Sensual Darkness-Spiritual Enlightenment
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.7
Bombay, November 7, 1974
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Nitai: "Devahuti said: I am very sick
of the disturbance of my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance,
my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance."
Prabhupada:
nirvinna nitaram bhumann
asad-indriya-tarsanat
yena sambhavyamanena
prapannandham tamah prabho
[SB 3.25.7]
So this material world is described in the Vedic literature as darkness. And actually it is darkness. Therefore we require the sunlight, the moonlight, the electric light. If it had not been darkness, then why so many light arrangements? Actually, it is darkness. Artificially, we made it light. Therefore Vedic injunction is that "Don't keep yourself in the darkness." Tamasi ma jyotir gama. "Go to the light." That light is the spiritual world. That is directly the effulgence, or bodily rays, of Krsna.
yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-
kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-
tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.40]
So real business of, especially of human being... The animals, they do not know. They have no capacity to know that we are in the darkness-darkness of knowledge and actually darkness. So one has to be, become nirvinna, disgusted. One, intelligent man should be disgusted. One must be intelligent to know that "I am eternal." Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. It is the preliminary study of Bhagavad-gita. Krsna is instructing about the constitutional position of the soul: na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20], na jayate na mriyate kadacit. Kadacit, at any time, the soul does not take birth, does not die. And more explicitly it is said, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. The covering, the body is the covering. So after destruction of this body, the soul is not destroyed. Just like if I change my shirt and coat or somehow or other the shirt and coat is destroyed, I, the person who put on this dress, I am not destroyed. This simple knowledge is instructed in the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita. There are so many big, big scholars, big, big leaders, and still, they cannot understand that "I am not this body." This is the result because they do not study Bhagavad-gita in the proper way. We have got so many leaders, big, big leaders. They are teaching Bhagavad-gita. But nobody is fully aware or convinced that "I am not this body." This is called darkness. This is called darkness. And when one becomes disgusted with this darkness, or this position in the darkness, that is human life. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Such person, who has become disgusted with this material existence, he requires the instruction of a guru.
So here Devahuti, because she is the wife of a great yogi, she understands what is the constitutional position of herself, and she has got her son, the incarnation of God. So she is getting here, mean, problem to the teacher. It doesn't matter... Because Kapiladeva is the son of Devahuti, Devahuti does not deny to take instruction from Him. She does not say, "Oh, He is my son. What He can instruct me? I am His mother. I shall instruct." No. Instruction has to be taken from the person who is in knowledge. It doesn't matter what is his position. It doesn't matter, whether he's son or a boy or a sudra or a brahmana or a sannyasi or a grhastha. It doesn't matter. You should take instruction from a person who knows, who is in the knowledge.
That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. He said, when He was talking with Ramananda Raya... Ramananda Raya was a sudra by caste. We have got the four divisions: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. So he was, Ramananda Raya was by caste a sudra, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a high-class brahmana. Not only brahmana, He was a sannyasi, the most exalted post. First of all He's brahmana. Of course, unless one is brahmana, he cannot take sannyasa. That's a fact. So He was, from social point of view, He was son of Jagannatha Misra, grandson of Nilambara Cakravarti. Personally, He was learned scholar, born in a very high class brahmana, very beautiful body, young man -- all qualified. And He was taking instruction from Ramananda Raya, who was a sudra. The Caitanya-caritamrta, you'll find. So Ramananda Raya, he was not only sudra, he was grhastha. And he was a politician, governor of Madras. Governor of Madras. But he was very exalted in spiritual knowledge. So after converting Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to the southern part of India, South India, at that time... Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, he was a very learned scholar, logician, nyayi. So he wanted to teach Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because He was a young man. But later on he accepted Caitanya Mahaprabhu as his guru. He was impersonalist, Mayavadi. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained to him the Vedanta-sutra, that Vedanta-sutra is personal philosophy. So he was convinced, and he became his disciple.
So when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going to South India for His touring, he specially requested Him that "I neglected this person, Ramananda Raya. He was talking with me about spiritual subject matter, very highly elevated, and that I thought that he was a sentimentalist. So I neglected him. But I can understand now that he is a very exalted personality. When You are going to South India, please meet him. Please try to meet him. You'll be very much pleased." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at Kabur,(?) He met Ramananda Raya, and He was talking about spiritual subject matter, very highly elevated, simply. So because he was born in a sudra family and a grhastha and a politician, so he was hesitating, that "Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a brahmana and sannyasi. Such an exalt..." Hesitating. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that
kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya
[Cc. Madhya 8.128]
"Don't hesitate. Why you are hesitating because you are a grhastha or you are in politics or you are a, born a sudra family? Why you are...? I am learning from you." This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching. He did not think anyone negligible. Anyone who is qualified with Krsna consciousness, he can become guru. It doesn't matter where he is born, what is his family and identification. It doesn't matter. He must know the science. It is very practical. Just like when you go to consult an engineer or a medical man or some lawyer, you do not ask him whether he's a brahmana or a sudra. If he's qualified, if he can help you in the particular subject matter, you consult with him, you take his help. That is practical. So similarly, in the spiritual matter it doesn't matter what he is. If he knows Krsna, then he can become guru. It doesn't matter.
So here also, Devahuti, she was taking lesson from her son because the son knew the science of Krsna. It doesn't matter whether one is son or one is something else or born in sudra family or brahmana family or a sannyasi. We are concerned with the science of Krsna. That is required. Canakya Pandita also. He was a politician. You know Canakya Pandita. Under his name there is, New Delhi, quarter: Canakya Puri. He was a great politician, prime minister of Ma..., Samrat, Emperor Candragupta. He also advises. He has got a moral instruction, Canakya-sloka. He says that visad apy amrtam grahyam: "In the poison pot, if there is nectarine, you should accept it. Don't neglect it because it is on the poison pot. You are concerned with the nectarine. Take it." Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam. In a filthy place... Suppose in your laboratory (lavatory?), in a very filthy place, there is gold. So it doesn't matter. You should take it, gold. It is not that the gold is in the filthy place, therefore you should not touch it. Other metal you cannot touch. That is the Vedic injunction. But gold you can take. Amedhyad api kancanam. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam, nicad api..., duskulad api. You can take some teachings even one is born in lower-grade family. And the wife you can accept even she is, if she is qualified, and... Stri-ratnam duskulad api. Stri-ratnam. Ratna means jewel. If one girl is very qualified or beautiful, even she is born of lower family, you must accept. You can marry. This is Canakya Pandita. Stri-ratnam duskulad api. Visad amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam, nicad apy uttama vidya. If a man born in nica, in lower-grade family, but if he's qualified, it doesn't matter. That is practically being done.
So this is Vedic system. Not that one is lower in the estimation of the society by birth or so on. But he must be qualified. So here also it doesn't matter. This is going on. That is Vedic system. Devahuti does not deny to take instruction from her son. It is the system. It doesn't matter whether he's inferior. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya: [Cc. Madhya 8.128] "You will accept anyone as guru if he knows the science of Krsna." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... And Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed everyone to become a guru. The world is suffering for want of Krsna consciousness. That was His mission. He wanted that from India everyone should become a guru and preach outside, because there is no Krsna consciousness. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' sarva-desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Or tara' ei desa. "You become a guru on My order, and you deliver your country or other countries." "So I have no so qualification, I have no education. How I can become guru?" Now, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya: "By My order." "Then what is Your order, Sir?" "Now, My order is yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. This is My order. You simply explain what Krsna has said. Or what has been said about Krsna." That is krsna-upadesa. Krsna-upadesa means what Krsna is instructing. The Bhagavad-gita, the Supreme Personality, Krsna, He is instructing. That is krsna-upadesa. And Srimad-Bhagavatam is speaking about Krsna. That is also krsna-upadesa. Krsnasya upadesa iti krsna-upadesa, and Krsna, subject matter Krsna and upadesa, that is also krsna-upadesa. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "You simply preach krsna-upadesa. Then you become guru.'
yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa
[Cc. Madhya 7.128]
Not only that. He has empowered all Indians.
bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
[Cc. Adi 9.41]
This Krsna consciousness movement, to spread this Krsna consciousness movement is the best welfare activity in the human society, the best. There is no more better welfare... There are so many welfare activities in the human society, but this krsna-upadesa, to instruct people about the primary principles of Bhagavad-gita in the human society, that is the best para-upakara. People do not know how to become happy. They are... Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. They are simply making struggle for existence by mental concoction. Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. In this material world, they are simply struggling. There is no solution. Therefore the every Indian should study Bhagavad-gita and if possible Srimad-Bhagavatam, and assimilate it, and preach all over the world. This is the duty of India. India has no other duty. Para-upakara. So with our one man's endeavor, teeny effort, you, we can see that so many outsiders, they're attracted to Krsna consciousness. Unless there is something substance... They are not illiterate. They are not fools. They are not poor. Why they are attracted? There is something to be learned from Krsna consciousness. So if this Krsna consciousness movement is spread all over the world regularly, then the face of the world will change. That's a fact. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission: "Let everyone become happy." And how he'll be happy? He cannot become happy by mental concoction. That is not possible. Manorathenasati dhavato bahih [SB 5.18.12]. If one is situated on the mental platform, speculating, he will simply go to the asat. Asat means this material world. Asato ma sad gama. Vedic says, "Don't remain in this asat. Come to the sat. Om tat sat."
So if one is on the mental speculation, manufacturing something for the welfare of the human society, that is not possible. Human society cannot be happy without Krsna consciousness. That's a fact. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita:
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
[Bg. 5.29]
If you want santi, individually or collectively, nationally or internationally, then you must become Krsna conscious. What is that Krsna consciousness? The summary is that Krsna is the supreme enjoyer: bhokta. We are not bhokta. We are simply servant. Just like anywhere, there is a master and the servant. The master is the enjoyer, and the server, servant, is helping the master enjoyment. This is the process. So we living entities, we are eternal servant of God, or Krsna. When we speak of Krsna, means God. So we are eternal servant of God. So our duty is to help the master to enjoy. Just like here is Krsna. The Srimati Radharani, She is the topmost servitor of Krsna. So Her business is to keep pleased always Krsna. That is... That is the symbolic representation. Radha. Radha means anaya(?) aradhyate. She is serving, the best service. Anaya(?) aradhyate. Therefore Krsna is very much fond of Radharani, because She gives the best service to Krsna, in so many ways. She has got sixty-four qualifications. That is mentioned. Therefore She is so, I mean to say, pleasing to Krsna. Anaya(?) aradhyate iti radha.
So our business is also like that. We are eternal servant of Krsna, and we should give, render, we should render service to the best of capacity. That is our real constitutional position. But here Devahuti says that bhumann asad-indriya-tarsanat. Asad-indriya-tarsanat. At the present moment in this material world, we are busy to enjoy these material senses. This is our position. Everyone is satisfying. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah, manasas tu para buddhih... [Bg. 3.42]. In this way, you go, and when you go beyond the range of buddhi, that is soul. That is spiritual platform. In the ordinarily we are, in the material platform, we are interested in gratifying senses: "I like it. I must have it." But that sense gratification means we are becoming implicated, implicated in the laws of nature. That is also stated in the sastra.
nunam pramattah kurute vikarma
yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti
na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam
asann api klesada asa dehah
[SB 5.5.4]
This is the instruction in the Vedic literature, that the people in this material world, they are very, very busy. Not only men -- even the animals, even the birds, beasts, insect. We see on the beach, there are so many dogs, and they are assembled there for sex. So this is the material world, indriya-priti. Therefore sastra says that human life should be, consider... They should think, "Whether we shall spoil our life simply by sense gratification, or there is some other business?" Yes, there is some other business. That is tapasya. That is tapasya means we should restrict sense gratification. Sense gratification, either regulated or nonregulated, is meant for animal life. Sense control is the human life. Therefore you'll find in Vedic culture big, big learned scholars, big, big kings, they dedicated their life for tapasya. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. If you want to purify your existence, then you must take to the process of tapasya. Tapo divyam.
And what is that tapasya? Tapasya for realization of God. And then we shall be purified. What is meaning of purify, purification? Purification means we are eternal, and if we become purified from this material contaminating, then we get back our eternal life, back to home, back to Godhead. That is required. That is... For that we have to accept little tapasya. Not to become sense gratifier like the dogs and hogs. That is not civilization. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. This human life should be regulated in such a way that he hasn't got to satisfy the senses after taking so much hard labor. The modern civilization is like that. Everyone is engaged in hard labor simply for satisfaction of the senses. So they have become mad. Nunam pramattah kurute vi... And they are acting without any consideration of the effect. They do not consider whether it is sinful or not. They do not believe in the next life. They do not discriminate what is sinful, what is pious -- nothing. Exactly like animals.
So sastra says, "This is not good." Here also, Devahuti says that bhumann asad-indriya-tarsanat. Asad-indriya-tars... Actually, these senses are not real senses. It is covered. Just like my, this body, covered with this shirt, or this cloth. It is not my real body. Although you see the shirt has got a hand, that hand is not real hand. The real hand is within the shirt. Similarly, our real body is within this body. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Dehe. Dehinah. Dehinah means the real body, or the spiritual body of the soul, is within this body. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe. And the body is changing. Kaumaram yauvanam jara. It is sometimes child, sometimes youth, sometimes a young man, sometimes old man. And then vanishes. It is... There are six changes. So this is not real body. But... And we are engaged in this unreal body, sense gratification. We have got senses. So therefore Bhagavad-gita says, sukham atyantikam yat tad atindriya-grahyam [Bg. 6.21]. Atindriya-grahyam. Beyond the senses. Therefore these senses are to be purified. That is called tapasya. Tapo divyam [SB 5.5.1]. And... Yes. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When we purify our senses... Senses you cannot destroy. That is not possible. Just like some, somebody said that "You become desireless." Desireless... Desire is the mental activities. So we cannot be desireless. That is not possible. We have to purify the desire. That is required. That is recommended.
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
Bhakti means that. Bhakti means that you are not required to destroy your senses, but you have to purify your senses. And when you purify your senses, then you can serve Krsna. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam...
So here Devahuti says that bhumann asad-indriya-tarsanat: "I am in this material world." In simple words there is a Bengali poem:
krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare
(Prema-vivarta)
We are purely part and parcel of Krsna. We are actually the senses of Krsna. And when we forget this position and we want to satisfy ourself, that is our material condition.
krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare
(Prema-vivarta)
Then that is maya. When we are in ignorance that we are the part and parcel of the Supreme Being and our duty is to satisfy Him... Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is called bhakti. When we forget it, then we are fallen in this material world, and we are busy in our personal sense gratification and implication. Implication means so long we'll have, we'll continue to have this desire to satisfy our senses, we have to accept another body, according to our desire. Krsna is so kind. If we want to become a tiger, Krsna will give our next life a tiger's body. And if you want to be a devotee, He will give you the same body. If you want to eat stool, then He'll give you the body of a pig. And if you want to... That requires our own qualification. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vra... [Bg. 9.25]. It is a preparation for the next life, as you want to enjoy your senses. So why not prepare yourself to go back to home, back to Godhead, and prepare your senses like that? That is Krsna consciousness movement.
Thank you very much. (end)
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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