142 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI

understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete
knowledge.’ (Bhdg. 7.5.23-24)

‘*Hearing’’ means hearing about someone’s activities, form, qualities,
entourage, and so on. If I want to hear about someone, he must have
some activities. We hear about history, and what is history? It is but the
record of the activities of different persons in different ages. As soon as
there is a question of hearing, we must ask what subject matter we should
hear about. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh: we should hear about the ac-
tivities of Lord Visnu, or Lord Krsna, not about the news in the
newspaper. Brahma-jijidsa: we should inquire and hear about Brahman,
the Supreme. These are the statements of the Vedas. In our Krsna con-
sciousness movement, we also hear and chant, but what is the subject
matter? The subject matter is Krsna. We are not hearing about market
reports and the price of this share or that share. No. We are hearing about
Krsna.

And when there is hearing, there must also be speaking or chanting. So
we speak and chant about Krsna (sravanam kirtanam visnoh). And as
soon as one becomes expert in hearing and chanting, the next stage is
smaranam, thinking or meditation. Whatever we speak or hear we shall
later contemplate or meditate upon. First one must begin with sravanam,
hearing, otherwise how can there be meditation? If one does not know
the subject matter of meditation, where is the question of meditation?
Therefore there must be hearing and chanting about Lord Visnu
(Sravanam kirtanam visnoh).

Actual meditation in yoga aims at seeing the four-armed Visnu murti,
which is the form of the Lord within the heart. That is real meditation.
Now rascals have manufactured other methods they call meditation, but
these are not actually meditation. The senses are very restless, going this
way and that way with the mind, but by the astdriga-yoga system, which
regulates one’s sitting posture, one’s breath, and so on, one can control
the senses and concentrate the mind on the form of Visnu. This con-
centration is called samadhi, and it is the real goal of yoga. Thus the
astanga-yoga system aims at coming to the point of smaranam, or remem-
bering the Supreme Lord.

The next process of devotional service is arcanam, worship of the
Deity, the form of Krsna in the temple.

Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-
Srmgara-tan-mandira-marjanadau
(Sri-gurv-astaka 3)
