152 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION

philosophical discussions are given in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya. It
is remarkable that Prakasdnanda himself with all his disciples became
Vaisnavas.

Similarly, Caitanya Mahdprabhu had a great discussion with Sar-
vabhauma Bhattdcarya, the greatest logician of that time, who was also
Mayavadi, impersonalist, and he was also converted. So Caitanya
Mahdaprabhu’s movement is not mere sentimentalism. There is a very
rich background if one wants to understand this sarikirtana movement
through philosophy and logic. There is ample opportunity, for this move-
ment is based on science and on the authority of the Vedas. But it is all
simplified. That is the beauty of this movement. Whether one is a great
scholar or philosopher or a child, he can take part without any difficulty.
Other systems of self-realization, the jfidna process or yoga process, are
also recognized, but it is not possible to practice them in this age. That is
the verdict of the Vedas:

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
[Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.52]

In the Satya-yuga, the Golden Age, it was possible to execute the
meditation process. For instance, Valmiki Muni meditated for sixty
thousand years to get perfection. But where is our old age? Besides that,
for the meditation process, as described in the Bhagavad-gitd, one has to
select a secluded place, he has to execute it alone, he has to sit down ina
rigid posture, he has to lead a life of complete celibacy, and so on. There
are many rules and regulations. Thus astdriga-yoga meditation is not
possible. If one is satisfied by imitating, that is a different thing, but if one
wants perfection, then he has to execute all the eight stages of astdnga-
yoga. If this is not possible, then it is a waste of time.

What is the ultimate goal of the yoga process or meditation? Contact
with the Supreme, the Supersoul, the Supreme Lord, is the aim and
object of all yoga processes. Similarly, philosophical research, the jfdna
process, also aims at understanding the Supreme Brahman. These are
recognized processes, undoubtedly, but according to authoritative
description, they are not practical in this Iron Age of Kali. Therefore one
has to take to this process of hari-kirtana. Anyone can practice without
prequalification. One doesn’t have to study philosophy or Vedanta. This
