Sadhu-sanga

07-27-2003, 09:32 AM

THE RESULT OF SADHU-SANGA

'When all the devotees came to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they
saw the same dog sitting a little apart from the Lord. Furthermore, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog.
Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, "Chant the holy names
'Rama,' 'Krsna and 'Hari.'" Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and
chanting "Krsna, Krsna" again and again, all the devotees present were very
surprised. When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of
Krsna, Shivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his
obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it. The next day,
no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for
Vaikuntha, the spiritual kingdom.'

Shivananda Sena's attachment to the dog was a great boon for that animal,
for the dog got the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was immediately
promoted to Vaikuntha to become an eternal devotee. Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura has therefore sung, 'tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukkura, baliya janaha
more'. He thus offers to become the dog of a Vaisnava. There are many other
instances in which the pet animal of a Vaisnava was delivered back home to
Vaikunthaloka, back to Godhead. Such is the benefit of somehow or other
becoming the favorite of a Vaisnava. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has also
sung that there is no harm in taking birth again and again. Our only desire
should be to take birth under the care of a Vaisnava. Fortunately we had the
opportunity to be born of a Vaisnava father who took care of us very nicely.
He prayed to Srimati Radharani that in the future we would become a servant
of the eternal consort of Sri Krsna. Thus somehow or other we are now
engaged in that service. We may conclude that even as dogs we must take
shelter of a Vaisnava. The benefit will be the same as that which accrues to
an advanced devotee under a Vaisnava's care.

This result of sadhu-sanga is consequent association with Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and promotion back home, back to Godhead. This result is possible
even for a dog, by the mercy of the Vaisnava. Therefore, everyone in the
human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees. By
rendering a little service, even by eating prasadam, what to speak of
chanting and dancing, everyone can be promoted to Vaikunthaloka. It is
therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become
pure Vaisnavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be
transferred to Vaikunthaloka, even without their knowledge. Everyone should
be given a chance to take prasadam and thus be induced to chant the holy
names Hare Krsna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes,
although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back
to Godhead. (CC Antya-lila 1.16-32)

O Lord, the Vaisnava is Yours, and he is Your glory. May he be merciful to
me. Then my life's journey will lead to You, and I will obtain shelter in
the shade of Your lotus feet. (Bhaktivinode Thakura)