The Goal of Vedanta Study 177

Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. I do not know how I have become
just like a madman, but the Name Krishna Himself induces Me to become so.
I realize that the transcendental pleasure derived from chanting Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare]Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare, is just like an ocean and, in comparison, all other pleasures, includ-
ing the pleasure of the impersonal conception, are like shallow water in chan-
nels.”

It appears from the talks of Lord Chaitanya that a person who cannot keep
his faith in the words of the Spiritual Master and thus acts independently
cannot ever attain the desired success in the matter of chanting Hare Krishna.
In the Vedic literature it is said that, for one who has unflinching faith in the
Supreme Lord, and similar faith in his Spiritual Master, the import of the
transcendental literature becomes revealed. Lord Chaitanya firmly believed
in this statement of His Spiritual Master, and He never stopped His Samkirtan
movement by neglecting the instruction of His Spiritual Master. Therefore,
the transcendental potency of the Holy Name encouraged Him more and more
in chanting Hare Krishna, or the Maha Mantra.

Lord Chaitanya immediately informed Prakasananda that people in
general in the modern age are more or less bereft of all spiritual intellect.
When such persons come under the influence of Sankaracharya’s Mayavadi,
or impersonalist, philosophy before beginning the most confidential Vedanta
Sutras, their natural tendency toward obediance to the Supreme is checked.
The Supreme Source of everything is naturally respected by everyone, but
by the impersonalist conception of Sankara, this natural tendency is hampered.
Therefore, the Spiritual Master of Lord Chaitanya suggested that it is better not
to study the Sarirakabhasya of Sankaracharya, which is very harmful to people
in general. Neither has the common man the intelligence to penetrate into the
jugglery of words. He is better advised to chant the Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare]Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare. In this quarrelsome Age of Kali, there is no alternative for self
realization to the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

After hearing the arguments and talks of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, all the
the Mayavadi Sannyasis who were present became pacified, and replied in
sweet words: “My dear sir, whatever You have spoken is all true. A person
who attains love of Godhead is certainly very fortunate. And undoubtedly
You are very fortunate that You have attained such a stage of love of Godhead.
But what is the fault in Vedanta that You do not study it, although it is the
duty of.a Sannyasi to read and understand Vedanta?”
