Namah pankaja-maline [SB 1.8.22]. From Krishna comes the wonderful lotus flower that contains the seed of the entire universe. But He is not the source of only one such flower. Krishna is not so poor that He simply produces one lotus flower and then is finished. No. Just as there may be a garland with many flowers, Krishna is the source of innumerable universes, which may be compared to a big garland of lotuses. This is God. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya/ jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah (Bs. 5.48). Krishna is unlimited. We are very much concerned with this one planet, but Krishna's creation contains an unlimited number of planets. We cannot count how many planets there are, any more than one can count how many hairs there are on one's head. This is the nature of Krishna's creation. To give another example, on one tree there is an unlimited number of leaves. Similarly, there is an unlimited number of planets, and there are unlimited universes. Therefore, Krishna is unlimited.
Krishna's navel resembles a lotus, He is garlanded with lotuses, and His eyes are also compared to the petals of a lotus (alola-candraka-lasad-vanamalya-vamsi [Bs. 5.31]. So if we simply think of only this one verse, which describes Krishna's body with reference to the lotus, we can meditate our whole life on how beautiful Krishna is, how wise Krishna is, and how Krishna manifests His creation. This is meditation—thinking of Krishna. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti 'yam-yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. A yogi is one who always thinks of Krishna.
Those who think of something impersonal are not yogis. Their meditation simply involves undergoing more and more labor (kleso 'dhikataras tesham avyaktasakta-cetasam [Bg. 12.5]), and they cannot reach anything substantial. Therefore after meditation they say, "Come on, give me a cigarette. Come on, my throat is now dry. Give me a cigarette." That is not meditation. Meditation means thinking of Krishna always (satatam cintayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]) and endeavoring to advance in Krishna consciousness with a firm vow (yatantas ca dridha-vratah).
We have to be purified. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Because Krishna is pure, we cannot approach Krishna impurely. But if we think of Krishna always and meditate upon Krishna, then we shall be purified. Punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. That meditation can be possible by hearing and chanting, and then thinking of Krishna will automatically come. That is the process of Krishna consciousness. Sravanam kirtanam vishnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23]. The word smaranam means "remembering." If we chant and hear, then remembrance will automatically come, and then we shall engage in worshiping Krishna's lotus feet (sevanam). Then we shall engage in the temple worship (arcanam) and offering prayers (vandanam). We shall engage ourselves as Krishna's servants (dasyam), we shall become Krishna's friends (sakhyam), and we shall surrender everything to Krishna (atma-nivedanam). This is the process of Krishna consciousness.
Written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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