Cow Consciousness

Sri Gopastami means that Krishna has got 'promotion': He used to be a calf keeper, and from today He has become a cow keeper. We find in Nandagram that on this day the local priests (pandas) collect many cows in a meadow near Kadam Khandi and feed all the cows well in commemoration of Krishna's service to cows.

Cows are represented as the most innocent of all the animals (satva-guna pradhan). They are considered to be of peaceful nature, and they represent devotees of santa-rasa. Many souls aspire to become a cow in Vrindavan. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says:

চরাওবি মাধব ! যামুনতীরে ।
বংশী বাজাওত ডাকবি ধীরে ॥

charaobi madhava! yamuna-tire
vamsi bajaota dakabi dhire

'Madhav! Grazing me on the banks of the Yamuna, You will call me by sweetly playing Your flute.'

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

'You will graze us on the banks of the Yamuna, and sometimes, by playing Your flute, You will guide us and call us. We are your cows, your property.' The santa-rasa devotees of Vrindavan are cow-natured devotees who like to be handled by Krishna. Everything is conscious there. We should not forget this fundamental principle: it is a conscious plane, and, which is the most important, it is a plane of serving attitude. Serving attitude is all-important. Without serving attitude there can be no entrance into that plane. Exploitation and renunciation are left outside, and calculative service belongs to a lower position; only spontaneous serving attitude in any form or other can reach the plane of Vrindavan, Vraja Dham.

Our Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad, made a special arrangement to save people from committing offences. Generally, we commit offences by imitation. Our nature is such that we tend to show progress to the people at large. Trying to imitate Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami and other pure devotees of a higher level presupposes pratistha (name and fame). We must learn and try to be sincere to our own selves. We must not indulge in imitation only to get the name and fame of a devotee overnight; that will be self-deception. To save us from that, our Guru Maharaj he came up with a plan of service to a Vaishnav.

Generally, Vaishnavs live a single life and do not allow anybody to serve them, so vaishnav-seva is very rare to be found, but our Guru Maharaj arranged it in such a way that we can serve one another (engage in helping each other), and in this way everyone can take advantage of serving a Vaishnav, as well as Vishnu and the guru. So, by joining a missionary life – an organised life of an exclusive service holder at a Math – one gets the advantage of serving under the direction of a higher Vaishnav. Everything is there in vaishnav-seva. And he asked us, 'Do not try to rush to a higher level. Try to remain in a lower plane. The circumstances, the environment will help you to go up. Do not be eager to hold an upper position yourselves – the environment will do that for you, it must always come naturally. Always try to keep yourselves downwards.' That was his instruction.

Purify your inner hearts; do not be eager to purify the outer aspect. The innermost aspect is what is all-important. Try to convert that into Krishna consciousness. Do not busy yourselves with keeping up a show of a devotee of Krishna, but give all attention to your hearts within. External show may not be very injurious, but if your internal disease takes over you, that can create a havoc. So, try to purify the innermost part of your hearts, the innermost part of your existence.

Serve under the guidance of a Vaishnav. You may not understand what is service, what is not service, where there is pratistha, what is the spirit of renunciation, what is crude or subtle exploitation, so cast yourselves wholly at the disposal of a Vaishnav proper. Try to be utilised by him. Make your own egos aloof – take off your egos and allow a Vaishnav to work in the workshop of your hearts. Allow him to handle you, then you will come to understand what is service proper.

It takes sacrifice. Nirmatsaranam satam (there must be no jealousy). Jealousy (matrasata) means that you cannot tolerate the higher position of another person, 'Why should I not get this better position?' This is the most frightening, the most dangerous enemy in this campaign. So, do not believe your own selves, do not trust your own selves; rather, trust a Vaishnav, trust your guru, and allow them to handle your own selves. You will be benefitted thereby more and more.

The guru is your propritor. Srila Jiva Goswami says, using a reference quotation, 'Vikritasya yatha pasoh (বিক্রীতস্য যথা পশোঃ). I am like a sold animal.' A purchased animal is used by the proprietor in any way he likes, and you must also take to such a standard, 'I am a purchased animal of my Lord, my gurudev. He may utilise me in any way he likes.' Die to live: we can live thereby in the finest, unassailable plane wherefrom we can never be disturbed or removed. Our Guru Maharaj laid very much stress on this point.

Try to know what is service proper. Enquire after what that plane is. That plane is the highest, it is a spontaneous flow of service towards the Absolute. There is such a current! The most underground, the most fundamental current of the whole existence is like that. It is irresistible and causeless, and you are asked to connect with that plane. The innermost part of your souls can only be members of that plane. Back to God, back to home. The Krishna conception of Godhead found there is the most fundamental, the most subtle: it is a flow of love, beauty and harmony. If you are to find yourselves there, then all this gross dress, this coat or cloth must be eliminated and you are to awaken there. Back to God, back to home.

That is all-important. Your activity can take on any form – taking the Name, worshipping the Deity, listening to the class or a regular sermon, chanting and dancing – everything can be service, but for it to be service the connection with that plane is indispensable, otherwise it will all be a mere empty sound, similar to firing blank shots (the form will be there, but not the life, or the spirit). The underlying spirit is service, sacrifice, dying to live. As much as you can apparently die, to that extent you will be able to live.

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Read more:

• The All-Auspicious Name of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

• A Fugitive's Plea

• Service to Gaura-Gadadhar

• Soul's Svakiya and Parakiya

• Overthrowing Anarthas

• Self-Purification

• Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami: Master Acharya

• Exclusive Conception of Srila Prabhupad's Line

• Life beyond Renunciation

• Scope of Sacrifice

• Journey from Misguidance to Absolute Guidance

• Renunciation of Renunciation

• Renunciation of Cowards and Misers

• Maya's Test

• 'You Are Mine'

• Be Courageous

• Soul-Deep Cultivation

• Path to Progress

• Science of Self-Effacement

• My Close Friend

• Cow Consciousness