Vedic Way of Life - Part 9

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the transcription of the wonderful class, given by our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami on the occasion of Vyasa Puja celebration of Srila Prabhupada in Houston, many years ago. In the previous offerings we heard from Maharaj about few points.

Maharaj was explaining about the effects of Krishna katha as described in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.7.7. Now we shall hear further.

8. Medicine for Material Disease - LIF: Lamentation, Illusion and Fear is our material disease. Our material activities force us to lament, to be in illusion and to always be afraid. We are always afraid. If anything comes we always think, "O I might lose something, I might die, I might lose my wife, my children, my money, this, that..", all these fears are there. And we should very well remember as to what is our material disease. So please take out "L" from lamentation, "I" from illusion and "F" from fear - LIF. If you remember this word 'LIF' then you always remember the material disease. And in order to get rid of this disease, the solution is given in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.4:

nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād
bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt
ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt
pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing his own self?

The second line of the verse - bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt - chrotra - means you just hear and that is the bhavaushadi - medicine - Why for we are taking medicine? Because we are diseased by this "LIF" and if we want to eradicate that disease, no other medicine will work, but to hear. This is ataḥ śrī-Kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyaṃ indriyaiḥ sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. As soon as you start using the senses in devotional service in any form, then bhakti sprouts automatically.

Krishna willing, we shall hear further nectar from Maharaj in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.