Page 54 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION
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By the mercy of Lord Krishna, His yogamaya potency that completely bewildered Brahma was withdrawn like
an open curtain and Brahma was able to open his eyes again. Krishna then permitted Brahma to have a glimpse
of His eternal abode of Vrindabana where there is no hunger, anger or thirst.
Brahma was like a dead man who came back to life. He regained normal consciousness in order to behold the
most amazing vision of the spiritual world. Lord Krishna revealed to his devotee Brahma His eternal abode
Vrindabana, which has naturally opulent forests. There are marvelous trees that produce delicious fruits all the
time regardless of the season. The same is true of vegetables that grow in all seasons. Trees and vegetables are
invaluable assets that give pleasure and nourishment. They are essential for a sustainable livelihood that
promotes healthy and prosperous people. Unlike the material world where there is envy due to sense
gratification, in Vrindabana there is no egocentric sense gratification. Every eternal living entity there nurtures
the unique desire to please Lord Krishna.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes Vrindabana in the spiritual world:
…. in Vṛndāvana everyone is happy. The calf is happy, the cat is happy, the dog is happy, the man is happy —
everyone. Everyone wants to serve Kṛṣṇa in a different capacity, and thus there is no envy. One may sometimes
think that the monkeys in Vṛndāvana (in the material world) are envious, because they cause mischief and steal
food, but in Vṛndāvana (in the spiritual world) we find that the monkeys are allowed to take butter, which Kṛṣṇa
Himself distributes. Kṛṣṇa personally demonstrates that everyone has the right to live. This is Vṛndāvana life.
Why should I live and you die? No. That is material life. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana think, “Whatever is given
by Kṛṣṇa, let us divide it as prasāda and eat.” This mentality cannot appear all of a sudden, but it will gradually
develop with Kṛṣṇa consciousness; by sādhana, one can come to this platform.
In the material world one may collect funds all over the world in order to distribute food freely, yet those to
whom the food is given may not even feel appreciative. The value of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, will gradually
be very much appreciated. For instance, in an article about the temple of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in Durban,
South Africa, the Durban Post reported, “All the devotees here are very active in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and
the results are obvious to see: happiness, good health, peace of mind, and the development of all good qualities.”
This is the nature of Vṛndāvana. Harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇāḥ: without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, happiness
is impossible; one may struggle, but one cannot have happiness. We are therefore trying to give human society
the opportunity for a life of happiness, good health, peace of mind and all good qualities through God
consciousness. (SB 10.13.60 - purport)
Brahma was able to directly see Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and began to understand
somewhat the Lord’s infinite potencies including unlimited knowledge. Previously, due to Brahma’s false pride,
he thought he could bewilder the youthful Krishna with his own mystical power. After becoming bewildered
himself by the Lord’s infinite powers, Brahma realized that this little boy Krishna had unending power and
knowledge. Therefore, he decided to completely surrender to the Lord and stop any attempts of bewildering
Krishna with his puny powers. Bhaktivedanta Swami eloquently explains Brahma’s realization:
Now Brahmā saw Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appearing as a cowherd boy in Vṛndāvana, not
demonstrating His opulence but standing just like an innocent boy with some food in His hand, loitering with His
cowherd boyfriends, calves and cows. Brahmā did not see Kṛṣṇa as catur-bhuja, the opulent Nārāyaṇa; rather,
he simply saw an innocent boy. Nonetheless, he could understand that although Kṛṣṇa was not demonstrating
His power, He was the same Supreme Person. People generally do not appreciate someone unless he shows
something wonderful, but here, although Kṛṣṇa did not manifest anything wonderful, Brahmā could understand
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