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The Scientific Basis of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
<< 8. Conclusion >>
 | In a transcendental discourse between Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, one of the greatest devotees of the Lord, the Lord inquired from Rāmānanda Rāya: “What is the highest standard of education?” Rāmānanda immediately replied that the highest standard of education is to know the science of Kṛṣṇa.(1) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that Vasudeva (another name of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa or God) is the ultimate object of knowledge:
| | | vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ
vāsudeva-parā yogā vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ
vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ
vāsudeva-paro dharmo vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ
“In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.”(2)
| | | The process of realizing Him is to render unalloyed devotional service (bhakti) unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and His bona fide representative, the spiritual master in disciplic succession. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa declared to Aijuna: “My dear Aijuna, only by undivided devotiona! service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding.”(3)
| | | The conditioned living entities should perform yajnas (sacrifices) for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa). Viṣṇu is also called Yajñeśvara, the Lord of all sacrifices. In Bhagavad-gītā the all-merciful Śrī Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna: “O best of the Kuru dynasty, without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life; what then of the next?”(4) Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, introduced the saṅkīrtana-yajña (the chanting and glorification of the names of God) 500 years ago for the deliverance of all men in this age of Kali. The Lord's incarnation is mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as follows:
| | | kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”(5)
| | | Srila Prabhupada states: “Kīrtana means Hari-kīrtana, glorification of Hari. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no other kīrtana is recommended.”(6) It is also stated in the Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa:
| | | harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“In this age of Kali, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of Lord Hari, Kṛṣṇa. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”(7)
| | | This process of Hari-kīrtana is to chant the mahā-mantra (the great chanting for deliverance): Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated: “There is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name is as perfect as the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity. The holy name is not a material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination.”(8) How the holy name of the Lord can be chanted constantly is mercifully described by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself in His Sikṣāṣṭaka: “One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of falseprestige, and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”(9)
| | | We therefore humbly request everyone -scientists,philosophers, businessmen, politicians, etc.- to please chant the mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa. Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This will cleanse the accumulated dust from the heart and lead to the understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the supreme absolute science, the ultimate goal of life.
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NOTES
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