Why so many bhakti programs if Chanting alone can give Krishna?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prbhuji. I have a question prabhuji that in one lecture HDG srila Prabhupada said “chant,dance,eat prasadam,look brilliant and live Very happily and next Life you will return back home back to godhead” and also in another lecture he guaranteed us that if we follow 4 regulative principle and chant 16 round we will go back to our home back to godhead. So my question is then if we can reach goloka by just chanting and following above instructions then why does iskcon have bhakti programs 24/7 and why just they dont only chant,dance……. etc.
I mean no offence prabhuji so please forgive me for any offence.”
REPLY:
Ha Ha…Innocent but interesting question!
(i) One should lose his interest and attachment in this material life and (ii) should have Prema Bhakti for Krishna.
These are the two conditions to go back to Krishna’s kingdom.
This is the eligibility to go back to Krishna.
(Is animals going back to Krishna possible? Detailed Explanation! READ HERE!)
Chanting, dancing, honouring prasadam, etc are the syllabus to pass in the tests of maya and get qualified to enter into the kingdom of Krishna.
More preparations – more chances to pass in the exams.
Average students just prepare the notes given by the lecturers in the classrooms.
But, exceptional students prepare using the prescribed extra text books and guides. Some even go for coachings.
Why?
More Preparations and More Practice give More Chances to Succeed in the exams with the outstanding marks/ grade.
School or College teachers are just introducing the subjects to you and guide you how to prepare and practice.
Only if you prepare and practice at home thoroughly, you can pass the exams with good marks/ grade.
(Is Grahastha life Impure & Inferior? Can a Grahastha go back to Krishna? READ HERE!)
Similarly, the acharyas give the syllabus and tips to get Krishna.
You have to practice them well and grow in devotion.
H.H.Bhanu Swami Maharaj of ISKCON, the disciple of Srila prabhupada and a Great Scholar in Vedic literature, Chennai clearly said in a lecture:
“Gnana Yoga is also very important to be a Good bhakta”
Why?
If you keep on following mechanical chanting and dancing without love and Prema for Krishna and without detaching from materials, you will be just chanting mechanically til you die.
So, Chanting should be done with love and dedication.
To develop such love and dedication, we should know about Krishna.
(If a devotee dies thinking of his Guru (Spiritual Master), will he go back to Krishna? READ HERE!)
To advance in devotion, learning about Krishna will greatly help.
To know about Krishna, we have to read, hear and do courses about Krishna and devotional practices.
When we do Chanting, honouring prasadam, dancing, etc, we will gradually grow to the next stage of learning more and more about Krishna.
When we learn more about Krishna and the devotion related books, we will advance in material detachment and attachment to Krishna fast.
The Bhakti Vriksha courses and Bhakti Shastri, etc Certificate Courses conducted by ISKCON is an attempt to engage you in the literatures related to Krishna and devotion.
Only if there is a formal course for Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatham, Nectar of devotion, etc, we will get a motivation to read those literatures in a proper and organized way.
This learning, ie, Gnana yoga will make you advance in devotion fast.
So, if you can do them, do the Online or Offline courses conducted by ISKCON. It is the Good opportunity to learn about Krishna.
Chanting, Dancing, Prasadam, etc should go to the next stage of Learning and practising.
If you follow Chanting, Dancing, Prasadam, etc sincerely, other requirements will/ should automatically follow.
This is what the Acharyas meant. That is why so many bhakti programs in our temples!
The following Post nicely guides you with all the tips to go back to Krishna. Read.
(12 THINGS TO FOLLOW TO GO BACK TO KRISHNA’s GOLOKA AT THE END OF THIS BIRTH ITSELF! READ HERE!)