Speaking from Bhagavad-gītā 7.14, Śrīla Narasiṅgha Mahārāja explains the nature of conditioned men to exploit women, and how ultimately all conditioned souls attempt to exploit material nature. He says that we have to cultivate a disinterest in this world, and an interest in the spiritual world. In the material world, the jīva is inspired to ‘live in a fool’s paradise.’ Mahārāja also describes how devotees are not actually pessimists, but realists. He also explains what happens when a disciple is fully under the guidance of the guru, and how simply ‘seeing’ Kṛṣṇa is a lower thing and very rare. Seeing Kṛṣṇa is not ‘proof’ - śraddhā (faith) is the actual proof of Kṛṣṇa’s existence.
Narasiṅgha Mahārāja goes on to say that if we perceive beauty in someone of something it is only because it is a slight reflection of the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, who is beauty personified. He also briefly discusses Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s ‘Jaiva Dharma’ as being divinely inspired and not simply a work of fiction.
During questions and answers, Mahārāja points out how the materialists have a very different concept of ‘reality’ compared to devotees, and how faith is not simply a ‘function of the brain.’
This class was given on May 27th 2001 in Vermont, USA.
