Ways to Regulate Our Sleep - Part 4 Date: 2015-10-28 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. This is in continuation of the previous topic, "Ways to Regulate Sleep", which is based on sublime instructions given by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.3.18 in Gorakhpur on February 11 1971. 1. Srila Prabhupada then quotes one of the verses from Sri Sad-Goswami-ashtaka composed by Srinivasa acarya which explains how by properly engaging themselves in service of Krishna, the six Goswamis were able to regulate the eating and sleeping habits. saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ kālāvasānī-kṛtau nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau cātyanta-dīnau ca yau rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa-smṛter madhurimānandena sammohitau vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, who were engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord and bowing down in a scheduled measurement. In this way they utilized their valuable lives and in executing these devotional activities they conquered over eating and sleeping and were always meek and humble enchanted by remembering the transcendental qualities of the Lord. 2. Devotional service is not a stressful activity, but a joyful one - susukham kartum avyayam. So His Divine Grace says that "the six Goswamis saved time in this way, and radha-krishna-padaaravinda-bhajananandena mattaalikau, be jolly in the service of Radha-Krishna, bhajanananda. That should be the basis of jolly, jollyness. And this should be adjusted or minimized according to... Our real pleasure should be in bhajanaanandena. Radha-Krishna- padaravinda-bhajananandena." 3. "In this way we have taken very serious job. In this life we want to finish this material existence for good. That should be the responsibility, that "We are going to finish this material existence for good. No more coming." tyaktvaa deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you take responsibility in that way, then everything will be adjusted. Serious." 4. "My Guru Maharaja (HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarawati Maharaj) used to say like that, that "Finish this business in this life. Don't delay for the next life." He was telling also that "Don't give me trouble again to come here to deliver you." That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Spiritual master responsibility is to take the disciple to Krishna, until he is able to do, to help him, to help him, to help him. That is the verdict of the shastras. Just like Bilvamangala Thakura. His spiritual master delivered him, taking the shape of a prostitute." 5. "We have to take responsibility. The first thing is that we have taken very, very responsible task, to finish this so- called lording over this material nature. The material life means everyone is trying to lord over the material nature, bhoga. And we cannot do that. That is not possible. Therefore we are in trouble...And our business is not to lord it over but to serve Krishna." Krishna willing we shall continue to hear the sublime instructions from Srila Prabhupada in the next offering. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi..