How to get love of God, Radhanath Swami Answers

How to get love of God, Radhanath Swami Answers with an example from Mahabharata

Swami Ji, we hear about so many learned and dignified personalities from scriptures but I find it difficult to understand that why such learned men go against Lord. For e.g. Bhisma in Mahabharata was a man with high character and knowledge; still he chose to fight against Krishna… please shed some light on this?
Radhanath Swami: Bhisma was always upright, loyal and true in the service of the lord. Although as an instrument in the lord’s hands he had to play a thankless role and be misunderstood forever. Generally, people think that Bhisma was obliged to Duryodhana because he was receiving food from him and thus he had to be in his side.
The real reason that Bhisma accepted the side of Kurus was the will of Lord Krishna. Because when Krishna wants to show a fantastic example to the whole world, He uses His devotee.
Even if His devotee has to temporally become His enemy, the devotee accepts that position out of love. So Bhisma understood Krishna’s plan. He wanted to show the whole world in the coming ages that the most important principle in life – “whoever you are, however wealthy you are, however powerful you are, however famous you are, however beautiful you are, however learned you are, however renounced you are? If you are not on the side of Krishna, then you will be defeated.”
And irrespective of whom you are, if you are on the side of Krishna you will be victorious because Krishna is Achyuta. Achyuta means unconquerable. But the unconquerable Krishna agrees to be conquered by the love of His devotees.
Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita
“kaunteya pratijanehi na me bhakti pranashyati”
Bhagavad-Gita 9.31
“Arjuna, you should know that my devotee will never perish; I will always protect my devotees. But how I protect you is not according to your choice. That is according to my choice. I may protect you by kicking you, punching you, taking everything away from you, or I may protect you by giving you the whole world.”

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One's memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one's ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord.

Chant:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

There is sins spreading with great force all over

Just as waters from a river are gravitating towards the ocean, similarly at this time and age, the world and people in it are gravitating with great force towards hell. In studies, in pleasures, customs and rituals, in law and legal matters, in trading and business and various activities, whatever you see, there is sin taking place with great force and intensity.

Goswamiji has described this -

Kali kewal mal mool malin |
Paap payonidhi jan man meenaa || (Manas, Balkand, 27/4)

There is sins spreading with great force all over, such that man's mind will play away like fish in water. In other words, just like the fish when it is taken out of the water becomes restless. And if she were made to understand ahead of time that she will be separated from the water, then she will become fearful; because she cannot live without the water, similarly, "paap payonidhi" - the ocean is the form of sins, where as the mind of a man has become like the fish "jan man meena".

If today one is told that do not do "black" (engage in businesses that are off the books), do not lie or cheat, do not be dishonest, work honestly then they say "Maharaj! Work cannot carryon without lying and cheating in this day and age. If one works honestly then it will result in much difficulty. We cannot follow through with what you are saying." On hearing talks about being free from sins, they begin to tremble. They say that it will be awesome if we can leave sinning, but it will not be possible to sustain our livelihood. We are only able to carry on our living and livelihood, because of lying, cheating and dishonesty.



From such talks we must not believe that those with bad conduct, sinful and unlawful men cannot engage in devotion and worship of the Lord. Gita says -


Apichet suduraacharo bhajate maamananyabhaak |
Saadhureva samantavyah samyagvyavasito hi saha || (Gita 9/30)


Even if the worst of all sinners, makes a firm determination and engages in devotion and worship of the Lord, then he should not be considered an ordinary man. God says - He should be considered a "sadhu" (ascetic); because he has firmly resolved.


In Gita, God has talked about four types of devotees of the Lord - "Aarto jigyaasuarthaarthi jnaani cha bharatarshabh" - a devotee "bhakt" in distress or needing financial assistance, takes the name of the Lord. A devotee who has quest for knowledge also takes the name of the Lord. But a loving devotee "jnani" to whom "prabhuji biseshi piyaaraa" "jnana tvaatmaiva me matam", such a devotee is very dear to God. He is the Lord's very own Self (atma, spirit, inner being).

From "Manas mein Naam Vandana"

Glories of the Divine Name of Lord Ram

Glories of the Divine Name of Lord Ram

Why did Valmikiji not be able to get a non-aspirate "alpapraan" name? Pay attention! The Name of Lord Ram is easy to recite; however he who is very sinful, for him it is difficult to recite the name of the Lord. There is a saying -

"Majaal kyaa hai jeev ki, jo Raam Naam leve; Paap deve thaap ki, jo mundo phor deve."

He who is not very virtuous, he is unable to take the name of the Lord. It is said in the Bhagavad Gita -


"Yesham tvantagatam paapam janaanaam punyakarmanaam |
Te dvandvamohanirmuktaa bhajate maam dradhvrataah || (7/28)


He whose sins are wiped out, he alone can with a firm determination become engaged in worship and devotion of God. On the subject of the divine name "Ram" it has been said in the scriptures and saints have also shared such things. There is a similar incident that I had heard -

This is about Baankuda, where there was a gentleman named Sri Badridasji Goenka. They were sharing their past incidents. An old Bengali man was catching fish in the coastal areas of the ocean. Shri Jayadayalji Goyandka and Badridasji saw the man and said - " this man has become old, poor soul, if he were to engage himself in devotion and worship of the Lord, it would be good." They told him to recite the name of the Lord, but he was unable to say the name "Ram". He was asked, how much money do you make each day? He said by killing that many fish, I get this much money. Then they told the old man, that we will give you as much rice for the money that you make, you simply have to sit in your shop and recite Hari Hari all day. With some effort, he was taken to the shop. He sat there for one day. On the second day he came late, and the third day he did not show up at all. Then after two-three days when we went back to the coastal front, he was once again found in the same spot, in the scorching Sun, catching fish. We told him that you were comfortably sitting in the shade in your shop, what was the issue or problem? Whatever you are earning doing this work, we are giving you that much in grains, only you have to sit all day and chant "Hari Hari" He said, it is not possible for me to do this. He could not sit at the shop. Such incidents have occurred. I then believed that the point is valid Brother! It is very difficult for a sinner to engage in good and divine work. Shri Tulasidasji Maharaj has said -


Tulasi purab paap te Hari charcha na suhaat |
Jaise jwarke jor se bhook bidaa ho jaat ||


When the fever is burning high, then food is not appetizing. There is odor even in the foods. Just as when the fever is high then food is not palatable, similarly he whose sins are many, he is unable to engage in devotion and worship of God. He is unable to go to satsang (company of holy men and/or association with truth)


Therefore Gentlemen! Pay attention to this one point. Those brothers who are interested in satsang, who go to satsang, who say the divine name of the Lord, who do japa (repetition of the Lord's name), such individuals should not be considered as ordinary. These are not ordinary people. They are doing "bhajan" (worship and devotion) of the Lord, they are pure and are deserving of God's grace. However, those who walk the path towards the Lord, they should not consider themselves great that they are very good people. One should believe that it is due to God's grace, by which we have received the opportunity for satsang, bhajan, meditation etc. We must understand that in such times of Kaliyug we are getting an opportunity to listen to the divine tales of the Lord, we are taking the name of the Lord. Immense grace of the Lord is showering on us.


From "Manas mein Naam Vandana"