"You Can't Separate Anything"

"You Can't Separate Anything"

74/04/13 Bombay, Bhagavad-gita 4.24


Pradyumna: Translation: "A person who is fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that which is offered is of the same spiritual nature."

Prabhupada:

brahmarpanam brahma havir
brahmagnau brahmana hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyam
brahma-karma-samadhina

This is Krsna consciousness. Sarvam khalv idam brahma. Actually there is nothing as material. Because the energy and the energetic.... There is a verse in Visnu Purana:

eka-desa-sthitasyagner
jyotsna vistarini yatha
parasya brahmanah saktis
tathedam akhilam jagat

What is this jagat, manifestation? The manifestation is energy, energy of Krsna, energy of the Supreme Brahman. The whole atmosphere is just like the sunshine. We can exactly understand what is the position of this material world, what is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is the spiritual world. By nature's study you can understand.

As it is explained in the Visnu Purana, eka-desa-sthitasya agneh. Just like fire is situated in one place. Eka-desa-sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha. But it is illuminating. Everyone, we can understand. The same thing: just like the sun globe is situated in one corner of the sky, but the sunshine is illuminated. Eka-desa-sthitasyagneh. The agni, or the fire, is situated in one place, but the illumination is distributing. So just like the sunshine is spread all over the universe, but it is.... We can see every day. The sun globe is situated in one place. Not that the sun globe is distributed, spread all over the universe. The sunshine. Similarly, there is fire. The illumination is distributing. The heat also. Two energies of the fire. So because the energy of the fire is distributed all over the universe, it does not mean the fire is finished. No. Fire is there.

Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. That is Krsna. Krsna is expanding Himself just like the heat and light, but that does not mean Krsna is finished. It is not material. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. Krsna is spread in so many ways by His energy, by His personal expansion. Advaitam acyutam anadir ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca [Bs 5.33]. He is not finished. This is material idea, that "If Brahman is spread everywhere, then where is the existence of Brahman in one place?" This is the Mayavadi idea.

Just like you take a big paper, a newspaper, and tear it into pieces and throw all over, the original newspaper is finished. But Krsna is not like that, that because Krsna has spread by His energies, prakrti -- energy means prakrti -- that does not mean Krsna is finished. This is Mayavada philosophy, that when Brahman, the Supreme, is distributed everywhere, the original form, or the fact, is finished. No. That is not the fact. The Isopanisad, it is said that He is so perfect and complete, even complete is taken away from complete, it is still complete. That is Brahman.

We have got this limited idea. I have got balance, say, $1,000 in the bank and if it is taken little by little, the whole balance is finished. It is not like that. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. You have got $1,000. You take $1,000; still $1,000. This is spiritual. One plus one equal to one; one minus one equal to one. That is described here, that brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam.

Actually, the sacrificer, the ingredients.... Just like grains and ghee is being offered in the fire. So the fire is also Brahman, the ingredients are also Brahman, the person who is offering ingredients, he is also Brahman, but in different categories. Not that because everything is Brahman, therefore everything is God. No. Everything is...

This is called, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. The example can be given. Just like a drop of sea water and the sea, chemical composition is the same, but the drop of sea water is not equal to the sea. This is Vaisnava philosophy. The Mayavada philosophy is the drop, when it is taken, then it is separate, and again you put it there, then it is one. So the Vaisnava philosophy accepts it is one and separate, both. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different.

And it is explained in the Bhagavad-gita that maya tatam idam sarvam jagad avyakta-murtina: "I am spread all over the universe," jagad avyakta-murtina, "non-manifested murti." He has got His murti. He says, maya: "by Me." "Me" means person. Maya.
So how He is spread? Just like we are person. I am here, but I am not in my apartment. You are here. You are not in your house. That is the difference between Krsna and me. Krsna is also a person. I am also a person. But Krsna can remain anywhere and everywhere, and still He remains His personality. That is Krsna. Akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. That is stated in Brahma-samhita. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni vihitas ca yena govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **.

In the Bhagavad-gita also it is said, isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati: [Bg. 18.61] "Isvara, the Supreme Lord, is situated in everyone's heart." Your heart, my heart. It is practically mentioned, "in the heart." We are searching out where is the soul, where is the Supersoul, but it is in the heart. And we see also, so long the heart is going on beating, the living condition is there. As soon as the heart stops, everything finished. And the sastra says also, isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61].

Now, you find out where is the Supersoul and the soul. But because you cannot find out, it does not mean that there is no soul, no Supersoul. That does not mean. That is your imperfectness of knowledge or process of knowledge. And how you can find out? The magnitude of the soul is stated in the sastra, one-ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair. We cannot measure even the tip of the hair, and why.... How we can measure? Because we cannot find out, we say there is no soul. Yes, there is soul.

kesagra-sata-bhagasya
satadha kalpitasya ca
jiva-bhagah sa vijneyah
sa canantyaya kalpate
[Cc. Madya 19.140]

Therefore we have to see through the sastra, not by our blunt eyes and senses. That is useless. Adhaksic(?) Those who are bringing spiritual matter to be subjected to the experimental knowledge, it is not possible. Experimental knowledge is defective. Therefore we have to understand spiritual subject matter: sastra-yonitvat. The Vedanta-sutra says, we have to learn from the sastra.

So here Krsna says that everything can be converted into Brahman. It is a fact, sarvam khalv idam brahma. Now how to realize? That is Krsna consciousness. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita very nicely. Just like Krsna says.... Everything is Krsna. Now how to realize? Krsna says.... Those who are not very advanced, they have been advised to understand Krsna, how? Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya: "My dear Arjuna, I am the taste of the water." Begin like that.

Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. Apsu, in liquid, any liquid thing, you have some taste. Otherwise how you drink the liquid things? You have got some.... Everything has got taste. The whole world is full of taste. Unless there is taste, nobody can be inclined to enjoy something, anything you take. Therefore sex life is called adi-rasa, the original taste. So in the water, while we drink water or milk or even wine, any liquid thing, if you simply try to practice this, that "This taste, which I am enjoying, that is Krsna," that begins Krsna consciousness. It is not very difficult. Everyone can do that.

If you cannot chant, if you cannot hear about Krsna, if you cannot understand about Krsna.... Because the devotional method is sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. So to hear about Krsna, it does not appeal to everyone. Krsna is fighting in the battlefield of Kuruksetra and Krsna is playing on the courtyard of Yasodamayi. There are so many description in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. So ordinary, less intelligent men, they cannot understand that the Parabrahman, Supreme Brahman, can crawl in the courtyard of mother Yasoda. It is very difficult for them to understand. Therefore the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is description of Krsna's activities. Because unless one understands what is Krsna, he is not interested in the activities of Krsna. But those who are devotees, they know that Krsna and Krsna's activities are one and the same, absolute. So if we cannot understand Krsna.... Krsna is so kind that He descends and plays in so many ways. If we simply hear about Krsna, then that means we associate with Krsna.

Chanting of Krsna, Hare Krsna mantra, is Krsna. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah. These are the statement of sastra. Krsna's name, cintamani, spiritual. It is not material. You cannot go on chanting any material name, "Mr. John Mr. John Mr. John." You will be tired. But you can go on chanting Hare Krsna twenty-four hours; you will never be tired. That is the difference. But they do not understand. And the more you chant, you relish.

Otherwise these European and American boys and girls, four or five years ago they did not know what is Krsna, what is Krsna's name. Now they are chanting all over the world. This is a fact. One priest, Christian priest, he was astonished. In Boston he issued one pamphlet. He said that "These boys, they are our boys. Some of them are coming from Christian family or Jewish family. But before this, before their taking to Krsna consciousness, they did not care for anything, Bible or Church or.... Never. Now, how is that these boys are mad after God?"

So therefore it is a fact that Krsna and Krsna's name, there is no difference. Here in the material world, if you want.... You are thirsty. If you want water, if you simply chant, "Water water water," that will not satisfy you. You require water, the fact. But spiritually, when you chant Krsna, you relish Krsna. Nama cintamanih krsnah. That is because Krsna and Krsna's name is not different. So as we advance in realization, then we can understand that everything is Krsna. That is described here. Brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam. Because everything is Krsna's energy.

The same example. Just like the fire has got two energies, heat and light. So whenever there is heat, there must be fire. And whenever there is light, there must be fire. You cannot say that "Heat is here, light is here, but fire is not here." No, that you cannot say. As soon as even smoke is there, the fire is there. Even the smoke. This maya, external energy, is considered as the smoke of the fire. But in the smoke also, you can perceive fire. And in the light also, you can perceive fire. In heat also, you can perceive fire. There are three things smoke, light, and heat -- from fire. So one who is realized soul, he sees everywhere the connection of fire. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. He can see. This is advancement.

Just like we are offering Krsna something prepared. So how it becomes prasadam? Others will see that "The same dal, bhata, luci or halava, we are also preparing. How these people are calling it prasadam? And why they take with so respect?" Prasadam, that is also Krsna. That is also.... This is the process to understand, as I have already said. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. For the neophytes, by taking prasadam, by thinking the taste of water, Krsna, he will gradually develop his Krsna consciousness. That is dormant. It is not artificial. Simply by certain process it has to be awakened. It is not something foreign.

In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said,

nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

Sadhya means practice. It is not.... We practice so many things by association, but we forget, but one should.... [break] ...Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Santah sadaiva. So we have to become a santah, saintly person, by devotional service. This is the process. The beginning is hearing.

This center is made for giving chance to people to hear about Krsna. That is the beginning. There is no loss. But if there is any gain, why not take it? Anyone who is coming here, it is not necessary that one has to pay some fees or there is some loss. There is no loss. Everything is gain, simply by hearing. And Krsna is speaking about Himself. So we should take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement. That will be beneficial for us.

So Krsna and Krsna's name, or anything in this world, sarvam khalv idam brahma, that is Krsna, because it is energy of Krsna. And you cannot separate the energy from the energetic. I have already explained that you cannot separate fire or heat or smoke from the fire, because the three things are emanating from the fire. Therefore in the Vedanta-sutra it is said, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The first code is athato brahma jijnasa, "Now, this human life, is meant for inquiring about the Absolute Truth." In cats' and dogs' life we cannot. By evolution process, when you come to human form of life, there is chance of understanding Krsna. Therefore when we get this human form of life, if you do not understand Krsna, then you are committing suicide, atma-han, cutting one's throat himself. So we should not be atma-han. Labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante manusyam arthadam. This human form of life is purposeful. Don't waste. That is the injunction of the sastra.

Therefore there are so many Vedic literatures just to awaken this humanity or human society to the point of Krsna consciousness, so that they may be relieved from this business of janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam. This is required.

So this is brahmarpanam. Brahmarpanam... Krsna is Brahman, Parabrahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Arjuna has accepted. Who directly heard from Krsna about Bhagavad-gita and he is experienced about Krsna, he expressed.... You will find it in the tenth chapter, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan: [Bg. 10.12] "My dear Krsna, You are the Parabrahman." Everything is Brahman, but He is Parabrahman. That is the distinction. Sarvam khalv idam brahma.

This [is] all right, but wherefrom this Brahman is emanating? That Parabrahman. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Brahman is also emanating. Brahmano 'ham pratistha. Everything Brahman is situated on Parabrahman. Therefore He is described as param dhama. Dhama means the platform. Just like we stand on the surface of the globe. So similarly, there must be some standing. Just like the light is coming. Wherefrom the light is coming? The standing is the lamp. If the lamp is broken, there is no more light.

Similarly, the brahmajyoti, wherefrom it is coming? Where is the source? So brahmajyoti, the impersonal brahmajyoti is not ultimate. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]

The Absolute Truth is one, either you say Brahman, or Parabrahman or Bhagavan, but still, there is grades of realization. Brahman realization is impersonal realization. Paramatma realization is localized. And Bhagavan realization is the perfect, ultimate realization. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti.

The same example: Just like you are in the sunshine. That is also light. It is not darkness. Similarly, those who have realized impersonal Brahman, that is also light. Those who have realized localized Paramatma, isvarah sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 18.61], the yogis... The yogis realize Paramatma. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yogis' business is in meditation to see Krsna within the heart. And the jnanis, they realize impersonal feature, brahmajyoti. But the bhaktas, they directly come to the original source of Brahman and Paramatma -- Bhagavan. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara has expanded in everyone's heart.

And who is that isvara? Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1].

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
[Bs. 5.1]

So if we understand Krsna and Krsna's energies, then we can realize the Vedic slogan, sarvam khalv idam brahma. But without understanding Krsna, it is not possible. Without understanding Krsna, there will be falldown. Therefore we see so many impersonalists. They cannot give up their attachment for this material world. That is not possible.

That is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninas tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah: [SB 10.2.32] "Anyone who has neglected Your personality," aravindaksa, "O the lotus-eyed Krsna," aravindakse, ye 'nye 'ravindaksa tvayy asta-bhavat, "they cannot understand what You are." Avisuddha-buddhayah: "Their intelligence is still contaminated, not purified." Avisuddha. Then what is the result? The result is aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah: [SB 10.2.32] "After severe austerities, penances, they may come to the impersonal understanding of Your brahmajyoti, but patanty adhah, again comes to the material world."

Therefore the impersonalists, without understanding of Krsna, even very much advanced, they do not get any occupation. They again come down to the material platform to open hospital, school, college. Why? Because the impersonalist says that this material world is false. If the material world is false, why you come down again to the false platform to open schools and hospitals? That means aruhya krcchrena param padam patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [SB 10.2.32].

Just like if you go very high with your airplane.... Just like they are trying to go to the moon planet. Because they are not getting any shelter, they are coming back again. And if you are going to the moon planet, why you do not stay there? But they cannot stay there. Similarly, this so-called Brahman realization, or Brahman, actual Brahman realization, that will not help. You must stay somewhere. That is the lotus feet of Krsna. Samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam. We have to take shelter. That is aim, paramam guhyam. "You take shelter of My lotus feet." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That is Krsna, advise.

Not.... Sarva-dharman means there are so many system of religion. But any system of religion, if it does not lead you to the platform of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is defective. Therefore Bhagavata says, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. That is first class system of religion.

What is that? Which teaches one how to become unalloyed, unflinching devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is first-class. All others, they are defective. Sometimes they are described as cheating. Like in the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. Kaitava means cheating. So anything going in the name of religion, but it is cheating, that is rejected here. Dharmah projjhita. Projjhita means prakrsta-rupena ujjhita. Just like when you sweep with a broomstick, you cleanse all the dust, throw away, similarly, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, in the beginning it is said that cheating type of religious system is completely swept away. Dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam [SB 1.1.2].

Then for whom it is meant for? Paramo nirmatsaranam. Those who have achieved the stage of nirmatsarata, without any jealousy. Because the material disease is jealousy. I am jealous of you; you are jealous of me. This is the business here. Here however I may be very great personality, but in the material affairs -- there are many instances -- they become very very jealous. That is material disease. Material disease means we are all jealous. Therefore this bhagavata-dharma, Krsna consciousness movement, is meant for paramo nirmatsaranam, who is not jealous. For him it is meant for. Paramo nirmatsaranam vastavam vastu vedyam atra. These are described there.

And actually our jealousy begins from Krsna. Krsna is asking, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], but I am jealous, "Why shall I surrender to Krsna? Why? Oh, He is also as good as I am; maybe little learned." Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Because He is asking, demanding your surrender, and I am thinking He is an ordinary man, so I am losing the chance. Avajananti mam mudhah. So our jealousy business has begun from Krsna. "Oh, why shall I accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?" Although in the sastras Krsna says personally mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "There is no more superior truth than Me," but we don't believe it. Although you read Bhagavad-gita, but we don't accept Krsna's version. This is our disease. Because jealousy. Jealousy. "Why shall I accept Krsna as the Supreme?" This is jealousy. Therefore so long we are jealous, we cannot understand krsna. Paramo nirmatsaranam satam. And who is not jealous? Satam. Satam. Those who are devotees.

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

So we have to discuss about Krsna amongst the Krsna's devotees, not outsiders. Outsiders, they cannot understand Krsna. They simply waste their time by commenting upon Bhagavad-gita. Because they are mudhas, they cannot understand Krsna. Krsna said to Arjuna, "I shall explain Bhagavad-gita because you are My bhakta." Bhakto 'si priyo 'si. So who can understand Bhagavad-gita unless he is a bhakta of Krsna?

And therefore Krsna selected Arjuna. Arjuna was not a Vedantist. He was a householder, ksatriya, fighter, soldier. A soldier is not expected to be Vedantist, and neither very much well-versed in all the Vedic literature. That is not the business of ksatriya. That is the business of a brahmana. Brahmana is pandita. But ksatriya is not supposed to become a pandita. But still, Krsna selected him. Krsna, "Arjuna I shall speak to you the same old story which I spoke to..." Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. "That is now lost. Therefore I shall revive it again, and I shall speak to you, because you are My bhakta, you are My friend."

So this is the qualification of understanding of Bhagavad-gita: first of all to become a devotee of Krsna. Otherwise, it is licking the bottle of honey. Here is honey. "Oh, it is honey," and if you go on licking at the bottle, what taste you will get? It must be opened. Then inside.... rahasyam hy etad uttamam. And who can open? The devotee can open. Otherwise lick up, go on, bottle, licking the bottle for many thousands of years. You will never taste what is within.

So those who are actually advanced in Krsna consciousness, they can understand that everything is Krsna. That is really Brahman realization. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. This is the Upanisad. If you simply understand Krsna, then you understand what is Paramatma, what is Brahman, what is material cosmic manifestation. Everything you understand. And when you understand Krsna properly, then you will see that everything is Krsna because everything is Krsna's energy.

Just like heat and light. I have already explained. That is sarvam khalv idam brahma, that understanding. But that does not mean the Supreme Brahman, Krsna, is lost. No. Krsna, in spite of expanding in so many ways -- as Paramatma, as Brahman, as cosmic manifestation, material energy, everything, still, Krsna is there, person. So there are so many ways explained in the Bhagavad-gita to understand Krsna, and if we get this opportunity to understand Krsna.... If we cannot understand Krsna by reading Bhagavad-gita and sastra, Krsna therefore giving us the very easiest method. "All right, you cannot understand Me? You are drinking water every day, four times, three times. You just remember, ‘This taste is Krsna.' " That's all. Smaranam. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23]. Because you'll remember Krsna, you life will be successful, simply by drinking water.

It is so easy. You don't require to undergo very severe austerities and penance. Simply try to follow one instruction of Krsna, that while drinking water, the taste is Krsna. Begin this life and your life will be successful. Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.24 -- Bombay, April 13, 1974