Prabhupada: So we have discussed about the body, ksetra. The question of Arjuna was ksetra, ksetrajna, jnanam, and jneyam. Now ksetra, we have discussed yesterday. Ksetra, this body, is combination of "the five great elements, false ego, intelligence, the unmanifested, the ten senses, the mind, the five sense objects, desire, hatred, happiness, distress, the aggregate, the life symptom, and convictions -- all these are considered in summary to be the field of activities." Yesterday we have discussed.
So we should not mistake this that we accept the field of activities identified with myself. That is going on. Suppose you have got a piece of land as agriculturist, and you produce your food grain in large quantity or small quantity. It doesn't matter. Similarly, this body we are utilizing.
We can practically see. Everyone is working with this body in Bombay city. A very poor man is also in Bombay city, and a very rich man is also there. Both of them have the same facilities to work, but we find that one man is working very hard day and night. Hardly he is getting his morsel of food. Another man, simply by going, sitting in the office, earning thousands and thousands. Why? Because the difference of the field of activities. The body is different. Because one has got a certain type of body, his destination is already there. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. We can study this thing, that somebody is living in a poor slum and another man is living in a very palatial building. So simply by endeavoring that "I shall live in a palatial building, and I shall not live in this poor slumhole," it is not possible because the destiny is there. Therefore the body is made according to our past karma, and that is called destiny. Your happiness and distress according to the body is already settled up. It is not possible by natural way to improve or disimprove it. It is already settled up. Therefore sastra says,
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
The human life should be utilized for understanding the Absolute Truth. The next paragraph, that describes how one can understand the Absolute Truth. Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa ksantir arjavam. So our life should be utilized for understanding the Absolute Truth, not for economic development. Economic development, what is already destined, you cannot improve less or more. It is already settled up.
There are so many examples. Just like a pig has got a body. He likes to eat stool. If you give him halava, that "Don't eat stool. Take this nice halava," he's not interested because he has got a particular type of body. That is the aggregate. That is already explained. Maha-bhutany ahankaro buddhir avyaktam (eva) ca, iccha dvesah sukham duhkham. Iccha dvesah. The iccha and dvesa according to the body. He has got the desire to eat the stool. That is his iccha. And he has got a dvesa for the halava, while a gentlemen, advanced gentlemen, he has got the iccha for halava, not for the stool.
Therefore our duty should be that without trying... That was Indian civilization. Everyone was happy in his position, everyone -- brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. The culture was so nice that nobody was unhappy, even if he is a sudra or even if he is a vaisya or a brahmana or ksatriya. It is not that because the ksatriyas, the royal family, they were happy, and the brahmanas were not happy or the sudras were not happy. No. Everyone was happy because... Still in India you go to the village. They are happy with their destination. This is the Indian culture. Now we are injecting discontentment, injecting. Otherwise everyone was happy in his position: "God has given this position. So this is all right. Let me do my work." That is satisfaction. Everyone was satisfied.
Still it is going on, although great propaganda is going on to kill the Vedic culture. Just as some in 1971, we attended the Maghamela. In 1971? Or which year? That Allahabad Maghamela.
Devotee: '71.
Prabhupada: Yes. So people were coming there, thousands and thousands, to take a bath in the Ganges, and they were happy. There in Calcutta there was an Indo-American society. I was invited to speak there. So they gave me the subject matter, "East and West." So... (aside:) Don't do... So far we are concerned, we have no such distinction, "East and West." We know that everyone is human being, and everyone, every living entity, not only the human being, even the birds, beasts, animals, trees, everyone, a living entity is part and parcel of God, Krsna. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. So everyone is in ignorance. That is our concern.
Our propaganda is not for the East and the West, but our fight is with the ignorance of the people because at the present moment people are kept in ignorance, in foolishness, that he is this body, bodily identification. But still, there is difference between East and West. In the West, I have talked with big, big professors, learned scholars. They have no idea of next life.
I talked with Professor Kotovsky in Moscow. He said, "Swamiji, after annihilation of this body, everything is finished." They have no idea that there is soul. And in India even the poorest man, he knows that, "There is next life. I existed in the past, and I will exist in the future." This Vedic conclusion is known even to the poorest man, illiterate man. That is, of course, the difference between East and West.
So anyway, our position is that we should not identify this body as self. Krsna says here that
adhyatma-jnana-nityatvam
tattva-jnanartha-darsanam
etaj jnanam iti proktam
ajnanam yad atah anyatha
Adhyatma-jnanam, to understand oneself as the spirit soul, that jnanam. Adhyatma-jnanam, tattva-jnanartha-darsanam. Philosophy should be utilized. Logic and philosophy should be utilized for self-realization, not for simply mental speculation.
We find nowadays, big, big philosophers write volumes of book, simply theorizing without any understanding of the spirit soul. Big, big philosopher. And Krsna says that if one simply puts philosophical theories for some utopian ideas, "Now time is coming which will be like this, like that." No. Time is there already. You cannot manufacture time like this or like that. It will go on. It is eternal. It is eternal.
Just like Krsna has said in the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita that "Arjuna, you and me and all the soldiers and kings who have assembled here, it is not that we did not exist in the past. We are existing now, and we shall continue to exist in the future." So this eternity of the soul we do not know. We are simply identifying ourself with this body, and we are simply interested for the bodily comforts of life. This is the civilization, going on.
So although we have got this Bhagavad-gita, at least in India the education should have been on the line of Bhagavad-gita for the benefit of the people of India. Unfortunately nobody is taking care. Even though there are some propaganda of understanding Bhagavad-gita, they are interpreting in their own way to fulfill their own ambition. This is going on. So here Krsna says, amanitvam, amanitvam. What is that amanitvam? Read the purport.
Pradyumna: Purport?
Prabhupada: Yes. [break] That is mentioned here. The central point of process of knowledge is mentioned here, Mayi cananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicarini. One has to be fixed up on this point. There are eighteen different description of the process of knowledge, but the central point is mayi ca. Mayi ca. Ca means... That is the main point. Without Krsna, if you simply try to become elevated in knowledge, that will not stand. That will not stand. Therefore Krsna says mayi ca. Mayi cananya-yogena. Ananya-yogena means without any deviation. Ananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicarini. Without any deviation. Avyabhicarini means without any disturbance. Ananya-bhakti. In another place Krsna says, api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak.
api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
[Bg. 9.30]
The central point is bhagavad-bhakti. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. If one is not a devotee of the Lord, Krsna harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah -- he cannot possess any great qualities. That is not possible. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah.
We have seen practically. Just like Ravana. Ravana was a great personality, a great devotee of Lord Siva also, and materially his kingdom was very much advanced. It is said that Lanka was made of gold. Actually there were many palaces. And he was a very big Vedic scholar also. But one thing, that he was against Rama... And for this disqualification he is still described as asura, raksasa. So harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah mano-rathenasato dhavato bahih. If one is not devotee of the Lord, he will simply concoct on the mental platform. So that will not make.
Ravana also wanted to make a staircase to go directly to the heavenly planet. Just like we are. At the present moment, we are trying to go directly to the moon planet by sputnik. But it has failed. It is not possible. In that way we cannot go. If we want to go to another planet, the process is described in the Bhagavad-gita: yanti deva-vrata devan pirn yanti pitr-vratah [Bg. 9.25]. If you want to go to the higher planetary system, then that particular devata, Indraloka, Candraloka. The moon planet is Candraloka. That is also considered as one of the heavenly planets. So you have to prepare yourself by karma-kandiya activities. Then you can go there by... After this body is finished, you immediately transfer to certain planet where you want to go.
Similarly, if you want to go to the planet where Krsna lives, Goloka Vrndavana...
goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya
devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu
te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yena
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.43]
There is... Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo vyaktyavyakta-sanatanah [Bg. 8.20]. They are described in the Bhagavad-gita that "Beyond this material nature there is another nature. That is called sanatana." Paras tasmat tu bhava. Bhava means svabhava or nature. As you see this material nature... Although you are seeing, you cannot go. You are so limited, conditioned. You see so many planets twinkling at night, but there is no possibility of going there.
You cannot go to the nearest planet, even the moon planet, by your mechanical arrangement. The modern scientists, the sputniks experts, they say to go the topmost planet of this universe it will take forty thousands of years. Who is going for forty thousand, flying forty thousands of years and again come back and see you: "Yes, I went to such and such planet." Is it possible? So we are so poor. It is not possible in that way.
So this is the position of our going to the material planets, and what to speak of the spiritual planets? That is far, far away. You cannot travel within the space of material world.
panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo
vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam
so 'py asti yat prapada-simny avicintya-tattve
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs 5.34]
Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara. Not only one year, two years, three years or forty thousand years. Koti-sata-vatsara. Koti, you know, one hundred times lakhs makes koti and again multiply it by hundred. Koti-sata-vatsara. And the speed. What is the speed of that aeroplane? Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi. Aeroplane. Vayur manasah. And with the speed of mind. Airplane running with the speed of mind. You know what is the speed of mind. You are sitting here, and within a second your mind can go some ten thousand miles away, within a second. So even with that speed and running on, koti-sata-vatsara, you cannot go to the spiritual planet. This is the position. So 'py asti yat prapada-simny-avicintya-tattve. So in that way you cannot go.
But you can go if you prepare yourself. Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. Mad-yajino. Those who are devotees of the Lord, Mad-yajinah That is the principle of Bhagavad-gita: man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. Mad-yaji. "You worship Me." So mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. You can go to the Krsna planet. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya [Bs. 5.43]. The Krsna-dhama is described in the sastra, Brahma-samhita,
cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.29]
There is the Goloka Vrndavana planet. That Goloka Vrndavana planet is the topmost planet. This material world, then you'll get spiritual world. Then spiritual world, as you have got in this material world, this is only one universe. There are millions of universes, even within this material world.
Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah [Bs. 5.48]. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya. People claim. Some rascal claim, "I am God." So here is a description of God. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah [Bs. 5.48]. Jagad-anda-nathah means Brahma. You have understood Brahma's duration of life. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam arhad yad brahmano viduh. The Brahma's one day, twelve hours, you cannot calculate. Sahasra-yuga-par... Yuga means forty-three lakhs of years and multiply it by one thousand, and then it comes to be twelve hours of Brahma's ayuh. Such Brahma lives only...yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya [Bs. 5.48]. Maha-Visnu is exhaling and inhaling. When he is inhaling, so many Brahmas are going within, and when He is exhaling, so many Brahmas are coming, means so many brahmandas are coming. This is the position.
yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.48]
That Maha-Visnu is partial representation of Govinda. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. So this is called knowledge. One has to know what is God, what is the nature of God. So one has...
The first qualification is amanitvam. Don't be puffed up with your false knowledge. Having this little degree from the university, you are thinking that you have become so learned, you don't care for God even. This is nonsense. Therefore first qualification to get progress in knowledge is amanitvam, amanitvam. Don't be proud falsely. Our present education is simply teaching people how to become falsely proud. Just like here is, Bhagavad-gita is going on. They are falsely proud: "Oh, what you have to learn here? We know everything. We know everything. We are M.A., Ph.D., that's all. We have finished already this." Therefore the first thing is amanitvam, pridelessness. Go on reading the purport.
Pradyumna: "So if one does not approach or is not able to approach the transcendental service of the Lord, then the other nineteen items are of no particular value. But if one takes to devotional service in full Krsna consciousness, the other nineteen items automatically develop within him."
Prabhupada: Yes. This is the central point. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincanah sarvair gunair tatra samasate surah. All the qualities of the demigods, sura... Sura and asura. Sura means demigods or gods, and asura means demons. So if one becomes devotee of Krsna... Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincanah. Akincana. Pridelessness. Akincana. Krsna's another name is Akincana-gocara. He can be understood by akincana, one who thinks himself as very humble, meek. That is also said in the Bible, that one has to become meek and humble. Then he can understand. And that is also Krsna demanding, that "First surrender. Become humble and meek." This is the verdict of all Vedic sastras.
Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam. This is the statement of Brahma, that one should give up the nonsense process of mental speculation, "God may be like this; God may be like that." No. God is not manufactured by your mental speculation. God is God always, Krsna. Krsna is God from the childhood. When He was three months old He demonstrated His godly powers. He immediately killed Sakatasura. He immediately killed Putana. So He did not become God by meditation, manufactured in some mystic factory. God is God. God is always God. Even when He is child, when He is young man, when He is a boy. Krsna, when He was a boy of seven years old, He lifted the Govardhana Hill. That is God. Not that "Here is a man. By mystic power He has become God." No. That God is different God. Real God is always God.
So akincana-gocara. That real God can be realized by a person who is humble and meek. Amanitvam adambhitvam. Go on. "Krsna consciousness. The other nineteen items automatically develop." Yasyasti bhaktir-bhagavaty akincanah sarvair gunair tatra samasate surah. Automatically. Yasmin vijnate sarvam etam vijnatam bhavanti. This is the Vedic assertion. If you simply understand one, that Krsna, then you understand everything. Just like in Bhagavad-gita. If you try to understand Krsna, you get all the knowledge -- material, spiritual, everything. Practically. Yasmin vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavanti. Go on.
Pradyumna: "The principle of accepting a spiritual master, as mentioned in the seventh verse, is essential."
Prabhupada: Yes. That knowledge has to be acquired. Acaryopasanam. Here it is said. You have to worship acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda. One who has accepted... Narottama dasa Thakura has also said, asraya loiya bhaje krsna tare nahi tyaje ara saba more akarana. Asraya. You have to take shelter. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2].
And Arjuna also said, sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam. Sisyas te... Acarya, acaryopasanam. Krsna and Arjuna, two friends. There was no need of accepting Krsna as Arjuna's spiritual master. Still, he is accepting officially. Sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam: "I am accepting You as my spiritual master. Please teach me." So this is essential. Acaryopasanam.
Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. This is Vedic instruction. If you at all interested in the understanding of spiritual subject matter, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. Tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Abhigacchet means must. It is not that if you like, you can go; if you do not like, you do not. No, you must. Abhigacchet. Samit-pani srotriyam brahma-nistam. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. It is not a fashion to accept one guru. If you are actually interested, sreya uttamam, the highest perfection of life -- tasmad gurum prapadyeta -- then you have to accept a guru. This is called acaryopasanam.
Even Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He accepted Sandipani Muni as teacher, master. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is also incarnation of Krsna, but He accepted Isvara Puri as His guru. They do not require guru, but just to keep pace with the official program, even God personally, He accepted spiritual master. So this is essential. Acaryopasanam.
To become humble, meek, ahimsa, non-violence, santi, tolerance. In this way you have to make progress. The other items will be described by and by. We have to... Yes. Tomorrow we shall describe. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12 -- Bombay, October 2, 1973
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