Back To Godhead-Ultimate Goal

Back To Godhead-Ultimate Goal

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.124-125
New York, November 26, 1966

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Prabhupada:

veda-sastra-kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana'
'krsna'-prapya sambandha, 'bhakti'-praptyera sadhana

Now, the Vedas or the scriptures, why they are made? This... It is not practically made, but it is coming down by traditional process, by hearing. Just like we accept our father by hearing. A child is born, and when the child sees his other brothers and sisters calling a gentleman "father," he also begins to say "father." There is no question of studying. By hearing. How does a child learns to call the father a father? Because he hears. Others are calling "father," so he also calls "father." There is no evidence. There is no study. Similarly, the Vedic knowledge was coming by hearing. There was no need of book. But when this age, Kali-yuga, began, five thousand years before, they were recorded, and systematically... Vedas, first there was only one Veda, Atharva Veda. Then Vyasadeva, just to make it clear, divided into four and entrusted his various disciples to take charge of one school of Veda. Then again he made Mahabharata, Puranas, just to make the Vedic knowledge understandable by the common man in different ways. But the principle is the same.

So Lord Caitanya says the purpose of Veda  is... Veda-sastra kahe-'sambandha'. Sambandha. What is our relation? Our relation is, as Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. So the relation with God is that we are... Everything is born out of the energy of God. So we are also born... Therefore we say God, "Father." This is accepted in every religion. There is no argument. Now, what is the relationship between father and son? Is it the relationship to exact only from father? There is no duty of the son, simply to take from father? No. There is duty. If a son is sensible and grown-up, he knows that "I have got my duty: to love my father." That is very simple thing, to love father. "Father has done so ma..., so much for me, I am just going to own the estate of father, and I am enjoying the earnings of my father. So is it not my duty to show respect to my father?"

So those who are against God-principle, those who are not God-minded, they're the lowest creature. They're the lowest creature. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah: [Bg. 7.15]  "Anyone who does not recognize God, he's the lowest of the lowest creature." Duskrtino mudhah. These, these terms have been used. Just like mudha, ass; duskrtina, miscreant; and naradhamah, and lowest of the mankind. Mankind. Mankind is meant for recognizing. This is the life. In animal life, one cannot recognize that there is God and everything is coming from God. They cannot read Vedas, or scriptures. They cannot take any instruction. So these Vedas and scriptures are there for human beings. Therefore, a human being, so-called human being with two hands and two legs, but they're animals who do not accept the authority of scripture and do not accept the existence of God, so Bhagavad-gita very nicely describes them, naradhamah. Naradhamah  means lowest of the mankind. So our civilization is going to the lowest of the mankind. And we are, we are trying to advertise ourself that we are advancing, but the... Yesterday some boy came: "Who is God? I am God." He was speaking like that. You see. And he appears to be educated student. From his appearance it appears that he, he's educated. So this is education is going on, that they're going to be the lowest of the mankind. The purpose of education is to make man the highest of the mankind, but modern education is teaching lowest of the mankind. And if some of the students are taught to become highest of the mankind, their guardians become disturbed: "Oh, my son is going to be highest of the mankind? Swamiji, you are playing dangerous things." Oh. Just see. Swamiji's speaking, "No, don't smoke. Don't take tea. Don't have illicit connection with women. Be upright. Be devotee." "Oh, Swamiji's dangerous." And if somebody teaches, "My dear boys, take LSD, go to hell, and become mad. Go to the lunatic asylum," "Oh, that is..." What can be done? This is the situation.

So we are situated in a society of the lowest of the mankind. Always remember this, that we are situated in a civilization which is the lowest of the mankind. Not only I am speaking of your United States... All over the world. Even India, where so much culture was made for understanding God, this foolish government, they're also teaching this. You see. So this is the, I mean to say, age. Don't think that I am particularly criticizing some country or community. This is the age, Kali. It is called Kali. Hypocrisy, simply hypocrisy. Kali means full of hypocrisy. So we have to be very careful. We have to... Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya [Bg. 7.14]. And the illusory energy is very strong. At any moment, little slackness... (aside:) Oh, you have wrongly put. [break] So this is... Actually, we should understand. So Lord Caitanya says that sambandha means we have to revive, we have to reestablish our lost relationship with Krsna, or God. That is civilization. The relationship is there already because I am born. The supreme cause is Krsna, or God. But I have, some way or other, I have forgotten that. Therefore these scriptures -- Vedas, this Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita -- these scriptures are reminding me. They're made for reminding me that "Your relationship with Krsna is eternal. Why you have forgotten? Therefore you are suffering." We have discussed the sloka, verse, that bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad isad apetasya viparyaya-smrtih. Vipa... Because we have taken a, a reverse position for, for, forgetting the Supreme, therefore we are put into anxiety. Because we have taken a reverse position. "Who is God?" Viparyaya-smrtih. This very word is used. Viparyaya means topsy-turvied. "Your memory has become topsy-turvied. Therefore you are suffering." But he will not agree. "No, we shall adjust. We shall make laws. We shall make agitation. We shall form party and go on defying God, and we shall be happy in this way." So this godless civilization is now generating the Communist party. So the dangerous position, we are coming.

So anyway, one who takes shelter of Krsna, he'll not be put into danger. Rest assured. So 'krsna'-sambandha, 'bhakti'-praptyera sadhana. So I have to revive my relationship. Relationship is there; simply I have forgotten. So I have to revive it, or remember it, that "Oh, I am such and such." Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. I have to become a great soul by surrendering unto God. So that surrendering process is bhakti, or devotional service. My relationship is eternal with the Supreme. I have forgotten it. Now, that relationship is that He is the original father of everything, and we are all sons. So we have to become... We have... So long we have been disobedient. Now we have to become obedient. That's all. This obedience means that... What is called? Obedience, the first law of discipline. So as soon as the people of this world, so-called advanced world, they become obedient to God, then there will be discipline and there will be peace. There is no discipline now. They are not agreeable to follow any rules and regulation. Everyone is God. Everyone is dog. Everyone can do anything, whatever he likes. So there is no discipline. So bhakti, bhakti, devotional service, means to undergo a, a disciplinary system of our life so that automatically we can revive our lost relationship with Lord, God, and we become happy. This is called bhakti. Abhidheya-nama 'bhakti', 'prema'-prayojana. And why? What is the use? Suppose we don't revive our relationship? Then you'll be disturbed. You are after peace and prosperity.

So what is the basis of peace? Basis of peace is love. Do you think that you do not love anyone and you become peaceful? No. How it is possible? Therefore, if you love God, then you can love everyone. And if you don't love God, then you cannot love anyone. Because He's the center. Just like in our... Of course, here your family system is different. In India there is joint family system. Suppose a girl comes... The parents, they engage the girls and boys. Say a girl belonged to a different family. But when she is married, she comes to family, and because the husband and wife is related, at once the husband's brother becomes related, the husband's mother becomes related, the husband's father becomes related. Husband's... Everyone becomes related at once. The central point is husband. Before that, before any connection with that central point, this boy's father, brother had no relation with that girl. You see? So central point must be there. So if you can love God, then everything in relationship with God, then you can love. You can love every man. You can love your country. You can love your society. You can love your friend. Everyone. That is the point. They are thinking in a different way, "Why shall I love God only? Why shall I love God? I shall love my family. I shall love my country. I shall love my..." Oh, no, you cannot love. It is not possible. Because you are missing the central point. These are facts. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna [SB 5.18.12]. One who does not love God, he cannot have any good qualification. Why? Mano-rathena asato dhavato bahih. Because he'll simply speculate on the mental plane and he will fall down under the spell of this material energy. He has no standing. However materially, academically qualification he may be, it is clearly stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana. We have given you the list, twenty-six qualifications. As we become advanced in devotional service, all these good qualities will develop automatically. There is no need of legislation. There is no need of, but, anything, but all those good qualities will develop. Otherwise, what is the meaning of Krsna consciousness? Is it a sentiment or fanaticism? No. It is a science. If you follow the rules and regulation and systematically, then all these qualities will develop. You'll practically see it. And as soon as these qualities are there, then you become actually lover of your country, you become a lover of your fellow man. You become friend, God, everything.

So if each and every man becomes like that... Of course, it is not expected that each and every man will become like that. At least, ten percent of the population become Krsna consciousness -- there is guarantee, peace in the world. Because ekas candra... We do not require many moons in the sky. Only one moon is sufficient to drive away the darkness. Varam eka guni putra na ca murkha-satair api. Canakya Pandita says, "It is better to have a qualified son than to have hundreds of fools." So the modern civilization is going on in that way, godless civilization. If some percentage of the civilized human beings become Krsna conscious, that will bring forth peace. Otherwise it is not possible. It is therefore necessity. Lord Caitanya says, abhidheya 'bhakti', 'prema'-prayojana. Prayojana means it is necessary. Purusartha-siromani prema maha-dhana. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching was based on this principle: prema pumartho mahan. What is the objective of human life? He said that "Objective of human life is to attain love of God." That's all. That makes him perfect, nothing more. He..., His mission has been described by one of the acaryas, Visvanatha Cakravarti. He has studied. He said that the mission of Lord Caitanya is aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanaya: "Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is aradhya." Aradhya means He is worshipable. He's the only worshipable personality. Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanaya tad-dhamam vrndavanam: "And as Lord Krsna is worshipable, similarly His place of pastimes, Vrndavana-dhama, is also worshipable." Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanaya tad-dhamam vrndavanam. And what is the best kind of worship for Krsna? Now, ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya-kalpita: "The highest kind of worship is as demonstrated by the damsels of Vrndavana, the girlfriends of Krsna." Yes. They had no adulteration. Simply they were always thinking of Krsna. Krsna is going outside of the village, and they were thinking at home, "Oh, Krsna's," I mean to say, "sole is so soft. How He's wandering in the jungle? There are so many particles of stone. Must be pricking." In this way. Krsna is there; they are at home, but they are thinking of Krsna, how He's walking, how His soft foot is suffering. In this way they are always absorbed in Krsna consciousness. They are not Vedantists. They are not brahmanas. They are not educated. They were cowherds girls. But their love of Krsna was so intense that Lord Caitanya recommends, "Oh, there is no better worship than, than it was being demonstrated by the damsels of Vrndavana." Ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita. Then what is the source of understanding Krsna? Srimad-Bhagavatam. Amalam puranam. If you study Srimad-Bhagavatam, then you attain all these things. Sri-caitanya-mahaprabhor matam idam. And prema pumartho mahan.

So the book, Srimad-Bhagavatam; the ideal worship, the damsels of Vrndavana; Krsna is the worshipable object; and the necessary of life, necessity of life, is to attain love of God. This is the whole mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, sum and substance. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying here, purusartha-siromani prema maha-dhana. People are, have their objective of life, everyone. Dharmartha-kama-moksa [SB 4.8.41, Cc. Adi 1.90]. Their objective of life is... Of course, nowadays people are different. Formerly... It is Vedic version, dharma, to make them religious. Therefore every civilized nation has some sort of religion. Religious... Because without becoming religious, there is no possibility of peace and prosperity. So this is one of the aim of human society, religious. And why religious? Dharma-artha. Then the economic condition will be better. If all people are religious, then economic condition will be better. Dharma-artha. And why economic condition better wanted? Kama. Kama means then the necessities of your life will be fulfilled nicely. Dharma, artha, kama, and moksa. Then what is the end? That if you are peacefully in the society, then you can culture for your liberation. So dharmartha-kama-moksa [SB 4.8.41], so generally these four principles are the aim of human society. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "Yes, these are all right." But prema pumartho mahan: "With all these things, if you have no love of Godhead, it is all nonsense. All nonsense. Therefore try to love God and everything will be all right." This is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, prema pumartho mahan. So prema. Here, also, Lord Caitanya says that we should understand our relationship with God. We should act in that way. That means in devotion. Then we shall have the highest perfection of life, love of God, and our mission of human life will be fulfilled.

Thank you. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966

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Vedas, Guru And Supersoul

Vedas, Guru And Supersoul

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.121-124
New York, November 25, 1966

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Prabhupada:

daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
 [Bg. 7.14]

So Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that this is the condition, suffering condition of the living entities, and he can be rescued by the mercy of sadhu, saintly persons, the scriptures and the spiritual master. They are prepared to bestow their mercy upon everyone, provided people like to take their instruction and mercy. That is the solution. And in the Bhagavad-gita the same thing is confirmed in the Seventh Chapter: daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. The influx of the disturbances created by this material nature under different forms is very stringent. So anyone who wants to be rescued from these miseries, he should surrender unto the Supreme Lord. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te.

This maya has got two kinds of influence: praksepatmika, avaranatmika. Avaranatmika means we are already covered by the illusion. Although we are suffering in every step, we are thinking that we are happy. Just, just the day before yesterday the lady, she said, "Oh, the temperature was so high that I could not tolerate it. I could not..." The next moment she said, "Oh, I don't feeling any, any unhappiness." This is called praksepatmika. First things is that I am so much illusioned that I... Just like the animals. They are suffering so much, but they have no knowledge that they are suffering. But human beings, who are above them, they can understand that what sort of suffering there is. A animal, he's, he's being taken to the slaughterhouse, but it does not know due to ignorance. This is called avaranatmika, covering influence of the material nature. And there is another influence. Suppose one is trying to come out of the covering. Praksepatmika. It throws: "Oh, why you are trying for this? You are very happy. Why do you think, why you are so much pessimistic of this life? Just work hard and enjoy life. That's all."

So these things are going on. Actually, we are suffering and we are in dangerous position step by step. But by the influence of this material, external energy, we are covered, illusioned. We are thinking, "Yes, I am very happy." And if somebody tries to come out of it, then he is also advised by the material nature, "Oh, why you are doing all this nonsense? You are very happy." Yavaj jivet sukham jivet. The atheistic theory... The atheist... Nowadays there are atheists, not that... Atheist class of men there are always. Maybe number of the atheists are now greater than before, but there was a great atheist in India. There are six kinds of philosophical theses. Out of those, atheism is one of them. So that atheism... Carvaka Muni. He was, Carvaka, the leader of the atheists. His theory was that rnam krtva ghrtam pibet: "Just beg, borrow or steal. You must eat butter. Never mind." Rnam krtva ghrtam pibet, yavan jivet sukham jivet: "So long you shall live, you must live very comfortably." Then one may say, "Oh, beg, borrow, steal, and who'll suffer the sins? If I borrow, if I cannot pay? If I commit sins? If I commit burglary? Oh." The Canakya, the Carvaka Muni replied, bhasmi-bhutasya dehasya kutah punar-agamano bhavet: "Well, when your body will be burnt into ashes, who is coming here and who is going to be responsible? Don't think all these." So this is atheistic theory. They don't believe that there is transmigration of the soul. He has to take another body and he has to take body according to his work, and there are 8,400,000's of different kinds of bodies, and human body is the most benefactory. So they do not know all these things. So this is called avaranatmika, covering influence.

So covering influence and throwing influence. Out of these two influences, one can come out if he agrees to surrender unto the Supreme Lord. Otherwise there is no other way. He'll be, he'll be always covered or be thrown again.

daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
 [Bg. 7.14]

Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "Anyone who surrenders unto Me fully, he, he alone can get rid of these two kinds of influence of maya. Others cannot."

maya-mugdha jivera nahi svatah krsna-jnana
jivere krpaya kaila krsna veda-purana

These, I mean to say, illusioned, maya-mugdha, illusioned living entities, they have forgotten. They have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Lord. Mostly: "Oh, what is God?" Somebody says, "God is dead." So these things are going on. Not now. Now the number has increased. It is always. So long the world is there, the material world is there, this sort of thing is going on. So maya-mugdha, illusioned by this external energy, they have no memory that how they are connected with the Supreme Lord. They have no memory. They have forgotten. That there is something like God, altogether they have forgotten by the illusion. Yes. Maya-mugdha jivera nahi krsna smrti-jnana. And just to revive their memory, Krsna... Jivere krpaya kaila krsna veda-purana. Veda-purana. Veda means the Vedic literatures. Veda, real literal meaning is veda means knowledge. Vetti veda vido jnane. There is a Sanskrit root, vid-dhatu. From that vid-dhatu, veda. Veda means knowledge. And Purana, Purana means supplementary, Vedic instruction described in story form. That is called Purana, story. This Bhagavata is also one of the Maha-purana. Maha-purana means the science of Krsna is described in story form. This is called Purana. People better understands in stories, in history.

So Lord Caitanya says, "Because people in general, by the influence of the illusory energy, they have forgotten their eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, therefore the Lord Himself, as Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa..." Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa is considered to be a powerful incarnation of Krsna. Unless he was a, he was an incarnation, it was not possible to write so many books. There are eighteen Puranas and four Vedas and 108 Upanisads, and Vedanta, then Mahabharata, then Srimad-Bhagavatam. Each of them contains thousands and thousands and millions of verses. So we cannot imagine that a man can write in that way. You see. So Veda-vyasa is considered to be incarnation of Krsna, and he was very powerful in writing. In the Mahabharata itself is so many, so big book. And there are... Each Purana contains thousands and thousands of verses. So these are his gifts. So Krsna, means Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa, he... Because sadhu, sadhu, those who are saintly persons, they're always thinking of the miseries of the people in general. They are not meditating for their own purpose. They are writing books. They are thinking how to establish them in such a way so that they can properly utilize the human form of life. That is their business, sadhu. Sadhu means that they are always compassionate with the sufferings of the people in general. That is sadhu. Because they are devotees. The Lord comes... Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7]. Whenever there is... The nature's law is so stringent that if you violate a little, then you have to suffer. There is no mercy. There is no mercy. So as you go on violating the laws of nature, the nature law is so made that the nature is giving you chance to be Krsna conscious. That is the whole program. And as soon as you deviate from that law, then you are put into trouble. So we are passing in that way.

So the sadhu and the pious and the devotees of the Lord, out of their compassion, they write books what they have heard in the disciplic succession. They do not manufacture. These Vedas, what is written by Vyasadeva, you don't think that he has manufactured something. No. Formerly the Vedic knowledge was simply spoken by the spiritual master, and the disciple simply heard it. Therefore the Veda is known as sruti. There was no need of books. They were so, I mean to say, their memory was so sharp that once heard, they can remember, they could remember. The life was so nice that... In the advancement of Kali-yuga, as I have several times described, that this memory will be decreased. People will be less, less memorious, memory... Their memory will be very shortened. They'll forget. Just like the lady was angry(?). At once forgets. One moment she says that "Oh, it was terrible heat," and next moment says, "Oh, I don't feel any unhappiness." That is forgetfulness. So memory will be so short that people will forget. Just like the animals. They forget. There is no memory. In some of the animals there is no mind. That is also analyzed in the Bhagavad-gita, er, Srimad-Bhagavatam. So memory shortened, shortened. So just to give us remembrance again, the books are... Vyasadeva, he wrote those Vedic traditions into books. Vyasadeva is the first man who wrote this Vedic knowledge into writing. Before that, there was no writing. Only by hearing, by memory, the students will grasp the whole thing and coming down, tradition, tradition. Yes. Sruti, by hearing.

So jivere krpaya kaila krsna veda-purana.

'sadhu-guru-atma'-rupe apanare janana
'krsna mora prabhu, trata'-jivera haya jnana

So what is the utility of this Vedic knowledge? Now, by understanding, by hearing from authorized sources, or by reading from authorized sources, the forgetful living entities will come to his senses. That is the purpose. He will come to his sense: "Oh, my position is this, and I am suffering in this way." So sastra-guru-atma-rupe apanare janana. So Krsna, or the Supreme Lord, is always anxious to revive the memory of these forgotten souls, conditioned souls. Now, how He revives? He revives in sastra. Sastra means scripture. Sastra, guru, spiritual master. Sastra, guru, atma-rupe. And sometimes He comes Himself or as Paramatma, or the Supersoul. He is giving you instruction from within as Paramatma, He's sending you suitable spiritual master so can, you can have instruction without, and the books are, the scriptures are there. So many facilities the Lord has created. And therefore the human form of life is meant for utilizing all these facilities. In the animal form of life there is no facility. They cannot read sastra. They cannot understand scripture. They cannot take the advantage of a bona fide spiritual master. They cannot consult within with God. They have no this capacity. Their consciousness is so undeveloped that it is not possible to have, utilize all these facilities. But in human form of life we can utilize all these facilities. The sastras are there, the Vedas are there, scriptures are there. And still, although it is the age of Kali, still, those who are following the disciplic succession, there is bona fide spiritual master also. Sastra, guru and atma. And over all, the Paramatma. The Paramatma, the Supersoul, Krsna as Supersoul, is sitting within your heart along with you. And as soon as, by the instruction of the scripture and direction of the spiritual master, you begin sincerely something, the Paramatma, from within you, He'll speak, "Yes, now you are right." He'll speak to you.

In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly:

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
 [Bg. 10.10]

Tesam satata-yuktanam. Those... The spiritual master's duty is to lead a person, a forgotten soul, to the right way in terms of the sastra and scripture, and when he begins sincerely and with love and seriously, then the next stage is that God within, who is sitting within you, He'll dictate, "Yes, you do like this. You do like this." So in every respect the Lord is trying to help us. But we are so much stubborn, we don't like to take advantage of this position. Oh, he says, "Why shall I take all this? I am very happy." There is a story in the Bhagavata that once Indra, the king of heaven, he was condemned by his spiritual master, Brhaspati, that "You are so foolish. You should have become a hog." So he became a hog. So after some days, when the throne of the heavenly kingdom was vacant, Brahma went to reclaim this hog, Indra, that "Come to your place." So when the hog was requested that "You are Indra. Why you are suffering? Now you come. I have come to take you," so the hog says, "Oh! I do not know what I am, Indra. I have got my responsibility. I cannot leave this place." Just see. Even the hog -- you can just imagine what is the standard of his living -- he thinks also that "I am very happy. I am very happy." The stool-eating and this nasty place, and "Oh, I have got a very comfortable life." So this is the, I mean to say, praksepatmika.

So the sadhu-sastra, the God Himself comes, He sends His confidential servant, He sends His son to reclaim us, and we should take advantage of these facilities and make our life successful. That should be the aim of human life.

Thank you very much. (pause) Oh, no, there is time.

veda-sastra kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana',
'krsna'-prapya sambandha, 'bhakti'-praptyera sadhana

Now, what is the subject matter of these Vedic scriptures? That is summarily summarized, summarized by Lord Caitanya. Veda-sastra kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana'. There are three things in the Vedic scriptures. What is that? The first thing is: "What is my relationship with God?" Or: "What is my relationship with this world?" Or: "What is my relationship with this nature?" These three is described. Then, as soon as you understand your relationship, then your action begins according to... Just like two businessmen, two. They want to do some business. They wanted to do... Mutually, they want to do some business. And what is the aim of business? To make some profit. Both of them are interested in making some profit. Without profit, there is no question of business. So first, if the profit is aim, then the two business first come to a contract, or agreement. This is called sambandha, relationship. "Yes, you are supplier; I am purchaser. And you shall supply in this way, and I shall purchase in this way." Agreement. This is called relationship. And after the sign of the agreement, when actually the activities begin, supply and purchase, that is called abhidheya. And abhidheya means why they are doing this business? Now, some profit. So the profit there must be. Otherwise nobody's interested. Same thing is there also in the Vedas. First of all you have to understand, "What is my relationship with God, or with this world, or the nature?" We must understand first this. And when we understand this, "This is my relationship," then my actual work will begin. That is abhidheya. And after executing that prescribed duty, the result is that I'll get my relationship with the Supreme Lord revived. These three things are described in the Vedas. There is no other thing.

So there are different kinds of knowledge in the Vedas. Veda is a vast knowledge. Even how we shall live in this material world, that is also described. Even medicine, medicine, the science of medicine is also described in Vedas. That is called Ayur-veda. The science of military science also described there in the Vedas. That is called Dhanur-veda. Yajur-veda... So many Vedas there are. And ultimately the knowledge is there, how to understand the Supreme Absolute Truth and how to get yourself liberated. That is... These are the subject matter of Vedas. So in the Bhagavad-gita also the Lord says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam: [Bg. 15.15] "The ultimate purpose of Veda is to understand Krsna." Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. So Krsna or the sadhu and sastra does not stop your material activities. Because you have to act materially so long you have got this material body, so they give regulation, how you should act so that ultimately you can reach to Krsna. So if we follow the regulations given in the Vedas, then automatically we reach to the highest stage of perfection. That is the purpose of Vedas. Therefore you'll find different subject matter dealt in Vedas, and unless we have a bona fide teacher of the Vedas, it is very difficult to understand Vedic language and take advantage of it.

Therefore Lord Caitanya says that "The subject matter of the Vedas, we must understand." And what is that subject matter? That we must know our relationship with God, or with each other, or with this nature, or this world; then what is our action, regulated action; then the prayojana, the ultimate goal of life is reached. 'Krsna'-prapya sambandha, 'bhakti'-praptyera sadhana. The ultimate end is to reach Krsna or to get Krsna, ultimate end. And that is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. The ultimate purpose of the Vedas is to reach Krsna. That's all. So this is the ultimate goal of life, and Vedas describes this, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is describing also. We shall come to this point gradually.
Thank you very much. Any question? (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.121-124 -- New York, November 25, 1966

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Are We Krsna's Competitors?

Are We Krsna's Competitors?

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.119-121
New York, November 24, 1966

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Prabhupada:

bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayaya ato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

Therefore it is advised that our fearfulness, "How I shall live? What I shall eat? Where I shall live? Where I'll, I'll have my shelter...?" We are always perplexed with all these fearfulness. Why? Because we have forgotten that there is one who is giving me all protection. We are, we have become so foolish that..., that the lower animals than the human being, they have no economic problem. They are freely living. In the morning they do not care where they shall eat. But there is eating. No animal, no bird, is dying of starvation. Have you seen any animal or any bird has died out of starvation? And who is providing him? So they have no economic problem. The only this foolish, advanced, civilized man, under the name of so-called misusing the intelligence, which was given to him for realization of God, misusing for sense gratification, and therefore they are troubled. That is the whole problem. The world's problem is due to this forgetfulness. Isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih. They have forgotten the protection of Krsna, God. They think that "By this adjustment, we shall be able to protect." Nonsense. It is not possible. Can you protect yourself from death? No. Then what is your protection? So this is the formula: bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. Dvitiya means that a, a secondary existence beyond God which is, in Bible, it is said, Satan and God. So this satanic mentality has made them under the control of material nature. Satanic mentality. What is that satanic mentality? That "I want to be God." Always thinking falsely, "I am God," or "Independent," "I can do anything, everything," "Whatever I survey, I am the lord of whatever I survey." These foolish things are going on.

So this is very nicely explained, and reference is given by Lord Caitanya that our whole difficulty, problems, anxiety... A similar verse is in Bhagavata, another place, sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat [SB 7.5.5]. Asad-grahat. Asat means nonpermanent, which will, we shall not exist. Due to our absorption in that sight, asat, this matter... Just like this body: it will not exist. So giving too much stress on the bodily concept of life, they are sada samudvigna-dhiya, they are always full of anxiety. This is the cause. The foolish people, they do not know. Still, they are very much proud of education. Here is the cause, that because we have given too much stress on this false conception of life, therefore we are always full of anxiety. And as soon as I understand that "I am pure spirit soul, part and parcel of Krsna, the Supreme Lord. He is giving me all protection, and my duty is to love and serve Him," then I am free. At once I am free. The simple formula. How He'll give me...? He's not poor man. He's, He's... What you are? Your human, human being, they are very few. If you compare with other animals, other living entities, you are most insignificant number. Your number is very little, especially for the civilized. If you search out a hole in your room, you'll find millions of ants coming out. Even in your room you'll find. You'll be over-voted. So who is supplying their necessities? Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Vedic language we can understand that one singular entity... God is also a living entity. He's not void. He's just like a person, like you and me. But He's so powerful. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. One single number, He is providing so many, innumerable living entities. So our business is... And the Bhagavad-gita you'll find, tesam satata-yuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham: [Bg. 10.10] "I supply whatever he needs. Who is constantly engaged in Krsna consciousness, I supply it. I take the goods personally and deliver there." Why should you be anxious? Krsna will take hundred pounds of flours, hundred pounds of rice, and deliver you. Just be Krsna conscious. In ordinary home you don't find more than five pounds. You see in our stock, all hundred pounds.

So these are facts. These are not stories. But foolish people, they have no knowledge or Krsna consciousness. Be in Krsna consciousness. All your material necessities will be... But don't be extravagant. Take only whatever you need to maintain your body and soul together and execute this... Make this primary and other things secondary. Krsna will supply you. But if you want to make your sense gratification, if you want to accept more than what you need, then you'll be in trouble. That is maya. So Krsna has provided for everyone, everything. There is no need of being anxious. But that does not mean that I shall feel, "Oh, I shall do everything and anything." No.

So this is Krsna consciousness. Now, Lord Caitanya says,

sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya,
sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya

Now how to become Krsna conscious? A person who is fully Krsna conscious, he has no problem. Now how to become Krsna conscious? Lord Caitanya says, sadhu-sastra-krpa: "One can become Krsna conscious by the mercy of saintly devotees and by the mercy of the scriptures." These two things are recommended. Not that fools, as they are thinking, "I can..., I can think myself. I don't agree with the sastra. I don't agree with the spiritual master. I don't agree with scriptures. I have got my independent opinion." He is fool number one, rascal number one. One who says like that, you'll at once take him that he's fool, rascal, anything. You have to take shelter of sadhu, guru and sastra. Sadhu means saintly persons, those who have got all those qualities. (aside:) Where is that paper? Are you using that paper which has been supplied to you? Good qualification of devotees? What are those? Can you say, any of you? Where is that paper?

Disciple: It's on the inside of the drawer there.

Prabhupada: Oh, not with you? It is in the book. "Oh, my knowledge is in the book." No. You should learn. Everyone is missing. So how you can become saintly person? So those qualities, twenty-six qualities, they are called saintly person. Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. Devotee does not mean a rascal, at the same time, a devotee. No. As soon as you become devotee, the test is that all those twenty-six qualities will develop. You have to test yourself, "Out of the twenty-six qualities, how much I have developed?" If I am lacking, then you must know that you are not developing. This is the test. What are the qualities? Paul, you have got the copy?

Paul: Yes.

Prabhupada: What are the qualities?

Paul: "Kind to everyone."

Prabhupada: Kind to everyone. Yes. Then, go on.

Paul: "Does not quarrel with anyone. Fixed up in the Absolute Truth."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Paul: "Equal to everyone."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Paul: "Spotless, faultless, charitable, mild, clean, simple, benevolent, peaceful, completely attached to Krsna, no material hankerings, meek, steady, self-controlled, does not eat more than required..."

Prabhupada: Does not eat more than required. Yes.

Paul: "...sane, respectful, humble, grave, compassionate, friendly, poetic, expert..."

Prabhupada: Poetic, expert and silent. One who is too much talkative, that means he's lacking in devotion. He should simply talk about Krsna, nothing more. And when he, when one is actually absorbed in Krsna thought, he cannot talk nonsense. He has no time. He does not waste time. So these are the qualities. Here, he's called sadhu. Sadhu means these are the qualifications. Of course, not that we may develop all these qualities immediately, but sadhu means this. Sadhu means, what is called, pious man. These are the qualities of pious man, sadhu. And sastra. Sastra means the scripture. By study of scripture, you can develop these qualities. That is called scripture. That is authorized scripture. Just like you study some book, and you develop some quality after reading that book, similarly, when you actually have scripture, then you develop all these qualities. And guru, spiritual master, means who teaches you all these things. So you have to make your progress -- sadhu-sastra-guru vakya. You have to corroborate whether guru, what guru is speaking, whether it is there in the scripture; what scripture is speaking, whether that is in the character of guru, or in the sadhu, saintly persons, or spiritual master. So you have to always make comparison with three things: sadhu, sastra, guru. Nobody can become a spiritual master who has no reference to the scriptures and these qualities. Nobody can be accepted as a qualified man, he has not..., if one has not developed his character through the scripture under the instruction of guru.

So sadhu-sastra-guru. A sadhu, a guru... Here Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sadhu-sastra. That sadhu includes guru also, because a spiritual master, unless he's a sadhu, he cannot be a guru, cannot be a spiritual master. And the primary qualification of spiritual master -- that he is completely surrendered to Krsna, completely Krsna conscious person. These are the things. So Lord Caitanya said, sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya. Now, the sadhu's qualification is he's merciful, friendly... So the sadhus, they take the risk of becoming friendly and merciful to the fallen, conditioned souls, and they preach the message of Godhead. Therefore their mercy is required. They are merciful, by nature. By nature, they are merciful. One who is sadhu, one who is devotee, by nature, he has developed that merciful quality, friendly quality. So their business is to enlighten those who are ignorant, those who are fully absorbed in this material concept of life. Therefore they preach. And we have to take that mercy. If we don't accept... Suppose a man is fallen in the pit and he's trying to come out, and another man drops a rope, "Please catch it. I shall take you out of the pit." He does not catch it. Then how he can be taken out? So sadhu and sastra, they're always ready to give you mercy, but you have to take it. If you don't accept it, then how you can recover, recover? Therefore initiation means to accept the mercy of the sadhu and spiritual master. If you don't accept, so there is no other way. If you think... If you cry that "I am fallen in the pit. Please take me," and when somebody comes to help you, you say, "No, I'll not catch it," then you remain there. Who'll help you?

So because I am a living entity, I try for so many things, for my daily bread, and I don't try to catch the mercy of sadhu and sastra. Just see my foolishness. I, for getting a work, I flatter so many persons and put my, serving my application, but for my deliverance from the material bondage I don't care. "No, I am not going to submit to anyone. I don't require." Just see. How much foolishness there is. Just like a dog, for his bread he'll submit everyone, but for his spiritual emancipation, oh, he's not agreeing to submit. Just see the foolishness. For bread, which is already settled by the nature, he'll submit to everyone. Just like dog goes from door to door and moves its tail that "Give me a bread. Give me a bread." Yes. So this application is a doggish... In the Bhagavata it is stated that the, the brahmana, a ksatriya, if he's poverty-stricken, he may accept something mercantile, but don't be a dog. This modern civilization is teaching people to become dog. Go door to door! [ ...the saintly person, the representative of Krsna, they are always trying to distribute this mercy. So if somebody by his fortune accepts this mercy then he can become, mean, aloof from these material troubles.

So one has to accept. Sadhu-sastra-krpaya. They are always merciful. But one has to accept them and become Krsna conscious. Sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya. And as soon as he agrees to become Krsna conscious, then his path becomes clear. He'll get rid of these material clutches and this always full life full of anxiety and problems, he'll kick. These things, sadhu, sastra, saintly person and scripture, they have to be accepted. If you don't accept them, then there is no other way. Why there is no other way? Daivi hy esa guna-mayi [Bg. 7.14]. He's citing again from Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita is the book of evidence. Lord Caitanya is citing. Because it is Vedic. Just like in the law court you have to cite section from the law book, not from your concocted mind. No foolish man can argue in the law court, because he has to refer in every step from the law book. Sadhu means that he has to give evidence from the scriptures. Not that "I think... In my opinion you can do this." He's not a sadhu; he's a fool. What is your opinion? You are a conditioned soul. Can you manufacture something? No. You cannot manufacture anything. You have to give reference from authorized scripture. So Lord Caitanya is giving evidence from Bhagavad-gita: daivi hy esa guna-mayi [Bg. 7.14]. Why you cannot yourself get out of these material clutches? The reason is this: daivi hy esa. It is, material clutches is so powerful. You cannot get out. It is not possible. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya. "This material nature, which is My energy," Lord Krsna says, "it is very strong, very strong." In the history you'll never find that anybody has overcome the laws of material nature by his own effort. No. It is not possible. Therefore the modern scientific world who are trying to conquer over the laws of material nature by their teeny scientific arrangement, they are all fools. It is not possible. Not possible. If you try for something which is not possible, then you'll simply go on, wasting your time. That is a different thing. But if you accept the scriptures, the truth, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita-daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya: [Bg. 7.14] "This material nature, which is one of My energy, it is very difficult to get out of it" -- then he'll be a sane man who: "Then why I am trying foolishly? In this way, that I can make adjustment in this material world for comfortable life? No. It is not possible." Then what is the remedy? The remedy's there. What is that? Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: [Bg. 7.14] "As soon as one surrenders unto Me, he becomes out of these clutches." This is the process.

So this information... We are holding this class from Bhagavad-gita, from Caitanya-caritamrta and scripture just to... With reference to the sastra, scripture. And we are trying to follow. We are not creating anything. It is not a manufactured thing, concocted thing. It is standard, followed by great acaryas like Caitanya. So we have to accept. That is the way. We have to become Krsna conscious, and follow, as the sastra says. Sometimes, as we... The law books are there. As we take help of a lawyer, how to utilize the law book, similarly you have to utilize the scriptures by accepting a spiritual master who can guide you. He's a lawyer. These are the process. If you don't accept, then go on suffering. If you accept, then everything is there. That is the way of Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.119-121 -- New York, November 24, 1966

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Material Infection Means Forgetting Krsna

Material Infection Means Forgetting Krsna

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.118
New York, November 23, 1966

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Prabhupada:

...uthaya, kabhu narake dubaya
dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya

So Lord Caitanya is explaining the position of the conditioned souls. They are completely under the grip of this material nature. And just like one is seated on the car and the driver drives him -- if the driver is not under control, he drives him anywhere, to any hell -- similarly, we are sitting on this car of this body, supplied by the material nature, and she is driving anywhere, sometimes up, sometimes down. In this way we are suffering life after life, birth after birth. This is our condition. We are not independent; completely under the stringent laws of material nature.

So dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya. The example is very nice, that a culprit is drowned in the water, again taken for some time to take breathing. He was suffocating. Nature... He's not meant to be killed, but he is to be given suffering in that way. So material nature is giving us suffering, miseries like that. Bhayam dvitiya.

(bhayam) dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

Therefore Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavata, is giving direction, bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. When we are forgetful of Krsna consciousness, when we think that "There is no God. This matter is everything. This material manifestation which we see, that is everything all in all, and there is no Lord, no, I mean to say, supreme controller," when we think like that, that begins, that is the point of our anxiety, beginning of anxiety. Bhayam, fearfulness. We are all fearful because, as we have got these bodily necessities, we want to eat something, we want to sleep, similarly, we have fear, and we have demand for mating. These four principles are animal life. We are always fearful. And why we are fearful? Because we have taken it that there is no God. There is no God; therefore we are fearful. Just like a forlorn child, when he thinks that "My... I am... My father and my mother, lost." You might have experienced. A child lost, he cries. He thinks himself, "I am helpless. Where is my mother? Where is my...?" Similarly, when we are helpless, we are fearful. And those who are Krsna conscious, they are not helpless. They know, "Above me, there is Krsna." And saranagati, surrender, means to have firm conviction that "Krsna will protect me. I am engaged in Krsna's service, so Krsna will give me protection." If I work in some ordinary man's service, he gives me protection. Don't you think if you work for Krsna, He'll not give you protection? Because we have no faith, therefore we are seeking protection from elsewhere. Krsna is able. He says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: [Bg. 18.66] "I shall give you protection from all sinful reactions."

But we have no faith. We are thinking, "Oh, it is written in the Bhagavad-gita. That's all right, but I must have my protection in a different way." So dvitiyabhinivesatah. Because he thinks there is anything superior than Krsna, therefore he is fearful. Why a conditioned soul is fearful, that is explained in the Bhagavata. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. So this maya, the illusion, when we take shelter of this illusion, then we are afraid. And when we understand that "Illusion, this energy, is under the control of Krsna, because illusion, this material energy, is also Krsna's energy, inferior energy. So even if I, I am within this material energy, when I am forgetful of Krsna, this material energy is fearful for me, and when I am in Krsna consciousness fully, there is no question of fearfulness from material nature." Therefore tan-mayaya abhajet tam. Abhajet tam. And therefore it is our duty to regain our lost consciousness, Krsna consciousness. That is the duty of this human form of life. Abhajet tam bhaktyaika isam. Simply by devotional... If you want to worship the Supreme Lord, then you have to worship Him simply by service. There is no other process. You cannot worship Krsna by this controlling breathing or by mental speculation or by some pious activities or by charities. You have simply to worship Him simply by your devotional love. That is the only way. Bhaktyai, bhaktyaika, only one, bhakti. There is no other means. There is no second means to understand God without this devotional service. Rest assured. Foolish creatures, they take this, that. They do not understand. They come to the, that impersonal, void, all the nonsensical conclusions and... Because they do not take shelter of this, devotion, therefore they cannot have any conclusion. It is not possible. Therefore, more or less, they become atheists or after the voidness or impersonalism, and so many things there are. They create.

But because Krsna, or the Supreme Lord, cannot be understood by any other process... It is simply waste of time. If you want to know Krsna, if you want to know God, then you have to take this process. That is a... Bhaktyaikayesam, abhajet tam bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma: "He is the Supreme Lord, He is the Supersoul, and He is the supreme spiritual master." In this way. He's the supreme spiritual master within you. As soon as you will take to devotional service, He'll give you dictation, "You do this." What dictation? To go to hell? No. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. In the Bhagavad-gita: "I give him intelligence." Why? What for? Yena mam upayanti te: "By which he can come back to Me." That buddhi-yogam. He'll help you. If you think something... If He takes seriously about your case, if you are fully surrendered, then He'll direct you in such a way that you cannot go elsewhere except to Him, even sometimes you may find that "He is doing something against my will." I have got my personal experience. I never tried, never accepted that I shall become a sannyasi. And I tried my best to keep myself in this material world. And He has, several times He has frustrated me and has brought me by force (to) this life. And now I am happy. I can understand that how much favor has Krsna showed me. Yes. I did not understand in the beginning.

So sometimes, if Krsna takes special care for you, He'll do in such a way that you will have no other way than to go back. He'll take charge, take charge. If we sincerely want Krsna, if He sees that "Here is a person. He wants Me. But he's a foolish. He wants Me; at the same time he wants to enjoy this material world. So crush this, crush this, his material propensities, and let him become simply devoted." Yes. Sometimes we see like that. In the, in the Srimad-Bhagavata there is a question by Sukadeva Gosvami, by Maharaja Pariksit. Maharaja Pariksit... Because he understood that his grandfathers were put to so many difficulties although Krsna was their friend, personal friend. So everyone became astonished: "How is that? These five brothers, the big brothers... Maharaja Yudhisthira. He was the most pious man. Arjuna was the greatest warrior, and Draupadi, their wife, directly the goddess of fortune. And so much nice... And above all, Krsna is their personal friend, and still, they were put into such difficulties. They lost their kingdom. They lost their wife. And they were put into so many... For thirteen years they had to undergo so many troubles." So this was astonishing. Even Bhisma, he cried that "I cannot understand why these five brothers are put into so many difficulties in spite of their, all these qualities."

So their grandson, Maharaja Pariksit, when he was being taught by Sukadeva Gosvami, he had some suspicions about devotion to Krsna. Not suspicion. Just to teach us, he inquired that "Lord Krsna, He is Visnu. He is the, I mean to say, master of the goddess of fortune. Why people who become Krsna conscious or a devotee of Visnu, they remain poorer, and others, those who worship Siva and other demigods, they become very rich? What is the reason? He is the proprietor of everything. So one who wants Him, they become poorer. Whereas Lord Siva, he hasn't got even a house of his own, he's a pauper, and one who worships him, he becomes richer." You know the history of Lord Siva. He hasn't got a house even. He lives under the tree, or in some mountain. But one who worships Siva, oh, they get material opulence very nicely. Therefore a person have become very easily... And they can smoke ganja. So all this captivates person to become a devotee of Siva. Our Ginsberg is a devotee of Siva. Perhaps you know. Anyone who wants this material prosperity, naturally they become the devotee of Siva. So this is contradictory. "Siva has no house even, not even a dwelling place, residence. He's a pauper. And worshiping him, one becomes richer. And Krsna, Krsna is... Sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam: 'Always thousands of goddess of fortune is serving Him.' He's such opulent. And so Krsna-bhaktas, devotees of Krsna, they appear to be poorer. Why?" This question was... Just the opposite.

So the answer was given by Sukadeva Gosvami that "This very question was also put to Krsna by your grandfather. So instead of answering myself, I'll put that very question and answer between your grandfather and Krsna." So what is that? "Now, a similar question was put by your grandfather Maharaja Yudhisthira to Krsna, and Krsna answered like this." What is that? Yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih: [SB 10.88.8] "If I do somebody some special favor, then My first duty is I become him crushed in all material possessions." You see? Why? "Because to make him more surrendered to Me." When he becomes helpless, he has no other way. "Krsna, please take me." When he has something, he thinks, "Oh, these things will protect me, my material possessions." Therefore he does not surrender. Now, Krsna sees that "This man, this living entity, is very much devotee, but he wants something, this nonsense. So crush him so that when he'll feel helpless, he will come to Me. No more. So I'll give him all protection." So there is a policy of Krsna. Sometimes He puts us into test, whether we are sincerely devotee of Krsna. Because we are always after sense gratification, so if Krsna is not a order-supplier, then one rejects Krsna. We want God, or Krsna, to be our order-supplier. So we must order Krsna, "Give me this. Give me that. If You cannot give me, then what are You, Krsna? I don't want You." This sort of bhakti, or devotional service, is not accepted by Krsna.

Just like Mr. Sulye(?), our Godbrother, German, he told me personally that during wartime many German women, some, they prayed into the church to get back their husband, son or brothers, because all went to war and nobody returned. And they become atheist: "Oh, there is no God. We prayed so much to God to get back my husband, to get back my brothers, but they are dead." But the brother was not returned and the husband was not returned. So result was... So if we pray, go to Krsna with that purpose, that He should be our order-supplier, then there is no question of Krsna-bhakti. We must fully surrender, fully surrender: "Let Him do." Aslisya va. That is taught by Sri Caitanya: Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va adarsanat [Cc. Antya 20.47]. Aslisya va pada-rata: "Either You embrace me or You trample me down on Your feet, neglect me, and You make me broken-hearted, and not being present before me all the life..." Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va. Marma-hatam means "If You make me broken-hearted... I love You so much. I want You, but You never care for me. That's all right. Still You are my worshipable, unconditionally. I don't want any return from You. Still You are my worshipable Deity(?)." This is pure devotion. Krsna takes all care. Don't think... Because He says personally, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Why should you be so anxious? But one who is in love with Krsna, he wants to see Him, he wants to love Him. But even He does not present Himself before the lover, the lover says, "Oh, still, You are my lovable object, worshipable... Whatever You can do... You are... You are free to treat me as, as You like, but You are my worshipable..." This is pure. So as soon as we come to this stage, that is perfection. That is perfection. Don't expect anything, return.

Now these Gosvamis, the Sanatana Gosvami... There is a nice story about Sanatana Gosvami, of whom we are now studying. Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami, two brothers, they went to Vrndavana for devotional service. So their all business was... Rupa Gosvami, especially, he was always engaged in writing books. And when he was hungry, he went to some householder: "Give me a piece of bread." And everyone at Vrndavana... They were leaders. All the Vrndavana inhabitants, they took... Even their household quarrels, they used to represent, "Swamiji, this is our position. Please settle up." So whatever decision he would give to the villagers, they will accept. Their court was Swamiji, Rupa Gosvami. So he was so lovable. So one day Rupa Gosvami was thinking that "If I could get some, I mean to say, commodities for cooking, then I would have invited Sanatana Gosvami to take some prasadam." He thought like that. And, and after, say, one hour, one young girl came with sufficient quantity of rice, flour, ghee, and vegetables, so many things: "Babaji..." They were called... They call in the India, especially in Vrndavana quarters, they call all these transcendentalist swamis "Babaji." "Babaji, please accept these commodities. There is some ceremony at our house. So My mother has sent you all these things." "Oh, very good." He was thinking that "If I could get some commodity and I could prepare something and invite Sanatana Gosvami." So the things were there. So Rupa Gosvami inquired, "Where do You live? Oh, You are very nice girl. Where do You live?" "Oh, I live in this village. You do not know?" "No, I have never seen You. All right. Thank You very much." Then She went away. And invited Sanatana Gosvami, "My dear brother, please come and take your prasadam here. I have got some food." "All right." So Sanatana Gosvami came during prasadam time, and Rupa Gosvami has prepared so many nice dishes. They were also expert in cooking, expert. You know, all devotees, they are expert. That is his qualification. So then Sanatana Gosvami was inquiring, "Where did you get all these things, so nice things, you have prepared in this jungle? How did you get?" So he narrated the story, "Yes, in the morning I thought that 'If somebody sends me something...' So by Krsna's grace, somebody, a nice girl, a very beautiful girl, and She brought all these things." "Who?" He began to state about the girl's beauty. Then Sanatana Gosvami said, "Oh, I have never seen such beautiful girl. How...?" "Yes, I have also never seen." "Ohhh. Then She must be Radharani. She must be Radha. You have taken service from Radharani? Ohhh. You have murdered me. We don't want to take any service from Krsna, and He has taken the opportunity, sent us... We want to simply give our service, not any exchange. Oh, you have done a great mistake. Radharani has taken this opportunity." So he began to cry that "We have taken service from Krsna. We have given Her trouble." This is pure devotee. They were very sorry that "Krsna was troubled to send me all these goods."

So this is the process. Krsna is also finding always opportunity, "How to serve My pure devotee?" And pure devotee's so clever that he won't accept any service from Krsna. Just like the Arjuna, he never said, "Krsna, You are God. Why You are putting me to war indirectly? You can give me everything." Krsna said, "No." He never said that, Arjuna. Krsna said, niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah: "You are ksatriya. You have to fight." He never said. So we should not take God as order-supplier. That is not devotion. That is mercantile business. Krsna is not going to be a lover by mercantile mentality. You are, you must give Him service. Abhajet tam. This is the process of devotion.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.118-119 -- New York, November 23, 1966

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Inconceivable But Believable

Inconceivable But Believable

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.113
London, July 23, 1976

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Pradyumna: (chants verse, etc.)

saktayah sarva-bhavanam
acintya-jnana-gocarah
yato 'to brahmanas tas tu

sargadya bhava-saktayah
bhavanti taptatam srestha
pavakasya yathosnata

"Translation: All the creative energies, which are inconceivable to a common man, exist in the Supreme Absolute Truth. These inconceivable energies act in the process of creation, maintenance and annihilation. O chief of the ascetics, just as there are two energies possessed by fire-namely heat and light -- these inconceivable creative energies are the natural characteristics of the Absolute Truth."

Prabhupada: (indistinct) full of living entities, and the moon planet there is no living entity. They are doubting also in the Mars planet. But we get information from the sastra that every planet is full of living entities. Every planet. Janakirna. This very word is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, janakirna, and there is vivid description of different planets and different types of oceans, just like milk ocean. We have got here examples, sweet water and salted water. So there is sweet ocean also. That is mentioned in the sastra. Not that in this planet there is salted ocean and... There are other planets where there is sweet water ocean and milk ocean and liquor ocean and oil ocean, ghee ocean, butter ocean, milk, butter ocean, and so many different types.

So if we bring everything to our conception, that becomes cintya, conceivable, but that is not the fact. Therefore here it is stated, acintya-jnana-gocarah. We have to receive this knowledge from sources which can inform us about all these things inconceivable by us. It is not possible to bring the inconceivable within our conceivable limit. That is not possible. That is foolishness. Mudha. Mudha will not believe. We are finding out, try to... This is knowledge. Athato brahma jijnasa. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. To find out the source of everything the Absolute Truth, and when the Absolute Truth comes down to inform us, Krsna, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8], we don't believe it. First of all we cannot understand it, and if the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes personally to speak about Himself, we do not believe it. This is our position. First of all we shall challenge, "Can you show me God?" And if God comes Himself we don't believe, then what is our position? You want to see God. All right, God has come here. See, here is God. "No, this is idol worship." In the Bengali there is a word, ei gule nipamsa pechlo belo gelo (?). So this is our position. This position will not help us. We must admit our position that in the God's creation everything is inconceivable by us. We cannot calculate within our limitation. That is not possible.

Therefore sastra says, acintya khalu ye bhava. The same word in another way: na tas tarkyena yojayet. Things which are beyond your conception, don't try to understand it by your so-called logic and argument. But one logic, one argument, if we are sincere, then we can accept even by logic and argument, that... That is also stated in sastra, in Bhagavad-gita, that Krsna says, aham bija-pradah pita.

sarva-yonisu kaunteya
murtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita
 [Bg. 14.4]

So we find mahad-yoni, maha-tattva, the material elements, is the mother. Everything is coming out of the womb of the mother. Whatever we see in this creation, the plants, the trees and living entities, and we are speaking especially of the living entities, and there are 8,400,000 different forms, they are coming from earth. That we can see. It doesn't require great intelligence. Any boy can understand that it is coming out of these five elements -- means earth, water... The grass is coming out of earth, the fish is coming out of the water. So we have got experiences in two elements. But we have got experience also that living entities coming out of air. So earth, water, air... There are living entities in fire also, but because our knowledge is limited, we do not see. We cannot conceive that in the fire also there can be living entities. And why not? There are five elements, matter. So if earth is producing life, if water is producing life, if air is producing life, why not fire? What is the fault there? Everything is producing life. So the mother produces children. So many children are coming out of the... Tasam mahad yonir brahma. Yoni, yoni means mother. So the children are there, the mother is there, and where is the father? A commonsense. Is there any mother can produce children without father? Is there any science can prove that a mother without connection with the father has produced child? No. If you say, "I cannot see the father," you do not see your fathers. There are many children nowadays who do not know who is father. But that does not mean there is no father. Common sense. There is father. Similarly, we see so many living entities produced by the mother, material nature -- there must be father. And the father personally says, aham bija-pradah pita [Bg. 14.4] -- "I am the father." So why these rascals, they say that there is no God? There must be God, and He has got inconceivable potencies. Everything is being done by Him. If you say nature is doing, nature is a machine. Nature is not the doer. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10].

So less intelligent, for them, it is inconceivable, but those who are intelligent, they take knowledge from the right source. Just like even though I do not know who is my father, but if I take information from my mother, then I can know. Mother says, "My dear child, he's your father." There's no question of research. You can immediately understand your father. Father must be there. But I do not know, that may be a problem, but when the mother says, "Here is your father," then where is the difficulty? So mother is the source of knowledge of the father. The Vedas, they are called mother. Veda-mata. These books, Vedic knowledge, this is the mother. From mother you can take information that there is father. And here is father. Who is father? Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda [Bs. 5.1]. And the father comes personally and He informs, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. Aham bija-pradah pita [Bg. 14.4]. Then where is the difficulty? Is there any difficulty? But because we are rascals, will not believe mother, will not believe father. We, with our tiny brain, we shall make research and make things topsy-turvy and pass on as great scientist doctor. This is our position. Therefore sastra says that "You rascals, do not waste your time in that way." Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet.

So according to the Vedic system, the difference between atheist and theist is that the atheist means who do not believe in the version of the sastra. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah na sa siddhim avapnoti [Bg. 16.23]. So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is not blind. Don't think wrongly. We are confident. We sometimes challenge big, big scientists. On what ground? Not whimsically, but on the ground of sastra. So we may not please everyone, but we cannot go out of this scope. We know that in the moon planet, in the Mars planet and all other planets, Jupiter and others, there are living entities, there is a predominating deity in each and every planet. Just like Krsna says, imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. So if there is no living entity in the sun planet, how there is Vivasvan, the sun-god or the predominating deity in the sun planet? So we cannot believe this version that there is no living entity in the sun, moon, or... There are living entity... Full of, janakirna, this word is used. Congested. Just like here in this planet we are congested: so many living entities, different varieties. Similarly, the same congestion is there in all other planets. So do not try to poke your nose which is inconceivable. And that also not assertion. You say, "Perhaps," "Maybe," "Millions of years," "It might have been." All suggestion. So if you want knowledge, then you have to consult this Vedic knowledge. Veda means knowledge, the source of knowledge. That is called Veda. And the ultimate knowledge is Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. That is the version.

What is the use of studying Vedas? To understand Krsna. So if you simply understand Krsna, then you understand everything. Try to understand Krsna thoroughly. And if you understand Krsna thoroughly... Of course, it is not possible thoroughly, but it is possible also. Just like Krsna is the source of everything. So if you believe it, it is understanding thoroughly. If you believe that what Krsna says is fact, then it is understanding thoroughly. If you don't believe, then it is not thoroughly. Because if you make research that "Krsna says 'I am the origin of everything.' Let me make research," that will not be possible. Inconceivable. But if you believe in the words of Krsna, then you've studied thoroughly. Where is the difficulty? To study Him thoroughly does not require much education; simply you believe Him. And if you believe Him... Actually, that is the fact. There must be... Just like the same example: there must be a father of all this creation. Mother nature is mother, and we are all creation, born of material nature. Then there must be father. And when the father says, aham bija-pradah pita [Bg. 14.4], "I am father," then if we believe this version, then thorough knowledge. Father, mother, children. That is family, creation. So yato ato brahmanas tas tu sargadya bhava-saktayah. So this creation is another. Just like children is creation of the semina of the father, similarly, the whole thing is creation of the Absolute Truth. And the example is given: bhavanti tapatam srestha pavakasya yathosnata. The fire, the fire must have heat, and by heat you can create so many things. In the Western countries, the electricity... What is electricity? It is heat. So heat, through electricity so many things are being created, through electric energy. The heat is created and the cool is also created. The refrigerator is going on by electric current, and heater is also going on. Two contradictory, but still, the energy is the same. Similarly, visnu-saktih para prokta [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. It is, we have already described. Visnu, Lord, the Supreme Lord, all-pervading, His energy is also spiritual. But when we cannot understand it, that is material. Otherwise, the energy, just like electricity. The electricity is working in the refrigerator -- it is cool. So therefore in the refrigerator there is no appreciation of the heat, although heat is there. But in the heater there is direct appreciation. But the energy is the same.

So material means when we do not understand Krsna, when we do not appreciate His creative energy or when we are in ignorance . That is called material life. So all these fools and rascals who are unaware of Krsna's energy, they are all fools and rascals. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. Therefore we have taken it very easily. Because we are not very advanced scientists, we take the words of Krsna, that Krsna says,

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
 [Bg. 7.15]

Anyone who is not Krsna conscious, anyone who does not understand Krsna, he is within these groups. What are these groups? Duskrtina. Duskrtina means one has got merit, but the merit is utilized for sinful activities. You can use your merit two ways -- for good purpose and for bad purpose also. Just like thieves and rogues, they have got merit. They know how to steal, how to cheat. It is not unintelligent. They are intelligent. But their intelligence, merit, is used for bad purposes. They are called duskrtina. And mudha-purposefully they are trying to avoid. Every step they are being baffled, and still, they are trying to avoid the supreme controller. Therefore mudha. And naradhama, naradhama means the lowest of the mankind. In the animal life they could not understand Krsna or God -- that is not possible -- and they have got this human form of life... In this life one can understand what is God, what is Krsna. Just like we are trying. That is possible. But if we do not take advantage of this human form of life to understand what is God, what is Krsna, then you are lowest of the mankind. So na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta-jnana [Bg. 7.15]. And if we say that "There are so many doctors of philosophy, doctors of science, they are also hovering under this darkness, how is that? Then what about their education?" Yes, their education, certainly, but mayayapahrta-jnana. The result of education, knowledge, that is taken away by maya.

Therefore we should not be washed away by these mudhas' conclusion, naradhamas' conclusion, mayayapahrta-jnanas' conclusion. We should take up seriously the conclusion in the sastra, conclusion given by Krsna. Then our life will be successful.
Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.113 -- London, July 23, 1976

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You Can't Demand Peace

You Can't Demand Peace

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.112
Bombay, November 24, 1975

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Prabhupada:

visnu-saktih para prokta
ksetrajnakhya tatha para
avidya-karma-samjna anya
trtiya saktir isyate
 [Cc. Madhya 6.154]

So we were discussing other night about the three principal energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. From sruti we understand that the Supreme Lord is full of potencies. Even we are. We are a small particle of the Supreme Lord; still, we are full of potencies. Just like you shave today, and tomorrow morning, by your own potency, the hairs again grown. We see actually things are happening. How it is happening, that we do not know, even in our body. But it is a fact it is happening. Things are happening. That means due to my potency. As soon as I leave this body there will be no more hair growth. The potency is gone. So as we are a small particle, mamaivamso jiva-bhutah... [Bg. 15.7]. Jiva, the living entity is a very small particle, one ten-thousandth part of the top point of hair. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. So such a small particle, atomic particle of the Supreme Lord, has got so much potencies. We see different varieties of life, different intelligence all over the world. What is that? Potency. So if we have got so much potencies, just imagine what Krsna, the Supreme Person, has got, potency.

So He has got potency. He is not nih sakti. He has got sakti. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana... [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Everything is happening on account of His potency. Just like in your body so many things are happening on account of potency, similarly, the gigantic universal form of the Lord -- His potencies are working. Everything is happening. The tree is coming out, the fruit is coming out, the flower is coming, the color is painted -- everything. Svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. He hasn't got to do anything personally, but His potencies are acting. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate. Nobody can be equal to Him or greater than Him. Sama. Asama urdhva. In the Bhagavad-gita it is explained that Krsna is asama urdhva. Nobody is greater than Him, and nobody is equal to Him. So anyone who is claiming equal to Him, they are less intelligent. They have no intelligence. Asama urdhva. Na tasya samah. Nobody is equal to Him, neither urdhva. Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat: [Bg. 7.7] "Nobody is greater than Me." Therefore God is great. If somebody is equal to Him or greater than Him, then he is not God. God is Krsna.

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

He is the original cause of everything. So he has got... He is working the whole cosmic manifestation is exhibited by His potency. That is described here: visnu-saktih para prokta [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. That is spiritual potency.

Originally the God's potency, Krsna's potency -- cit-sakti, sat-cit-ananda. God is sat, eternal; cit, full of knowledge; and anandamaya. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). You'll never see Krsna niranandamaya. Even if He is killing a demon, He is smiling. That is also ananda. So the potencies of God, Krsna, Visnu-visnu-saktih para -- they are not these ordinary potencies, material potency. Spiritual potency. Visnu-saktih para prokta ksetrajnah [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. Ksetrajna means jiva. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Ksetra-ksetrajnah. The living soul is ksetrajna, and this body is ksetra. Ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam, yad jnanam tad jnanam matam mama. If anyone understands what is this ksetra and ksetrajna and what is their relationship -- ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam -- that is jnana, not this material jnana. That is spiritual jnana. So ksetrajnakhya tatha para. As God's potency is para... Para and apara. Originally everything is para. And apara means forgetfulness. This material world we forget Krsna; therefore it is called apara. But there is another para. That is spiritual potency. There there is no forgetfulness of Krsna. Everyone is Krsna conscious. So if you become Krsna conscious, then immediately you become para. Ksetrajnam akhya tatha para. Immediately you become para. Otherwise you remain in the apara, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], this material contamination. Ksetrajnakhya tatha para.

Then what is this material potency? That is explained, avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate. In between or besides this, para and apara, there is another sakti. That is avidya, ignorance, darkness. Avidya-karma-samjna. And in this potency everyone has to work. Karma-samjna. Without working, nobody can live here. You have to work. It is said that the lion is supposed to be the biggest animal, very powerful. So it is said in the Hitopadesa, na hi suptasya simhasya pravisanti mukhe mrgah. Even if one is lion, if he thinks, "I am lion. Let me sleep and the prey will automatically come within my mouth," no, that is not possible. You have to work. Anyone, whatever you may be, you have to work. Krsna also said in the Bhagavad-gita, sarira yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmanah. In this... This material world means everyone has to work. Otherwise he cannot live. Therefore it is called karma-samjna. Karma-samjna anya. And avidya. If I am part and parcel of Krsna, and Krsna... Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. If Krsna has nothing to do, then -- I am also part and parcel -- I will also have nothing to do. Everything will be there, present. But that is our real constitutional position. We don't require to work. Everything is there for my enjoyment. But because we are now in this avidya, ignorance, this material darkness, therefore I have to work. Avidya-karma-samjna. Karma is meant for this materialistic person. Bhakta does not require to take to karma, karma, jnana, yoga, nothing. These are all material. Karma, jnana, yoga, and bhakti. There are four primary principles for spiritual realization. So out of the four, karma, jnana and yoga, they are all material, but bhakti is not material. That is spiritual. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes,

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami-sakali asanta
krsna-bhakta-niskama ataeva santa
 [Cc. Madhya 19.149]

If you want santi, then you have to become a devotee. Otherwise yayatma samprasidati.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma samprasidati
 [SB 1.2.6]

If you actually want peacefulness of your atma, then you have to learn bhaktir adhoksaje. And this action cannot be checked, ahaituki, if your bhakti is pure, without any motive. Bhakti means without any motive.

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
 [Brs. 1.1.11]

Bhakti has no other definition, simple, pure. "Simply I shall carry out the order of Krsna," as Arjuna did, that is pure devotee. He is not under the resultant action. Anasrtah karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah. One who does not expect the resultant action... Karmis, they are very much careful about getting the resultant action. "I am working so hard. I must have some material profit." That is karmi. Everyone in this material world, they are working so hard. Why? For some material profit. Therefore they are asanta. Bhukti. Bhukti means sense enjoyment. So bhukti, mukti and siddhi. This is karmi, jnani, yogi. The karmis, they are expecting some good result, material result, sense enjoyment. That is karmi. And jnani, he is thinking that "Material result has no profit. I have tried for it, but I could not get any profit out of." Gatila janja (?).

sat-sanga chadi' khainu asate vilasa
te-karane lagila mora karma-bandha-phansa

So jnani means when he understands, "By acting for fruitive result, actually I have not gained anything." That is jnani. One cannot get actually any good result. That is not possible. That is ajnana. So jnani means one who understands that "We cannot get any good result by this karma. So let me become one with God." That is... He does not know that is higher expectation. The karmis are trying to become a big man, a big, very honorable man in the society, or minister or president. But when he is baffled... This is also wanting something, karmi. A jnani, he wants to stop the small business; he wants to become one with God. That is more dangerous expectation. So that is jnani. So they also cannot get peace, because there is demand. Karmis, they want something material, and the jnanis, they tries to become one with the Supreme. Ekatvam. Ekatvam meaning we make differently, but the jnanis-sayujya-mukti, to become one with God. So they cannot be happy also, because there is want. The karmis, they have got want. They want something. And here also there is want, a different type of want. Karmi wants some material result, immediate sense gratification, and here is also sense gratification. He is expecting something impossible -- "I want to become one with God." So they cannot also get peace. That is not possible. And yogi, they also wanting to be something, siddhi, asta-siddhi. Anima, laghima, garima, prapti, siddhi, isitva, vasitva. There are eight kinds of siddhis. The yogis want to get these siddhis and declare that he has become God, the same, like the jnani. People are hankering after. If some yogi, some..., play some yogic prakriya, magic: "Oh, here is God." He does not see the wonderful magic which is going on throughout the whole universe. A simple magic captivate them.

So Caitanya-caritamrta kar therefore says, bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami sakali asanta. They cannot get peace. That is not possible. Krsna-bhakta niskama [Cc. Madhya 19.149]. Krsna bhakta, he doesn't want anything. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at least, teaches us, and that is the... Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11], zero, no abhilasa. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. In the platform of jnana there is demand: "I shall become one with God." And karma, there is demand: "I must have the highest form of material happiness." Therefore jnana-karmady-anavrtam: "without any tinge of jnana and karma." Anyabhilasita-sunyam: "all material desires made zero, sunyam." "Then I become zero?" No. That is your purity. When you are not contaminated by jnana, karma, yoga, that is your pureness. And that purity, anukulyena krsnanu-silanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Simply always be ready to serve Krsna. Serve Krsna. "Now, where is Krsna?" Yes, Krsna is there. You can serve. Krsna is present before you in His sound representation, Bhagavad-gita. Krsna is absolute, and His words, what He has spoken in the Bhagavad-gita, they are the same. Krsna's words and Krsna, they are not different. The material world means my words and me, we are different. But in the spiritual world the words, the name, the form, the pastimes of Krsna, they are as good as Krsna. Therefore, if you discuss on the instruction of Krsna, like Bhagavad-gita, then you are immediately in touch with Krsna. Abhinnatvad nama-naminoh. There is no difference. So anukulyena krsnanu-silanam. If you want to abide by the orders of Krsna, anu-silanam... Anu-silanam means cultivation. The words are there. The words are not different from Krsna. So as soon as you take the words as it is, you immediately associate with Krsna. Otherwise you take the instruction of guru, representative of Krsna. If you can please your guru, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah... **. If you can please His representative, then you please Him. So in this way, krsnanusilanam, that is our duty, anukulyena, anukula, not pratikula. There are two ways of acting, anukula and pratikula. If you act as I desire, that is anukula, and if you act what I don't desire, that is pratikula. So Krsna consciousness must be anukula, according to the desire of Krsna, as it is confirmed by guru. That is anukula, favorable. And if you act whimsically, which Krsna does not desire or the guru does not desire, then it is pratikula. So anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167], that is bhakti.

So here it is said, avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate. This material energy is full of ignorance, avidya, and karma-sanga. Here you have to work hard. But if you become devotee, then there is no need of working hard. Yoga-kseman vahamy aham. Then Krsna takes charge. Krsna takes charge of you. Krsna has taken charge of everyone, but especially yo tu bhajanti yam pritya tesu te mayi. Those who are devotee, for them special care. So here we are careless. Nobody is taking... The materialistic persons, they are working in their own capacity, that "I shall become happy in this way, I shall become happy in this way," and therefore entangling, committing so many sinful activities. And he's not becoming happy; more and more unhappy. Karma-bandha. Narottama dasa Thakura says, sata sanga chadi khainu, asate vilasa, te karane lagile mora karma bandha phansa. So if we don't take to Krsna consciousness, if we act independently, then the result will be that we shall be entangled in the laws of karma. Laws of karma means karmana daiva-netrena jantor deha upapatti [SB 3.31.1]. By karma we are creating another body, next body. That we do not know. Karma, according to my karma. Karmana daiva-netrena, supervised, decided by the higher authorities: "You have done like this; you must get this body." Automatically. Automatically. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Everything is going on. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani [Bg. 3.27]. If you don't like or like, it doesn't matter. If you have infected some disease which you don't like, that will not save you because you don't like. You must have to suffer from that disease. That is the law of nature. But that we do not know. We are acting independently. That is not possible. So therefore it is called avidya. Avidya means rascals. [break] ...acting independently without knowing that there is overseer. There is the supreme seer. He is sitting within your heart.

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese arjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
 [Bg. 18.61]

Now Isvara is seeing. You cannot do anything secretly. That is not possible. He is seeing. According to your karma, the next body is offered. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese... He is seeing. He is witness. Anumanta updrsta. He is seeing everything, upadrsta. So He is asking the material nature, "Now this living entity wanted to act like this. So give him this body." Daiva-netrena. So you'll get a body, yantra. This body is yantra, machine. You are sat down on a machine, and bhramayan sarva bhutani -- sometimes you are in nice bodies. Nothing is nice. Everybody will die, so there cannot be anything nice. It may be, the duration of life, little more -- a dog's duration of life less than man's duration of life. That may be. But nobody is going to live forever. That is not possible.

So this is anitya, this body, daiva-netrena, by the order, prakrti, prakrti. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati, bhramayan sarva-bhutani [Bg. 18.61]. Sarva-bhutani, all living entities, are wandering, wandering not only here. There are so many planets, so many up and down situation. So we are wandering within this universe, within this material world, sometimes in good body, sometimes in bad body, and this is our life. Avidya-karma-samjna anya. Under the influence of this material energy, on account of our ignorance, we have submitted to the laws of material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudha [Bg. 3.27]. He is thinking, "I am independent. I am now this. I am now that." Avidya-karma-samjna. Bhramayan sarva-bhutani. Everything you will find this. So prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudhatma. This ahankara, that "I am independent," this ahankara is making you obliged to accept different types of body in different condition of life within the universe. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu is maha-vadanyavatara. He is very, very kind incarnation. Rupa Gosvami accepted Him, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. So He teaches, ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Under this avidya-karma-samjna tritiya sakti, material energy, we are wandering throughout the whole universe. (aside:) This child should be moved. So ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva. So one who takes Krsna consciousness, becoming happy, more and more happy. Karma-bandha. Narottama bhagyavan jiva. Not the dur-bhagyavan, jiva. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya [SB 1.1.10]. Those who are unfortunate, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says. Kono bhagyavan jiva. Kono means somebody. That is also not all. That is confirmed by Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many, many millions of persons, one wants to become perfect or bhagavan. And yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah. So therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says the same thing, kono bhagyavan jiva. Not always. Not the manda-bhagya. Sa bhagavan.

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
 [Cc. Madhya 19.151]

Guru and Krsna. Two persons' favor, guru and Krsna.

So Krsna is asking to become a guru, everyone. Everyone become a guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says.

amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa
yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa
 [Cc. Madhya 7.128]

Amara ajnaya guru hana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said... Because Caitanya Mahaprabhu is maha-vadanyavatara, most munificent incarnation to reclaim all the fallen souls. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. So the guru's business is to make everyone a bhagyavan, fortunate. That is guru's business. The guru's business is... They are so much sympathetic that one can get Krsna consciousness if he is fortunate. So guru's labor, guru's activity, is how to make people fortunate. That is wanted. Because without being fortunate one cannot understand Krsna. And without Krsna consciousness he cannot be relieved from this avidya-karma-samjna-sakti, material nature. Therefore it is the business of guru to make everyone fortunate. So how he can make everyone fortunate? That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that amara ajnaya guru hana. You follow the principles of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction first of all. Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. You just take their mercy. Then you become guru. And then what is your business? His business is yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. So guru-krsna. Guru makes the people fortunate, and then the people become Krsna conscious, and then he becomes fortunate. This is the process of Krsna consciousness movement. Everyone is advised to become guru. Especially those who are born in India. They can easily take the Krsna consciousness movement because in the blood there is Krsna consciousness on account of taking birth in this holy land of Bharatavarsa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says,

bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haile jara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
 [Cc. Adi 9.41]

 This is the business.

So every Indian is expected to take this Krsna consciousness movement and spread it outside India. There are many people who are hankering after it. It is the duty of every Indian to first of all get himself out of these clutches of avidya-karma-samjna-ignorance and whole day and night working like hogs and dogs. One has to become free from these clutches of maya, and then he must undergo tapasya. There is no difficulty. This tapasya is that you have to give up the four principles: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling. This is tapasya. It is not that you have to go to the forest or Himalayan mountain and enter into a cave and press your nose and... No, that is not possible. You simply practice. Wherever you are, you simply practice this tapasya -- no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling and no meat-eating. Then you become perfect. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattva [SB 5.5.1]. "This tapasya? Can we do that?" You can do it very easily. It is not said "No sex," but "No illicit sex." That is very sinful. Therefore one has to get himself married. That is allowed. But no illicit sex. No meat-eating. Why one should eat meat? There are so many nice things given by Krsna, so many fruits, so many nice food grains. We can eat many palatable dishes mixed with milk. Take milk from the cows. Therefore Krsna advises, go-raksya. Without milk you will eat all rubbish things like hogs and dogs, and your life will be spoiled. Everything is there, practical. But avidya, on account of our ignorance, foolishness, rascaldom, we are avoiding this krsna-upadesa and suffering. Be saved from suffering and be happy by Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- Bombay, November 24, 1975

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