Becoming One-pointed to Attain the Goal

Once, there was a poor brāhmaṇa boy who lived in a Gurukula, following the footsteps of his Gurudeva. One day, the boy heard the announcement in the street that the king was going to give his kingdom to anybody who came to his palace the next day, and then was going to retire to the forest to engage in bhajana. The boy told this to his Guru Mahārāja, who advised the boy not to believe it. Upon hearing this, the boy started questioning the view of his guru, saying that without having faith in one’s country, one’s king, or God Himself, one is unable to make progress in one’s life. But his guru insisted that he shouldn’t believe anyone since everyone in this world is a cheater, and would try to capture him and make him his slave. However, the boy could not listen to his guru and decided to go to the king’s palace anyway.

Early the next morning, the boy left for the capital. There he saw thousands and thousands of boys waiting for the gate to open. When the gate opened, the boy entered inside, where he saw many of the king’s servants telling the boys to bathe and dress in a way that is appropriate for a prince. So many of the boys started preparing themselves, but the poor brāhmaṇa boy kept on going, saying, “I have no time. I have to go straight to the king.” He crossed and entered the next gate where he saw another large crowd waiting. Several people told him that he needed to dress nicely, but again the boy told them that there was no need, and that they should just show him the way. He came to the next gate where there were dramas and dances being performed, but he kept on going without paying them any attention. At the next gate an opulent feast was going on. They told him to eat first before meeting the king. Still the boy kept going. At the next gate there was a luxurious lounge, and the king’s servants invited him to take some rest, but the boy was undeterred. Next, the attendants offered him to choose a chariot or palanquin to carry him to the king, but he insisted on walking. He finally reached the last gate where he was welcomed with pomp and ceremony, and offered puṣpāñjali and pūja, but again he kept going, telling them that he didn’t need anything or have any time to lose. Finally, alone and undistracted, unlike the other boys, the young brāhmaṇa entered a garden where he met the king.

The king was sitting in his garden, lamenting due to not being able to find an heir. At that time, the brāhmaṇa boy, dressed only in his kaupīnas, ran to him. Upon seeing the boy, the king became very happy. He took the boy on his lap, decorated him with tilaka and a turban, and declared him to be his successor.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu came in this Kali-yuga to give a very easy process to attain the highest goal. One only has to exclusively chant the holy name. We should be one-pointed, but there are so many distractions, like the maintenance of our bodies, so we have no time for chanting harināma. You will have to be one-pointed and not waste any time. Wake up during brahma-muhūrta, and without looking in any other direction, run straight to Śrī Guru-pāda-padma and the Vaiṣṇavas and start chanting harināma in their association.

Chant:

śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

jaya rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa raghunātha
śrī-jīva gopāla-bhaṭṭa dāsa-raghunātha

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare

Offer praṇāma to Śrī Guru-pāda-padma and the Vaiṣṇavas, and start harināma-saṇkīrtan by the bank of the Gaṅgā in Navadvīpa, or in Vṛndāvana by the Yamunā, or at Govardhana, or at Vraja-pattana in the association of Śrīla Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. You may go to Kṣetra-maṇḍala and enter the Gambhīrā where Mahāprabhu is giving advice, or go to Siddha Bakula and start your harināma under the guidance of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura. If your mind is restless, if it wants to run like a horse, then go on parikramā in your mind.

By doing this, we water the creeper of devotion and our bhakti develops. However, then another danger arises. As our devotion develops, many people may come and declare, “Oh! You are worshipable. Please be merciful to me and let me stay with you.” And if you are not spiritually mature, you will lose all the time needed to chant, to go on parikramā, or to serve. Your followers will offer you delicious foodstuffs and all comforts. Everything will come, but if you accept these things your bhakti will be checked.