10. Qualification to See the Holy Dhama

10. Qualification to See the Holy Dhama:

It is said that those who are fortunate souls can see the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu going on even today. These eternal pastimes are not visible to the material eye, because on the order of the Lord Himself, that divine realm is hidden by the clouds of illusion from the external vision of worldly souls, who can never perceive its divinity.

However, one who receives the mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, can see that land of harmony, beauty and ecstasy, which is fully conscious and transcendental. Lord Nityananda is the holder of all spiritual powers, and he reveals Sri Navadvipa dhama to the pure devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On His order, Mäyä devi lifts her covering and reveals a vast spiritual dwelling where His eternal mother, father, and countless servants serve Gauranga, always incessantly mad in love.

Only by attaining the proper qualifications can one experience the spiritual pastimes of Navadvipa dhama, and since the cause of qualification is the mercy of Krsna Himself coming through the mercy of the devotees, the living entities should seek out the association of the pure devotees of the Lord. One cannot attain the proper qualification by following the paths of karma or jñana. Only by means of devotional faith, and by the association of devotees of the Lord, can one overcome the prison of the material world. The very moment that the senses of the living entity give up material illusion, his eyes will see the splendor of the spiritual dham.

The Vision of Sadhu Sanga:

One who is very fortunate may gain the company of devotees, by their mercy divine love will awaken within one's heart and one can experience the spiritual world of Vaikuntha. At that time, one can see with his spiritually purified eyes the non-material abode of the Lord. “Guru-mukha padma-vakya, cittete koriya-aikya….” the words of the guru purify one's consciousness. The spiritual realm is realizable in and through the devotee's glorification of the dhama and the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That sound vibration is sabda brahmā, non-different from the Lord. The spiritual realm cannot be seen by the mortal eye or touched by the hand of flesh. One must listen to the words of the sadhu with the conviction the words themselves are identical with the object they signify.

He who reveals the dhama, he is guru. By hearing from such a sadhu, and being imbued with the proper reverence, a devotee who has an intense heart-felt need for service to the holy land, always sees with the eye of his soul the islands and streams of Navadvipa-dhama. Only through devotion can one develop this vision, specifically the devotional chanting and hearing of the holy name. The holy name is the principle means in Kali-yuga, and Krsna came as a devotee to show that the name must be received from a devotee. He set the ideal example of a devotee by accepting Himself as a servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. Not only Mahaprabhu, but Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara Pandita, and Srivasa Thakura also adopted this mood, along with countless other devotees. Even Navadvipa dhama has taken this mood of a servant and is very magnanimously distributing pure devotional service.

Lord Siva is the master of the false ego, the junction between spirit and matter, by which the living entity attaches himself to the material world. That Lord Siva stays in Navadvipa-dhama as Sadasiva, Ksetrapala Siva, to render service as the guardian of the dhama. He deceives the non-believers and the envious, but he very mercifully removes the false ego from the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His consort, Parvati, Maya devi, the illusory potency herself, stays with him in her form as Praudha Maya, or Yogamayä. She lifts her veil of illusion from the eyes of the devotees of Sri Caitanya and reveals the true nature of Navadvipa-dhama. What to speak of the Lord and His dhäma, even the holy name of Rama which grants deliverance, and the holy name of Krsna which awards divine love of Godhead, constantly serve the devotees of the dhama.

Fulfilling The Lord's Desire:

Lord Nityananda predicted that by the will of the Lord, a very wonderful temple will be built in Mäyäpur, and from that temple devotional service to Lord Caitanya will spread all over the world. Even the Christians acknowledge this in their Lord's Prayer. After glorifying the holy name, it goes on to say, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done." The International Society for Krsna Consciousness is fully dedicated to executing the will of the Lord, specifically the devotional service of spreading the chanting of the holy name of the Lord in every town and village. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada wanted that devotees from all over the world come to associate with Navadvipa-dhama and become fully convinced of the magnanimous nature of Navadvipa-dhama as the only means of deliverance for the conditioned souls of Kali-yuga. If one can develop a heart-felt need to serve the dhama by distributing its gift of the holy name all around the world, surely he will receive the mercy of Navadvipa-dhama, and easily attain the mellows of Vrndāvana. To do this one should consider oneself lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, and expect no respect for oneself, but show respect to all others.

ISKCON is a movement of abhideya, giving the process of chanting Hare Krsna, by which prayojana, the goal of love of Godhead, is achieved. So let us take this wonderful opportunity to become the servants of the servants of the most wonderful servant of Sri Navadvipa dhāma, Srila Prabhupāda; who is the revealer of Sri Navadvipa dhama to the whole world.