Tag Archive for: HowToSeeKrishna

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I Want To See Krishna! Part two

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Srila Prabhupada says one can see Krishna in his heart, in the Deity (archa-murti), in the Srimad Bhagavatam and face to face.
Srila Prabhupada also describes different factors leading to Krishna’s darshana i.e. eagerness, attitude, faith, humility, patience, mercy, seva, steadiness in bhakti bhajana, eagerness and prema or divine love. Now we will illustrate these points with quotes from Srila Prabhupada.
DEITY: “Who is a first-class yogi? It is he/she who is always trying to see Krishna within the heart. In our bhakti-yoga we can teach this art of seeing Krishna within the core of the heart in one minute. It is so simple. You are seeing Krishna here [as Deity]. You must try to keep that impression [of Radha-Krishna’s murti] within your heart always.” (folio 760312SB.MAY)
KRISHNA BOOK: “If you read Krishna Book [means Bhagavatam tenth canto] and if you believe, then you see Krishna. Krishna is not different from the book. (folio 760427CC.AUC)
ATTITUDE: “This sincere attitude [to be Krishna conscious] will make you more and more advanced, and one day Krsna will reveal Himself to you face to face!” (folio Letter 73-01-28)
PREMA: “We have to smear our eyes with the ointment of love; then Krishna will actually come in front of us.” (BTG #60 1973)
“Krishna is always present. When Krishna is pleased with your service and love, you will see Krishna, you will see yourself [siddha svarupa], you will see the whole world!” (folio 720911rc.arl)
“When we develop love of Krishna, we will immediately see Krishna and faint, saying, “Oh, here is my Lord!” (TLK 35 pur.)
PATIENCE: “Of course, it is good to be eager to see Krishna, but we should not become discouraged if we do not see Him immediately.” (BTG #60 1973)
SEVA: “My request is that you continue your devotional service very faithfully and rigidly. Then in this life you will be able to see Krishna face to face; that is a fact!” (folio SPL 7-10)
FAITH: “We must have firm faith that because we are engaged in Krishna consciousness we will see Krishna face to face. The time will come when we will see Krishna. There is no doubt about this.” (TQK 25 pur.)
MERCY: The ability to see Krishna depends on Krishna’s mercy. (JSD 2.2)
EAGERNESS:
This is the main factor in seeing Krishna. Do you ever even think, “With my eyes, I want to see Radha! I want to see Krishna!” Do you ever feel, “I don’t know how or when but I must, I have to in this very life get darshana of Radha Govinda Yugala?” Without it I can’t live.”
Do you ever pray, “Krishna, You must show Yourself to me. Please, I beg You while crying piteously. Otherwise, how can I live any longer?” Ever-pushing anxiety, exasperation, desperation, hope against hope and relentless enthusiastic endeavors in bhakti bhajana—this means eagerness.
Since eagerness to see Krishna is the main factor in attaining darshana of Sri Krishna, let’s see Srila Prabhupada’s many quotes about eagerness; its need, power and effects.
Krishna And The Thief
To illustrate the point, Srila Prabhupada once told the following story titled “Krishna and the Thief”. One day a thief heard a lecture describing a boy named Krishna who wanders in the forests of Vrindavana and who is adorned with gold and jeweled ornaments. The thief thought, “Why not go to Vrindavana and plunder this boy?”
Srila Prabhupada comments: “That thief was always thinking and feeling. “I must find that boy! I must see Krishna! I must see Krishna!” That anxiety, that eagerness, made it possible for him to actually see Krishna in Vrindavana.
“So we must be very, very eager to see Krishna. Somehow or other you must develop this eagerness, this desire: “I must see Krishna.” Then Krishna will be seen.” (folio JSD 2.2)
“One [a Krishna bhakta] must actually be very much eager to see God. One must be very serious and think, “Yes, I have been informed about God. So if there is a God, I must see Him.” (BTG #15-10 1980)
“Eagerness is very important thing, and it [develops] by the association of devotees. Then you will see God eye to eye. It is not difficult. Those who have developed that eagerness, faith, that ‘I must see Krishna in this life’ [they will see Krishna]. This life is meant for seeing Krishna.” (folio 720515SB.LA)
“If you are eager to see Krishna, regardless of whatever motive you have, you will see Krishna!” (JSD 2.2)
“We must be eager to see Krishna and talk with Him. He is actually waiting to see whether we are interested in talking with Him.” (TLK 35 pur.)
“When a devotee is very eager to see Krishna, Krishna is so kind that He comes. (TLK 38 pur.)
The Srimad Bhagavatam often mentions the eagerness of the Vrajavasis and especially Radha and the gopis to see Krishna with such phrases as, “the gopis’ eyes were very eager to see Shyamasundara, gopyah didrkshita drshah.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.15.42) By reading this and the following sastric quotes, one will increase his/her eagerness and enthusiasm to see Krishna NOW.
Sri Jayadeva Goswami says Radha’s eyes are always excessively restless looking here and there due to Her intense hankering to see Hari, sandarshana utkantha. (Gita Govinda V.32)
One day Kasturi manjari saw how Radharani turned to Her loyal friend Visakha and said in the madness of separation from Shyama, “Where is Krishna, who is so expert in rasa dancing? Oh, where is He, who can save My life? Kindly tell Me where to find Krishna, the treasure of My life and the best of My friends.
“O sakhi, where is Krishna? Kindly let Me see Him. My heart breaks at not seeing Krishna’s face even for a moment. Kindly show Him to Me immediately; otherwise I cannot live.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 3.19.35-37)
During His Jagannatha Puri lila, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited the topmost limit in hankering to see Krishna. Mahaprabhu would wail and weep, “Alas, where is Vrindavana? Where is Gopendranandana Sri Krishna? Where is that flute player, ha ha kahan vrndavana, kahan gopendra-nandana, kahan sei vamshi vadana?” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.2.55) At another time, Mahaprabhu pined, “Where is Krishna, My life and soul? Please show Me Krishna, kotha krishna mora prana natha more krishna dekhao!” (Caitanya Caritamrita 3.16.81)
Summarizing it all, Srila Prabhupada perfectly said, “We simply have to prepare ourselves to see Krishna and understand Krishna. That is the purpose of Krishna consciousness.” (TQK 11 pur.)
So this is Krishna consciousness: wanting to, praying to and trying to see Krishna—Radha-Krishna Yugala in Vrindavana in the keli-kadamba kunjas along the Yamuna.
Being a Krishna devotee means that one wants to serve Krishna, to love Krishna and to SEE KRISHNA FACE TO FACE just like Gopa Kumara did in Brhad Bhagavatamrta.
And like the thief that Srila Prabhupada described, we must always think and feel, “I must find that boy! I must see Krishna! I MUST SEE KRISHNA!” This type of divine transcendental anxiety and eagerness will definitely bring us the greatest treasure (mahanidhi) of seeing Sri Krishna in Vrindavana one fine day.
Radha-Krishna sakshad darshana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!
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I Want to See Krishna! Part one

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Having an overwhelming desire to see Sri Krishna is one of the symptoms of an advanced devotee. Sri Rupa Gosvami calls it samutkantha, the intense hankering to see Sri Krishna which is a symptom of a bhava bhakta.

What is the cause of this hankering? Sastra says that the mercy of the sat Guru is the cause of a sadhaka having a strong or intense desire to see Krishna, sat guroh krpaya krishna didrksha bhara karitam. (Brihad Bhagavatamrita 2.3.113)

While describing the Vrindavana born bhakta Gopa-kumara, Sri Sanatana Goswami says that his intense eagerness to see Krishna arose from two causes; 1) by following the instructions of advanced devotees; and 2) by the strength of his service to his diksha mantra, sriman maha bhagavata upadeshatah san mantra seva balato. (Brihad Bhagavatamrita 2.3.45)

Gopa-kumara’s eagerness to see God impelled him to travel all over the universe searching for Sri Madana Gopala, the beloved of his heart. He was never satisfied with any post or position without seeing Gopala. Indeed, if one receives Guru’s mercy and becomes eager to see Sri Krishna, then nothing will prevent it from happening.

Yearning to see Krishna face to face, krishna darshana lalasa, arises in the heart according to the degree of one’s attraction, attachment and love for lila-madhurya Sri Krishna. It is natural to want to see the one whom we are trying so much to remember, serve and love now and forever.

A purified even slightly advanced bhakta will think, “I really want to see Krishna. But how and when will that ever be possible?”

Eagerness for Krishna however does not come easy. It is a state of consciousness wherein a devotee is constantly thinking of pleasing Radha and Krishna. If there is any other desire in one’s heart, intense eagerness cannot arise.

“Eagerness is the very life-force of devotion which helps the devotee attain perfection. Without eagerness there is no taste in our endeavors.” (Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja)

Srila Prabhupada often refers to “eagerness” as a prerequiste for seeing Sri Krishna. The dictionary says strongly wanting to have something is eagerness. Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says, “The main quality of complete eagerness is that one always desires to see Krishna, samutkantha haya sada lalasa pradhana.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.23.30)

Eagerness is so important that Srila Prabhupada said, “Eagerness is the price for achieving success in Krishna consciousness.” (NOD 18) As an example of one with eagerness, Srila Prabhupada cites Sri Bilvamangala Thakura’s prayer:

“I am eagerly waiting to see that boy of Vrindavana whose bodily beauty captivates the whole universe; whose eyes are bounded by black eyebrows expanded like lotus petals, and who eagerly glances at His devotees. Krishna’s eyes are always moist and His lips are copper-colored. Through Shyama’s lips comes a sound vibration which drives one madder than a mad elephant. I want so much to see Krishna in Vrindavana.”

Radha-Krishna sakshad darshana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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How To See Krishna Everywhere

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Most all of the 8,400,000 species of life have eyes to see the reality they live in. It is only human beings, however, that have the eyes to see God, Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

In Gita, Sri Krishna describes the vision of the perfect person who sees Krishna everywhere. By such divya -drshti, divine sight, one captures Krishna in the heart, and keeps Krishna forever bound in the embrace of one’s loving eyes.

Sri Krishna explains this point in Bhagavad-gita (6.30):

yo –mam –pashyati -sarvatra
sarvam -ca -mayi -pashyati
tasyaham -na –pranashyami
sa -ca -me -na -pranashyati

Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, never loses sight Me, nor do I lose sight of him.”

Sri Sridhar Swamicharan: In other words, Sri Krishna is saying, ‘Since I am continually present before one, one is never lost to Me.’

There are two levels of seeing Bhagavan Sri Krishna everywhere.

1- With eyes coated with pure spiritual love, Krishna prema, like the cowherd damsels of Vrajabhumi and sadhana-siddha Krishna premi-bhaktas.

2- With eyes coated with desire and eagerness to see Sri Krishna everywhere.

At this level, one has not yet attained Krishna prema, but one does have a strong, focused and continuous desire, backed by intense eagerness to see Sri Krishna. One thinks, “I really, really want to see Krishna. No matter what it takes, I MUST SEE KRISHNA in this very life!”

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “A devotee is one who firmly believes Krishna will show His mercy, krishna –krpa-karibena- drdha- kari-jane.” (Caitanya-caritamrta 2.23.28)

Having a genuine, driving desire and eagerness to see Sri Krishna will automatically make one detached from maya and one’s unlimited material desires. Srila Prabhupada said that eagerness is absolutely essential to make tangible spiritual advancement.

Srila Prabhupada says, “We must be very, very eager to see Krishna; then you can see Krishna. Whether you are lusty or a thief or whatever, somehow you must develop this eagerness, this desire: ‘I MUST SEE KRISHNA!’ Then KRISHNA WILL BE SEEN!” (Journey of Self Discovery 2.2)

Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji Maharaja says, “Eagerness is the very LIFE FORCE OF BHAJAN! A devotee with loving eagerness will receive abundant grace from Sri Krishna. Eagerness is always the best means to fulfill our desires. Without it, there is no taste in sadhana and one can’t attain anything!”

Out of His infinite love and compassion, Sri Krishna personally teaches how anyone, even without Krishna prem, can always see and remember Krishna everywhere throughout the day and night. All it takes is the desire to see Krishna, and the eagerness to sincerely try.

By reading and remembering the following simple Gita verses, one will easily SEE KRISHNA EVERYWHERE day after day, until the last when Sri Krishna Himself will appear, and take you to Vraja Dham to see and be with Krishna forever!

We have arranged the following verses, all personally spoken by Sri Krishna in Gita, in a logical sequence of time and category that follow one’s daily activities beginning with waking.

Time: I am time, kala -asmi. 11.32

Existence: I am the life of all that lives, jivanam –sarva –bhuteshu. 7.9

Speech: I am the letter A, aksharanam –aksharo –asmi. (10.32) I am the sound in ether, shabdah –khe –aham. 7.8

Water: I am the taste of water, rasa -aham -apsu. 7.8

Chirping Birds: Of birds, I am Garud, vainateyash -ca -pakshinam. 10.30

Trees: Of trees, I am peepul, ashwattah -sarva -vrkshanam. 10.26

Nama/Diksa: I am japa, japa –yagya- asmi. 10.25

Beauty, Wealth, Strength: All beauty, wealth and strength is just a spark of My splendor, yad -yad –vibhutimat- sattvam, srimad -urjitam -mama -tejah -amsha. 10.41

Perfumes: I am the beautiful fragrance of the earth, punyo –gandha –prthivi -asmi. 7.9

Food: I am the fire of digestion, aham -vaishvanaro, (15.14) I am the heat in fire, asmi –vibhavasau. (7.9)

Sunshine, Moonshine: I am the light of the sun and moon, prabha –asmi –shashi- suryayoh. (7.8) Of all bright things, I am the radiant sun, jyotisham –ravih -asmi. 10.21.

Exercise: I am the strength of the strong, balam –balavatam –aham. 7.11

Wind: Of purifiers, I am the wind, pavana –pavatam –asmi. 10.31

Months: I am November-December, masa -margashirsha -aham. 10.35

Seasons: I am spring, rtu –kusumakara. 10.35

School: I am the intelligence of the intelligent, buddhi –buddhimatam –aham. (7.10) Of all knowledge, I am knowledge of the self, adhyatma –vidya –vidyanam.

Intelligence: I am the knowledge of the wise, gyanam –gyanavatam –aham. 10.38

Work: I am the ability in persons, paurusham –nrshu. (7.8) I am the beginning, middle and end of all creations, sargan –adir –madhya- anta. 10.32

Animals: Of all animals, I am the lion, mrganam –mrgendra –aham. 10.30

Ocean: Of all water bodies, I am the ocean, sarasam -asmi -sagarah. 10.24

Rivers: I am Ganga, asmi -jahnavi. 10.31

Fish: I am the shark (dolphin ?), jhashanam -makara -asmi, 10.31

War: Of generals, I am Skanda (son of Siva), senaninam -aham -skanda. 10.24

Moon: Among all the stars, I am the moon, nakshatranam -aham -shashi. 10.21

Intimacies: I am union that is not against religious principles, dharma –aviruddha –kama –asmi. 7.11

Secrets: Of secrets, I am silence, maunam -asmi -guhyanam. 10.38

In all these simple everyday ways, you can always remember Krishna everywhere, and see His beautiful sweet and charming, smiling face in everyone’s heart and everything that you see throughout the day.

Seeing Krishna everywhere ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!