmat-pr\u0101\u1e47a-n\u0101thas tu sa eva n\u0101para\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

“K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a may embrace me in love or trample me under His feet. He may break my heart by hiding Himself from me. Let that debauchee do whatever he likes, but He will always be the only Lord of my life.” (\u015aik\u1e63\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dakam<\/em> 8)<\/p>\n

This is the slave mentality “I am His slave \u2013 His slave in divine love. He is free to do anything and everything as He wishes, I am His slave.” But we are not ready to accept that position and that is why we are not qualified for participation in the highest l\u012bl\u0101s of the Lord.<\/p>\n

There are many devotees and even sanny\u0101s\u012bs<\/em> and b\u0101b\u0101j\u012bs<\/em> who go on with ma\u00f1jar\u012b-sev\u0101<\/em> meditations and other things of that section, when not even the slightest trace of the real qualifications are found in them. Such persons become mundane women in their next life. They are never promoted to the plane of divinity through the process of imitation.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla Gaura Ki\u015bora D\u0101sa B\u0101b\u0101j\u012b, the guru of \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura, used to say, \u201cSimply by entering the maternity room and imitating the sounds of labour one will not give birth to a child. Many events are necessary before that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plane of infinite l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> is so charming that even the particle of dust there is worshipable for us. How then shall we approach that plane? P\u016bjala r\u0101ga-patha gaurava-bha\u1e45ge \u2013 <\/em>the plane of the highest r\u0101ga<\/em> (l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>) must always be kept above our heads. With the plane of higher l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> above our heads we shall march on, tad d\u0101sa-d\u0101sa-d\u0101s\u0101n\u0101\u1e41 d\u0101satva\u1e41 dehi me prabho<\/em>. I am the servant of the servant, of the servant of the Lord’s servant. I want such a position and nothing else. That should be our approach.<\/p>\n

This \u015bloka, p\u016bjala r\u0101ga-patha gaurava-bha\u1e45ge<\/em> was composed by \u015ar\u012bla Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura, the guru of our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja \u015ar\u012bla A.C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Swami Prabhup\u0101da, and it was his desire that this position be preached, not temporarily, but for all time, in all places, in all circumstances, and in every nook and corner of the universe. That was the mission of \u015ar\u012bla Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura. He came to fight with all misconceptions about the Absolute Truth \u2013 he came to establish the path of divine love, divine slavery.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura could not tolerate it when the higher subject matter was dealt with inappropriately. And what did he consider \u2018inappropriate\u2019? That the topic of l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> was taken to the public eye \u2013 this should not be done. Why? Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura considered such as apar\u0101dha<\/em>, an offence against the Lord of love. Invasion of privacy; to take the higher topic of l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> to the public is an offence. In the time of Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura such was never the indulgence of any member of the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Ma\u1e6dha, nor did any of his bona-fide disciples venture in that way after his disappearance.<\/p>\n

We have heard many narrations from our Guardians (gurus) that exemplify how much regard Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura had for the higher plane of divinity and how ever so carefully he dealt with that plane. From \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja we once heard that Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura did not allow his disciples to read (study and discuss) such higher books as Govinda-l\u012bl\u0101m\u1e5btam, Stava-kusuma\u00f1jal\u012b, Ujjvala-n\u012blama\u1e47i<\/em>, and even certain portions of Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta<\/em> wherein the l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> of R\u0101dh\u0101-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is discussed. Whenever Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura heard that someone was reading those books, he took it that an offence is being committed by interfering in the higher l\u012bl\u0101s<\/em>. So if such a measure of caution is given by one who on one hand was the most dynamic and progressive preacher of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness in the 20th century, and on the other hand so cautious in dealing with the higher l\u012bl\u0101s<\/em>, then how much caution should we, the fallen souls, exercise when approaching such matters? It is only logical that we should follow his example and exercise extreme caution.<\/p>\n

The most profound example of the mood in which Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura approached divinity was related to us by \u015ar\u012bla B.P. Pur\u012b Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the close, before his entrance into his eternal pastimes, in the morning he requested \u015ar\u012bmad Bhakti Rak\u1e63aka \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja to sing \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Ma\u00f1jar\u012b-pada<\/em> of \u015ar\u012b Narottama D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura, and Nav\u012bna-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Prabhu to sing \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktivinoda \u1e6ch\u0101kura\u2019s tu\u1e45hu day\u0101 s\u0101gara t\u0101rayite pr\u0101\u1e47\u012b<\/em>. This was the commentary on \u015aik\u1e63\u0101\u1e63\u1e6daka<\/em>. After giving this instruction to sing, \u015ar\u012b \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da began to repeat his famous counsel: Implicit obedience to the precepts laid down by \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b through the medium of the spiritual master is the wealth of our devotions. In this instruction, he outlined the true method of our devotional practices as well as the real disciplic succession. Furthermore, in hearing the song of \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktivinoda \u1e6ch\u0101kura (tuy\u0101 day\u0101 aichana parama ud\u0101ra<\/em>), \u015ar\u012b \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da clasped his hands to his forehead and profuse tears of humility rolled down his cheeks. These personal gestures reminded us of our lamentable plight in not having any attraction for the holy name.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want the highest position, then take this example. Keep the lotus feet of \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b (\u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Ma\u00f1jar\u012b) on your head as your supreme wealth and cultivate with every atom of your existence great humility and attachment for the holy name of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. This is the highest aspiration of a Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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