Saturday, January 31, 2015

What to Fear

21 Feb 76 , Mayapura

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: Today, the auspicious day of our predecessor spiritual master, Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's mission... Apart from his life, we are especially stressing on the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. This place, Mayapur, was formerly known as Miyapura. Mostly it is inhabited by the Muhammadans. Some way or other it converted into the name of Miyapura instead of Mayapur. Still, people are very much doubtful where is the birth site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And Bhaktivinoda Thakura was researching to find out the actual place. So under the direction of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, this present Yogapitha was ascertained to be the birth site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the beginning wanted to develop this place very gloriously, befitting the holy name of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So he started this movement of developing Mayapur. He could not finish it, so it was handed down to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. So under his effort, assisted by his disciples, this place has gradually developed, and our attempt is also to develop this place. Therefore we have named this temple Mayapur Chandrodaya. We have got great ambition to develop this place nicely and gloriously, and fortunately we are now connected with foreign countries, especially with the Americans. Bhaktivinoda Thakura's great desire was that the Americans would come here and develop this place and they would chant and dance along with the Indians.

So his dream as well as Caitanya Mahaprabhu's foretelling,

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired that all Indians to take part.

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

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, para-upakara. Para-upakara means to do good to others. Of course, in the human society there are many different branches of doing good to others -- welfare societies -- but more or less... Why more or less? Almost completely they think that this body is our self and to do some good to the body is welfare activities. But actually that is not welfare activities because in the Bhagavad-gita we understand very clearly, antavanta ime dehah nityasyoktah saririnah. This body is antavat. Anta means it will be finished. Everyone knows his body is not permanent; it will be finished. Anything material -- bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19] -- it has a date of birth, it stays for some time, and then it annihilates. So the spiritual education begins from the understanding that "I am not this body." This is spiritual education. In the Bhagavad-gita the first instruction given by Krsna to Arjuna is this, that we are not this body. Because Arjuna was speaking from the bodily platform, so Krsna chastised him that asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: [Bg. 2.11] "Arjuna, you are talking like a very learned man, but you are lamenting on the subject matter on which no learned man laments." Asocyan anvasocas tvam.

So such kind of welfare activity concerning the body, like hospital and so many other things, they are good undoubtedly, but the ultimate goal is to see the interest of the soul. That is ultimate goal. That is the whole Vedic instruction. And Krsna begins from this point. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara [Bg. 2.13]. So when Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to do some para-upakara...

bharata bhumite manusya-janma haila yara
(manusya) janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
 [Cc. Adi 9.41]

These welfare activities did not mean that welfare to this body. It was meant for the soul, the same thing as Krsna wanted to impress upon Arjuna, that "You are not this body. You are soul." Antavanta ime dehah nityasyoktah saririnah, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. So real welfare activity means to see to the interest of the soul. So what is the interest of the soul? The interest of the soul is that the soul is part and parcel of Krsna, God. Just like small spark of fire is part and parcel of the big fire, similarly, we living entities, we are very minute, small spark of the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman, or Krsna. So as the spark within the fire looks very beautiful, the fire also looks beautiful, and the spark also looks beautiful, but as soon as the sparks fall down from the fire, it becomes extinguished.

So our condition is that the... Our present position is that we are fallen down from the whole fire, Krsna. This is explained in a simple Bengali language:

krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare
pasate maya tare japatiya dhare

Maya means darkness, ignorance. So this example is very nice. The sparks of the fire dancing very nicely with fire, it is also illuminating. But as soon as it fall down on the ground, it becomes cinder, black cinder, no more fiery quality. Similarly, we are meant for dancing and playing and walking and living with Krsna. That is our real position. That is the Vrndavana. Everyone... Everyone is connected with Krsna. There the trees, there the flowers, water, the cows, the calves, the cowherd boys, or elderly cowherd men, Nanda Maharaja, other persons of his age, then Yasodamayi, mother, then gopis -- in this way Vrndavana life, Vrndavana picture. Krsna comes with full Vrndavana picture, and He demonstrates His Vrndavana life, cintamani-prakara-sadmasu, just to attract us, that "You are trying to enjoy in this material world, but here you cannot enjoy because you are eternal. You cannot get eternal life here. So you come to Me. You come to Me." Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. This is Krsna consciousness movement. (aside:) Please ask them to wait for prasadam. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti. This is the invitation. Mam eti: "He comes back to home, back to Godhead." This is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita. And at the end He said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Why you are bothering yourself, manufacturing so many plans to adjust material life? That is not possible. Here it is not possible. Here so long you are in material association, then you have to change the body. Prakrteh kriyamanani... [Bg. 3.27]. Prakrti-stho. What is that verse? Purusah prakrti-stho 'pi...

Hrdayananda: Bhunjate prakrti-jan gunan.

Prabhupada: Ha. Bhunjate prakrti-jan gunan. So long the living entity is in this material world, he has to associate with the different modes of material nature. The same example. Just like the fire spark falls down on the ground. So ground, they have got different situation. One situation is dry grass, one situation is wet grass, and one situation is simply ground. So similarly, there are three position: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So sattva-guna means if the spark falls down on the dry grass, then it ignites the grasses. So in the sattva-guna, prakasa, this fiery quality is demonstrated. But if it falls down on the water, wet ground, then it is completely extinguished. Three stages. Similarly, when we come down to this material world, if we associate with the sattva-guna, then there is some hope of spiritual life. And if we are rajo-guna there is no hope, and tamo-guna, there is no hope. Rajas-tamah. Rajas-tamo-bhava kama-lobhadayas ca ye. Rajas-tamah. If we associate with rajo-guna and tamo-guna, then our desires will be lusty and greediness. Kama-lobhadayas ca. Tato rajas-tamo-bhava kama-lobhadayas ca. And if we increase our sattva-guna quality, then this kama-lobhadaya, these two things, will not touch us. We may be little aloof from kama-lobha. So if in the sattva-guna... This is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrtsatam
 [SB 1.2.17]

So we have to transcend all these three qualities, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, especially rajo-guna, tamo-guna. If we do not try to do that, then there is no hope of spiritual salvation or liberation from the material entanglement. But in the Kali-yuga there is no practically sattva-guna, simply rajas, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, especially tamo-guna. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. Kalau sudra-sambhavah. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spread this Krsna consciousness movement, chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

So from this place Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started this movement, Krsna consciousness movement, throughout whole India, and He desired that prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama: "So as many towns and villages are there, this Krsna consciousness movement should be spread." So this Krsna consciousness movement is now in your hand. Of course, in 1922 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he wanted me to do something in this connection. He wanted from his, all his disciples. Especially he stressed many times that "You do this. Whatever you have learned, you try to expand in English language." And in 1933, when he was in Radha-kunda, I was at that time Bombay in connection with my business life. So I came to see him, and one friend wanted to give some land in Bombay for starting Bombay Gaudiya Matha. He's my friend. So that's a long story, but I wish to narrate this, the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami's mission. So at that time one of my Godbrother was also present. He reminded me about my friend's donation, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada immediately took up the land. He continued that "There is no need of establishing many temples. Better we publish some books." He said like that. He said that "We started our, this Gaudiya Matha in Ultadanga. The rent was very small, and if we could gather 2 to 250 rupees, it was very nice, going on. But since this J.V. Datta(?) has given us this stone, marble stone Thakurabari, our competition between the disciples have increased, so I don't like anymore. Rather, I would prefer to take out the marble stone and sell it and publish some books." So I took that point, and he also especially advised me that "If you get money, you try to publish books." So by his blessing it has become very successful by your cooperation. Now our books are being sold all over the world, and it is very satisfactory sale. So on this particular day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's advent, try to remember his words, that he wanted that many books should be published about our philosophy and it should be given to the English-knowing public especially, because English language is now world language. We are touring all over the world. So anywhere we speak English, it is understood, except in some places. So on this day, particular on the advent of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, I'd especially request my disciples who are cooperating with me that try to publish books as many as possible and distribute throughout the whole world. That will satisfy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Appearance Day, Lecture -- Mayapur, February 21, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Welfare to Others

5 Feb 76 , Mayapura

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: So you should understand the purpose of taking sannyasa by the example given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,
 
tyaktva su-dustyaja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim
dharmistha arya-vacasa yad agad aranyam
maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad
vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam
 [SB 11.5.34]

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was resident of this place where you are taking sannyasa. So what was the purpose of His taking sannyasa? He was very respectable brahmana, Nimai Pandita. This tract of land, Navadvipa, is the place of highly educated brahmanas from time immemorial. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu belonged to a very respectable brahmana family, the son of Jagannatha Misra, His grandfather, Nilambara Cakravarti, very respectful, respectable persons. He took birth in that family. Personally He was very beautiful; therefore His another name is Gaurasundara. And He was very learned scholar also; therefore His another name is Nimai Pandita. So, and in His family life He had very nice, beautiful young wife, Visnupriya, and very affectionate mother, and He was very influential. You know that. In one day He collected about one hundred thousand followers to protest against the Kazi's order. So in this way His social position was very favorable. Personal position was very favorable. Still, He took sannyasa, left home. Why? Dayitaye, in order to favor, in order to show mercy to the fallen souls of the world.

So He left a legacy that anyone who has taken birth in India,

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

So He exhibited personally how to do para-upakara, welfare to others, fallen souls. So this sannyasa means following the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that,

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

So not only... We are trying to create a position that not only the Indians have got this responsibility, but according to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, anyone -- prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama -- they should take up this missionary work. And I am so much obliged to you, you American boys and girls also, that you have taken this Krsna consciousness movement very seriously. And by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu you are taking sannyasa, some of you. Keep it very perfectly and go from town to town, city to city, village to village, all over the world and spread this Krsna consciousness movement so that everyone will be happy. People are very much suffering. Because they are mudhas, rascals, they do not know how to adjust living condition in human form. This is the bhagavata-dharma everywhere. So the human form is not to become a dog, hog, pig. You should become a perfect human being. Suddhyet sattva. Purify your existence. Why you are subjected to birth, death, old age, and disease? Because we are impure. Now if we purify our existence, then there will be no such thing as birth, death, old age, and disease. That is the version of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna Himself. Simply by understanding Krsna, you become purified and you escape the contamination of birth, death, old age and disease. So try to convince the people in general, the philosophers, the religionists. We have no such thing, sectarian view. Anyone can join this movement and become purified himself. Janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara. So I am very much pleased. You have given already service to the society. Now you take up sannyasa and preach all over the world so that people may be benefited.

Thank you very much.
 
Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Prabhupada: The danda. Take this and offer obeisances. So add to your name "Swami," that's all. What is his name?

Devotee: Viraha.

Prabhupada: Viraha Prakasa Swami. Bow down. Viraha Prakasa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the symbolic of viraha prakasa. Govinda-virahena me. He says, sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. That is viraha-prakasa, that "Everything is vacant for me without Govinda." That is called viraha. So we should be mad after Govinda. That is govinda-virahena me. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Excerpt from Sannyasa Initiation of Viraha Prakasa Swami -- Mayapur, February 5, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Internationa

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Hearing Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

10 Dec 76 , Hyderabad

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: "...simple expression of reverence and love. The disciple, Abhaya Charan Dasa, was to become His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of International Society, Krishna Consciousness." So whatever I appreciated forty years ago, the same principle is going on. We have no change. What I understood my spiritual master... Practically I met him in 1922, and this poetry was written in 1936. That means fourteen years before writing this poetry, I met my Guru Maharaja in 1922. At that time I was quite a young man, twenty-five years old only, and I was posted in a very responsible position and as the office manager of Dr. Bose's laboratory. And I was fond of in those days, of Gandhi's movement. In 1922 I joined Gandhi's movement, and I gave up my educational career because one of the Gandhi's program was to boycott the universities. That's a very long story. And many students gave up their educational career and joined this Gandhi's movement, and I was one of them.

So Dr. Bose, Kartik Chandra Bose, he's a very important man. At that time he was managing director of Bengal Chemical Company. Now there is a street in the central Calcutta, Dr. Kartik Bose Street. So he was very important man, and he was our family physician and my father's very intimate friend. So when I gave up my education and I was joining Gandhi's movement, at that time Dr. Kartik Chandra Bose asked me to join him. So with the permission of my father, I joined. So I was fond of, at that time, this Gandhi's noncooperation movement. And then, when I joined Dr. Bose's laboratory, of course, I was dressed in khadar. So Dr. Bose liked that dress, khadar dress. He told me one day that "Out of your whole Gandhi's movement, I like this khadar only." Dr. Bose said. And why? "No, because this will give impetus to industry. This hand spinning will gradually give impetus to India." Actually that happened. He was himself an industrialist. Actually in India the chemical industry was given birth by Dr. Kartik Chandra Bose. He was very important man. He started this Bengal Chemical.

So 1922 I met my Guru Maharaja through the exigency of my intimate friend, Mr. Narendranath Mullik. And I would not go. He told me information, "There is a nice sadhu. Let us go and see." I did not like very much these sadhus in those days, national spirit. So I said, "I have seen many sadhus. They come at my father's care. I was not very much pleased with their behavior." So he dragged me forcibly: "No, I have heard this person is very exalted." So I went. And his first opening version was that "You are educated young men. Why don't you preach Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gospel in the Western countries?" I did not know. So this was his blessing in the first meeting. I did not know, but because we belonged to a Vaisnava family we were very much worshiper of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, our family Deity. So I was very much pleased that "Here is a personality who is going to preach Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gospel." I was very much pleased.

So anyway, from 1922 to 1933 practically I was not initiated, but I got the impression of preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult. That I was thinking. And that was the initiation by my Guru Maharaja. Then officially I was initiated in 1933 because in 1923 I left Calcutta. I started my business at Allahabad. So I was always thinking of my Guru Maharaja, that "I met a very nice sadhu." Although I was doing business, I never forgot him. Then, in 1928, these Gaudiya Matha people came to Allahabad during Kumbhamela. As the Kumbhamela is going to be held this year, a similar big Kumbhamela was held in 1928. In those days they came to open their branch in Allahabad, and somebody recommended that "You go to..." At that time I was running on my big pharmacy and I was very well known man in Allahabad as the proprietor of the pharmacy. So somebody recommended them that "You go to Abhaya Babu. He is a very religious man. He'll help you." So when they entered my shop I was very much pleased that "These men I met in 1922, and now they have come." In this way I became reconnected. And in 1933 I was officially initiated, and my only qualification was when I was introduced to my Guru Maharaja for initiation, so Guru Maharaja immediately said, "Yes, I shall initiate this boy. He is very nice. He hears me very patiently. He does not go away." So that was my qualification. The high standard of philosophy which he was speaking at that time, practically I could not follow what was, he was speaking, but still, I liked to hear him. That was my hobby. Whenever... I was asking that "When Guru Maharaja will speak?" So he took it very seriously.

And then, in 1936-it's a long history-during this Vyasa-puja day, this Vyasa-puja day, whatever I studied about our relationship with my Guru Maharaja, I expressed in this poetry, and since that day my Godbrothers used to call me "poet." And Guru Maharaja also very much appreciated this poetry. Now somehow or other you have found it. (laughs) I thought the poetry is lost, but I do not know how it was found out by some of our disciples. I think it was found out in London museum or somewhere else by Guru dasa. They had a stock of Harmonist, and from the Harmonist, my Guru Maharaja's paper, this poetry was found. Otherwise I thought it was lost. So anyway, this poetry is "Adore, adore ye all the happy day, blessed than heaven, sweeter than May." So I heard that the month of May is very pleasing in the Western countries, so I compared the happiness of this day with the May Day. They call May Day?

Devotees: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. "When he appeared at Puri, the holy place, my lord and master, His Divine Grace." So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared as the son of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, his fourth son. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he was family man. He has several children, sons and daughters. So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, known in his previous life as Bimala Prasada Datta, son of Kedaranath Datta... His father, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, his name was. He was magistrate and he was manager also, the managing board of Jagannatha Puri. The system is, the local magistrate becomes the official manager of the managing board of Jagannatha Puri. So at that time he was situated in Jagannatha Puri, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared at Puri. And the Ratha-yatra, the Ratha-yatra ceremony takes place, and sometimes the big ratha stops at interval. So the house in which Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared, in front of that house the ratha stopped. So his mother took the advantage and... Because Bhaktivinoda Thakura was magistrate, so the son, the little baby, was brought before the ratha, and the pujaris allowed him to bring the child before the Deity, and the child was placed before the Deity and a garland was offered by Jagannatha. So that was the first sign of his becoming the acarya. In this way there are many incidences.

So therefore his birthplace is mentioned, "the holy place, my lord and master, His Divine Grace." "O my master, the evangelic angel, give us thy light, light up thy candle. Struggle for existence, a human race, the only hope, His Divine Grace." So actually we are in a very precarious condition, the modern civilization, I mean to say, manipulated by the Western people. It is a soul-killing civilization, this civilization. By nature the chance is given after many, many evolutionary process. Jalaja nava laksani sthavara laksa vimsati. The evolutionary theory is there in the Padma Purana. It is not Darwin's theory. Darwin stolen it from Padma Purana, and he presented in a distorted way of his own imagination. Otherwise the Darwin's theory is not the original. The theory... It is not theory-fact. Jiva-jatisu. It is wandering within the cycle of jiva-jati, different species of life. Tatha dehantara praptih [Bg. 2.13]. This is Vedic knowledge, this evolutionary process. It is not Darwin's theory.

So by that process, lower animals and then the chronological order is there... First of all aquatics, jalajah. Jalajah means aquatic. Then sthavarah, trees, plants. Then flies, then birds, then beasts, then human being. In this way, bahu sambhavante, after many, many millions of years we get this opportunity of human life to realize God. And this civilization is denying, refusing the opportunity to the human society to understand God -- such a soul-killing civilization. It is a fact. They are denying "What is God? There is no God. Everything is science," although they cannot explain science. They cannot do anything, simply talking like nonsense. Last night some girls came, so they are students of botany. So I asked them, "Can you manufacture a seed which can give birth to a big banyan tree?" "No, sir, it is not possible." Then what kind of botany you are studying? Actually what is their science? They talk simply something which is going on in the middle portion. Where is the beginning and where is the end of knowledge, that they do not know. They are theorizing only in the middle. They do not know janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], where is the beginning of this science. That is... Beginning is Krsna. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavo [Bg. 10.8]. He is the beginning. Bijo 'ham sarva-bhutanam [Bg 7.10]. That seed, you scientist, you cannot manufacture. What chemicals are there that if you put in the earth and pour some water and it will grow a big tree? These scientists, they cannot explain what is the chemical composition is there. But there is. So that is in the hand of Krsna.

So this knowledge means to understand the original source. That is philosophy, find out the original source. That is knowledge. So the vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo. Actually the knowledge terminates when you understand Krsna. He is the source of everything. So there is a "struggle for existence, a human race, the only hope, His Divine Grace." So we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara prap... It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not that because I am acting as guru, I am no longer student. No, I am still student. Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana [Cc. Adi 7.71]. We should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. Ara na kariha mane asa **. So we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.

So recently... I am very pleased to say that our Harikesa, I ordered him to go immediately to Poland, and he thought that he was being punished. That was... No. I was thinking that "Here is a very very intelligent boy. If he is given chance to preach he'll come out very successful." So I see the glimpses that he has got now post. He's a very good organizer. That's a chance. At that time he might have thought that I was separating him. No. My good will was there that he should be given chance for better opportunity. So I am very much happy that he is doing there very nice. So this should be the attitude. My Guru Maharaja wanted me to preach in the Western countries, although I was at that time a ordinary manager in a chemical firm. I never thought, but I took it seriously. So from that 1922, in 1965 it was fruitful. How many years?

Devotee: Forty-three.

Prabhupada: Forty-three years. So it is better late than never. Yes. So he desired me. I thought, "Now I am a family man. Let me adjust things." I would have accepted immediately, but I was not so intelligent at that time. I thought "My responsibility to family is there. Let me wait." But still, Guru Maharaja was so kind to me that when I was grhastha, I was seeing him in dreaming and I was... He asked me, "You come with me." So I was going, and after that, I was thinking, "Oh, I will have to take sannyasa and go with him?" So it appeared to me very horrible. I was not very much inclined to take sannyasa, but Guru Maharaja is so kind that he ultimately forced me to take sannyasa and do this work. So it is all his kindness. So this is the memory of his kindness.

So forty years ago I remember the same thing as it is in 1922, and still the same thing is going on. There is nothing new. We have nothing to do, new. Simply let us present as it is; it will be successful. There is no... You see. The spirit of my writing is the same. "Misled we are, all going astray." This soul-killing civilization is misleading us. We must know this, this very misleading civilization. Our real aim of life is to understand our spiritual identification and search out our relationship with God, Krsna. That is our real business. But this modern civilization is misleading us in different ways. So I wrote this, that "Misled we are, all going astray. Save us, lord, our fervent pray. Wonder thy ways to turn our face, adore they feet, Your Divine Grace." So this portion he very much appreciated.

So we have to find out ways how to turn the current. The current is sense enjoyment. Material life means the current is sense enjoyment, and this current has to be turned-sense enjoyment of Krsna. Sense enjoyment is there, but the material civilization, the misled civilization, is that the sense gratification is taken personal. When this sense gratification will be turned towards Krsna, then our life is successful. Just like gopis. Apparently it appears that gopis, they were attracted by young boy, Krsna, and for their sense gratification they made friendship with Krsna. No. That is not the fact. The fact is that gopis used to dress themselves nicely because by seeing them, Krsna will be satisfied, not that for their sense gratification. Generally a girl dresses also to attract the attention of the boy. So the same thing is there but it is Krsna's sense gratification, not the gopis'. The gopis did not want anything. But Krsna will be satisifed. That is the difference between lust and love. Love is there, only possible, when it is diverted towards Krsna. That is love. And beyond that... Not beyond that... Below that, everything is lust. So we should always remember this. The senses are not stopped, but when the gratification of the senses is directed towards Krsna, that is bhakti, or love. And when the sense gratification is directed towards personal self, that is lust. This is difference between lust and love.

So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura knew this art, how to turn our activities for the satisfaction of Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Therefore I... "Wonder thy ways to turn our face, adore they feet, Your Divine Grace. Forgotten Krsna, we fallen souls." Why we are fallen? Because we have forgotten. Our relationship with Krsna is eternal. Unless it was eternal, how you Western peoples could be devotee of Krsna? Artificially you cannot be a devotee of Krsna. The relationship is there eternally. Nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti. By the process it is now awakened. Sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya. It is awakened. Love between young man and young woman, it is not artificial. It is there. But by certain circumstantially, environment, the love becomes manifest. Similarly, our love for Krsna, relationship with Krsna, is eternal. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. But we have to create such situation -- that eternal relation should be awakened. That is the art. That is wanted.

So "Forgotten Krsna, we fallen souls, pay most heavy the illusion's toll." Because we have forgotten Krsna we are paying heavy, heavy toll, tax, taxation. What is that taxation? The taxation is nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani [Bg. 9.3]. This human life is meant for understanding Krsna, but instead of understanding Krsna, we are understanding the so-called material science for sense gratification. This is our position. The energy which was given by nature to understand Krsna, that is being utilized how to manufacture something for sense gratification. This is going on. This is maya, illusion. Therefore it is, "Pay most heavy the illusion's toll." Toll tax. That we are paying because we have forgotten Krsna; therefore now we have manufactured the nuclear weapon -- Russia, America -- and you will have to pay heavily. They are already paying heavily. The armament preparation is going on. More than fifty percent of the income of the state are now being spent for this arm..., heavily. Instead of other purposes, it is being spent for military strength, every state. So that heavy toll we are paying. And when there is war there is no limit how much we are spending for this devastation. So why? Because we have forgotten Krsna. This is a fact.

So these people they have made the United Nation, unnecessarily fighting like dogs. So this will not solve the problems. The problem will be solved if they pass a resolution that the whole world, not only this world... Krsna says, sarvaloka mahesvaram. Krsna is the proprietor, so why not accept? Actually He is the proprietor. Who has created this planet? We have created or father created? No. Krsna has created, but we are claiming, "This portion is American, this portion is Indian, this portion is Pakistani." Unnecessary. What is the value of this claim? We may claim it for fifty or sixty or a hundred years, and after that, one kick: "Get out." Where is your claim? But they do not understand this philosophy. They are fighting. That's all, that "This is mine. This is my land. This is my land." They do not know. Krsna said tatha dehantara praptih [Bg. 2.13]. "You are American today. So tomorrow, even within America if you become an American cow or American animal, nobody will care for you. Nobody will care for your politics." But this art they do not know. This science they do not know. They are under illusion. They are thinking that "I shall continue to remain American, so let waste my time for American interest," so-called interest. There cannot be any interest. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everything is being done by nature, and we are simply falsely thinking, ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate. This illusion is going on. "Forgotten Krsna, we fallen souls, pay most heavy the illusion's toll." We are paying, paying. "Darkness around, all untrace. The only hope, Your Divine Grace." This message. Simply we are in darkness. So we shall discuss later on again. Now just... What is the time now? Hm?

Devotees: Quarter to nine.

Prabhupada: Yes. So we shall discuss again. So the same thing, it is chalked out by Krsna, and by parampara system we have understood this philosophy. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. So keep this parampara system. This Vyasa-puja is parampara system. Vyasa-puja means to accept this parampara system. Vyasa. Guru is the representative of Vyasadeva because he does not change anything. What Vyasa-puja... What Vyasadeva said, your guru will also say the same thing. Not that "So many hundreds of thousands of years have passed away. Therefore I will give you a new formula." No. There is no new formula. The same Vyasa-puja, the same philosophy. Simply we have to accept it. Then our life will be successful. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, Lecture -- Hyderabad, December 10, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Find Your Father

6 Jul 76 , Washington

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada:
 
sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam
sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam
dadati sva-padantikam

[When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?]

This movement is sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared on this earth five thousand years ago in Bengal, Navadvipa, to spread this Krsna consciousness, although this movement is not new. This Krsna consciousness movement was started by Krsna Himself. Apparently the Krsna consciousness movement was started by Krsna Himself in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra five thousand years ago, and He said that "This Krsna consciousness movement I spoke to the sun-god long, long years ago." Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. This is avyaya. Avyaya means which is never diminished or destroyed. Vyaya means which is destroyed, and Krsna says this yoga system... This is yoga system: bhakti-yoga. Yoga means to connect, to add, yoga. So at the present moment we are almost disconnected. Not exactly disconnected; forgotten our relationship with Krsna, or God. God means Krsna, and Krsna means God. So in the human society there are many different types of yoga system just to reconnect our relationship with Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita they are explained differently, karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, hatha-yoga, dhyana-yoga, bhakti-yoga. All of them are yogas, but there are different stages. Yoga means to connect or to link up with the Supreme Absolute Truth. Now suppose he is in the topmost platform. So everyone is trying to go there. Mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah. Krsna says, "Everyone is trying to come to Me, but..." Just like the person who's on the top floor. So the staircase is one. Somebody has crossed ten steps; somebody has taken, crossed twenty steps; somebody has crossed hundred steps; but one has to go, to fulfill, say, one thousand steps. There are different yoga systems. Everyone is trying to go to the topmost platform, mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah. This is a fact.

So in the Kali-yuga especially, to come to the highest platform of yoga perfection step by step, it is little difficult. Actually, to practice yoga, one has to undergo so many austerities, penances, rules, regulations. That is all described in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, how yoga should be practiced. It is recommended that yogis should sit down in a secluded place, sacred place. So in India, still, those who are actually yogis, at least those who are trying to follow the yoga system... Real yoga system means dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yoginah, those who are yogis, they sit down in a secluded place, alone. The yoga practice is not possible in a fashionable city. That is not possible. It is to be executed alone. Still you'll find in India, many places-Hardwar -- there are many yogis, they are sitting alone. They have nothing to do with this material world, and dhyanavasthita, and not only for one, two, three years, but for many hundred years. Still many yogis come during Kumbhamela. Their age is three hundred years, four hundred years, five hundred years old. It is possible. It is possible. By exercising the breathing, one can prolong his life. That is called samadhi. If you can stop your breathing, then you enhance your duration of life. That is possible. Therefore you'll find the picture of the yogis, they are controlling the breathing. Because everyone has got a destined breathing period by superior arrangement. So if you don't spend your breathing, then you prolong your life. If you can remain in samadhi, don't breathe, then... Just like if you have got a bank balance, one thousand dollars. If you don't spend it, then the one thousand dollar is there. Or out of one thousand dollars, you spend one. Still you have nine hundred ninety-nine. So the yoga practice is to control the breathing period. And this breathing can be controlled if you can control your sense pleasure. Otherwise it will not be possible. Especially sex. Everyone has got experience. While sex life one enjoys, the breathing is very heavy. Very, very heavy. So he loses the balance of his breathing period. Therefore the first practice of yoga is yoga indriya samyamah, to control the senses. That is all described in the Bhagavad-gita, Sixth Chapter.

So this yoga system was possible in the Satya-yuga, I mean to say, possible for the mass of people. If one or two persons practices yoga, the practice is there, the system is there, but it is not possible for the general public. It is not possible. So in the sastra we find, krte yad dhyayato visnuh [SB 12.3.52]. Real yoga system, I've already explained, that yoga indriya samyamah, or by meditation to see the Supreme Lord always within the heart. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. In trance, you'll find yogi picture, their trance, they are in meditation, completely silent, stop breathing and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, within the heart. This is actual yoga system. But it was possible to be executed in the Satya-yuga. Satya-yuga means when people used to live for one hundred thousands of years. That was possible. Just like Valmiki Muni. He executed yoga system for sixty thousand years. Because he was to live for one hundred thousands of years, so it was not very difficult to engage oneself for sixty thousands of years. But that is not possible in this age. Therefore sastra says,

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
 [SB 12.3.52]

Kalau, in this Kali-yuga, when people are very, very fallen... Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. They are very unfortunate also, and manda-bhagya, and although unfortunate, they are disturbed by so many external factors. So it is very difficult to execute yoga system or yajna system, sacrifice. It is very costly affair. Or even arcana, temple worship, it is also very difficult, because people are not very much interested even, worshiping the Deity in the temple. In India there are thousands and thousands of temples, temple or mosque or church, at the same time, for offering prayers, obeisances to the Lord. People are losing interest in that arcana-marga. There are many temples I have seen, there is no caretaker. People are losing interest. Many temples. They are open; a dog is living within the temple and passing stool. I have seen it.

So people are gradually losing interest in temple worship even, what to speak of yoga or offering sacrifices. Everything is now finished. Therefore kalau tad dhari-kirtanat. This is prescribed in the sastra. That system was introduced by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because other system will not be successful in this age. May be successful in one or two cases, but not for the general mass of people. Therefore sastra recommends... There are different incarnation of God, but one incarnation is there, it is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other places also, in Upanisad and Mahabharata. These are approved Vedic scriptures. So the Vedic knowledge is summarized in the Vedanta system, Brahma-sutra, everything done by Vyasadeva. And in order to protect the sanctity of Vedanta... Because there are so many foolish persons, they are distorting the purpose of Vedanta-sutra; therefore Vyasadeva, under the instruction of his spiritual master Narada, he personally wrote a commentary on the Vedanta-sutra. This is Srimad-Bhagavatam. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced these two things -- sankirtana and Srimad-Bhagavatam. And Srimad-Bhagavatam means the expansion of Bhagavad-gita. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita you'll find, at the last stage, Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. And Srimad-Bhagavatam also begins from that point. Srimad-Bhagavatam gives introduction, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. All cheating type of religious system kicked out, projjhita. Projjhita means just like you sweep over the floor, and all the dust, you throw it away. That is called projjhita. Prakrsta-rupena ujjhita.

So this system, one system, to accept the real principles of religion. That is, Krsna also explained. It is explained by Krsna, that Krsna came, appeared. Why? What is the purpose of Krsna's appearing? Sometimes they argue, atheist class of men, that God cannot come. Why God cannot come? God is your father's servant, that He cannot come? You are ordering? If He cannot come, how He is God? God can do everything. Why you say that God cannot come? He is not under your rules and regulations. Then He is not God. God can come. God says, "Yes, I come!"

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
 [Bg. 4.7]

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
 [Bg. 4.8]

So why God cannot come? So when God says, "Yes, I come for this purpose. This is My mission..." Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati. What is that glanir? Glanir means discrepancies. Not, the principles of religious..., when it is not executed properly, that is called glanir. So what is dharma? A simple definition is given: dharmam tu saksat-bhagavat-pranitam. Dharma means the law given by God, that's all-three words: God and His words. So if we do not know who is God, if we do not know what is His order, then we are lost. If we do not know God and if we... Just like if we do not know what is the government and if we do not know what is the order of government, then what is our position? We'll commit every step some mistake, and we shall suffer. So we must know what is dharma and... A cat, dog cannot understand dharma, but a human being is supposed to understand dharma. Lawbooks are made for the human being, not for the cats and dogs. "Keep to the left" or "Keep to the right," the signboard is there in the street. Or the red light is there, blue light is there -- for whom? For the human beings, not for the cats and dogs. The cats and dogs may disobey; there is no criminality on their part because they are cats and dogs. So there is law of God, there is God. If human being does not know what is God and what is the law of God, then he's no better than the cats and dogs. He must know. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19].

So that law is being instructed by the God Himself. That is Bhagavad-gita. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati [Bg. 4.7]. Dharma-samsthapanarthaya. So Krsna did not come to establish some sectarian religious system. That is not God's system. God is for everyone. God is not for the Hindus, for the Muslims, for the Christians, or anyone. God is for everyone. He is for animals, trees, plants, aquatics, insects, everyone. Because He claims, Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

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

Krsna is claiming. Actually, that is the fact. If you study only this verse, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah. There are so many forms of life, beginning from grass. That is also life. The grass is coming from the earth, the trees are coming from the earth, the animals, four-legged animals, they are eating grass, they are forming semina, they are discharging the semina, and the animal species of life are coming. We are eating, either eating the animal or the vegetable, we are also begetting children. The origin is from the earth. Tasam brahma mahad yonir. Mahat-tattva. So we can see practically that these things are there, so many different varieties of life. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sankhyakah. They are all living entities. Aquatics, nine hundred thousand forms of life within the water, jalaja nava-laksani, everything accurate. Sthavara laksa-vimsati, the trees, plants, they are standing, sthavara. That is very great punishment. Those who are very, very sinful, they have to take birth as trees and plants and stand up for thousands of years. Material nature's punishment. A small ant, it can move, but a big tree cannot move. That is punishment. Just like in our childhood we were being punished by the teachers, "Stand up on the bench." So it is like that.

So in this way Krsna, or God... If you simply study this line, that so many living entities are coming out of the earth, either water or land or air or anything. They are coming out. So they are offspring and material nature is the mother, Krsna says that. Sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah, tasam mahad yonir-mahat-tattva [Bg. 14.4]. Yoni, mother. So where is the father? The children are there, the mother is there, the next inquiry should be, "Where is the father?" That is natural. Without father, the mother is sitting with the child, nobody can say the child has no father. If somebody says that "I do not see the father. How I can believe?" that is foolishness. You believe or not believe, you see or not see, there must be father. This is the conclusion. This is theory, that this world is going on, everything is coming out of the mother earth, then there must be father. And that father is present, aham bija-pradah pita: [Bg. 14.4] "I am the father."

So it is our misfortune that we do not recognize the father. So it may be, "How can I recognize my father?" Ask you mother. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. All Vedic literature will say, "Here is father." Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].

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

So we'll find in every Vedic literature, Krsna is the supreme father. When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, in the Tenth Chapter you will find, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan purusam sasvatam adyam [Bg. 10.12]. And he also confirmed that "I am accepting You like this, param brahma param dhama [Bg. 10.12]. So people may be in doubt because I am Your friend. So they may say, 'Out of friendship, regard or affection, out of sentiment, he is speaking like that, that Krsna is the supreme person, param brahma.' " But Arjuna immediately rectifies this impression, that "Not only myself, but great authorities like Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, they are also affirming." Vyasadeva is authority. Veda-vyasa, he is the giver of Vedic knowledge. So he is accepting. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam he is writing, ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. He has given description of the incarnation of God, then he concludes that "All these incarnations, they are part and parcel or plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the name which I have mentioned as Krsna, that Godhead, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, He is the Supreme Original Personality of Godhead." That is Vyasadeva's... So we have to accept. And Arjuna also says, svayam caiva bravisi me, "You are also personally speaking that mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7], 'There is no more superior authority than Me.' " So this is confirmed.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to find out the supreme father. Supreme father. That is the sum and substance of this movement. If we do not know who is our father, that is not a very good position. At least, in India, it is a custom, if somebody cannot say his father's name, he is not very respectable. And it is the system in the court that you write your name, you must write your father's name. That is Indian, Vedic system, and the name, his own name, his father's name and his village name. These three combined together. I think this system may be prevalent in other countries, but India, this is the system. The first name his own name, the second name his father's name, and the third name is the village or the country where he is born. This is system. So father's..., we must know the father. That is Krsna consciousness movement. If we remain forgetful of our father, that is not a very good position. And what kind of father? Param brahma param dhama [Bg. 10.12]. The richest. Not the poor father who cannot feed his children. It is not that father. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. That father is so rich that He alone is feeding millions and millions and trillions of living entities. In Africa there are hundreds and millions of elephants. He is feeding them. And within the room there is a hole, there may be millions of ants. He is also feeding them. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). These are the Vedic information.

So human life, this is meant for understanding who is father, what is His law, who is God, what is our relationship with Him. This is Vedanta. Vedanta does not mean talk some nonsense and no relationship with the father. Srama eva hi kevalam. If you do not know who is your father...

dharmah svanusthitah pumsam
visvaksena-kathasu yah
notpadayed yadi ratim
srama eva hi kevalam
 [SB 1.2.8]

This is not wanted. And Krsna says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. So you become Vedantist, that's very nice. In the beginning of Vedanta it is said that the Absolute Truth is that from whom everything comes. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is beginning. Now the human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth, jijnasa. One should inquire what is the Absolute. That is human life, to find out the Absolute Truth. So the next sutra immediately says that Absolute Truth is that who is the source of everything. And what is that everything? Two things we find: animate and inanimate. Practical experience. Some of them are animate and some of them are inanimate. Two things. Now we can expand the varieties. That is another thing. But two things are there. So these two things, we see there is a controller above these two things, the animate and inanimate. So we have to inquire now whether the source of two things, animate and inanimate, what is the position? The position is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah [SB 1.1.1]. The original source of everything is abhijnah. How? Anvayad itaratas carthesu. If I have created something, I know everything, all details, anvayad, directly or indirectly, I know. If I manufacture something... Suppose if I know some special cooking, then I know all the details how to do it. That is the origin. So that origin is Krsna. Krsna says, vedaham samatitani: [Bg. 7.26] "I know everything -- past, present and future." Mattah sarvam pravartate. Aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. According to creation theory... Not theory, fact. Brahma visnu mahesvara. So these are the principle devatas. So Visnu is the original. Aham adir hi devanam. The creation, first Maha-Visnu; then from Maha-Visnu there is Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Garbhodakasayi Visnu there is Ksirodakasayi Visnu, expansion of Visnu, and from Him, Brahma comes. Brahma is born out of Garbhodakasayi Visnu on the lotus flower, then he gives birth to Rudra. This is the explanation of creation. So Krsna says aham adir hi devanam. He's also origin of Visnu because, from the sastra we say, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. The original Personality of Godhead is Krsna. And the first expansion of Krsna is Baladeva. Then from Him this Catur-vyuha, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha, like that. Then Narayana. From Narayana, the second Catur-vyuha, and from the second Catur-vyuha, Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu. In this way you have to learn the sastras. You'll find that actually, as it is said in the sastra, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. And Krsna says, aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. And Arjuna accepts, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So we have to accept sastra. Sastra-caksusat: you have to see through the sastra. And if you learn sastra, then you'll find krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to present to the human society the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is Krsna consciousness movement. So we started this movement in 1966, registering it. Our Rupanuga Prabhu has already explained. So take this movement very seriously. The same, Krsna, started within the historical, five thousand years ago. And He started this movement with Arjuna as His disciple. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He revived again the same movement. He is Krsna Himself. And that is going on. Don't think that this is a manufactured movement. No. It is the authorized movement and confirmed by the authorities. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. There are mahajanas mentioned in the sastra. So be fixed up in the Krsna consciousness movement and try to understand Krsna. We have got so many literatures, authorized literatures. And make your life success.

Thank you very much. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Tenth Anniversary Address -- Washington, D.C., July 6, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Drinking Poison Knowingly

25 Jul 76 , London

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is this. Yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta hina chara [Cc. Antya 4.67]. Anyone who is devotee of Krsna, yei bhaje, who is engaged in devotional service of Lord Krsna, yei bhaje se bada, he is big. Our calculation of big, small, not by the caste system. Yei bhaje: "Anyone who worships or who is engaged in devotional service of the Lord..." There is no particularly any person or any society or any caste or any nation is said. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yei bhaje se bada. Yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta hina chara. And one who is not a devotee, he is the lowest and abominable.

yei bhaje se bada bhakta hina chara
krsna bhajanete nahi jati kuladi vicara
 [Cc. Antya 4.67]

So far Krsna bhajana is concerned, there is no such distinction of caste, creed, nation, religion, no. Everyone. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's word, and Krsna's personal words are, in the Bhagavad-gita, mam hi partha 'vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. People are generally against the mlecchas, yavanas or the candalas because according to Vedic system, the brahmanas, the ksatriya, they are supposed to be pious family, brahmanas and ksatriyas. Less than that, even woman, they are not so pious. So in that sense there is discrimination. But Krsna says that mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Anyone, it doesn't matter, even he belongs to the papa-yoni, low-grade family. And because women and vaisyas are sudras are also considered as less important, so Krsna mentions, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim: "Even women, sudras, or the vaisyas, everyone can be elevated to the higher transcendental platform, param gati." Param gati. Gati means advancement, stepping forward, gati. So everyone is given this advantage of stepping forward. Stepping forward... (aside:) ...is it finished or not? Eh?

Indian man: Just they're offering.

Prabhupada: Yes. Stepping forward, there are two ways, stepping forward, gatih. One way, go to hell, and another way, go to Krsna, stepping forward. So who is going to back to home, back to Godhead, and who is going to hell? There are two ways. I think the Christians also believe like that: either go to heaven or go to hell. Actually, there are two ways, stepping forward. So here Krsna says, the greatest authority, that

mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
 [Bg. 9.32]

This step forward means going back home, back to Godhead. And another stepping forward there is.

matir na krsne paratah svato va
mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas carvita-carvananam
 [SB 7.5.30]

Another, this process, is those who are not Krsna conscious... Matir na krsne. Their consciousness is not for Krsna. Matir na krsne. Why they are not Krsna conscious? They cannot be? No, they cannot be. Matir na krsne paratah svato va, by personal deliberation or by congregation deliberation, svato mitho, matir na krsne paratah, or by the instruction of the spiritual master. Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam.

Grha-vratanam. Grha, there are different meanings of grha. Especially grha, we mean the home, house. Grha-vrata and grhastha, they are two different. Grhastha means although he is in grha, household life, his purpose is to go back to home, back to Godhead. They are called grhastha. And whose only purpose is to live at home-decorate the home, decorate the wife, decorate the children and make money to live very comfortably -- they are called grha-vrata or grhamedhi. They are not grhastha. Grhastha means although he's living with wife, children, family, but his purpose is how to become Krsna conscious, how to go back home, back. They are called grhastha. So grhasthasrama is as good as other asramas. There are four asramas. Vedic civilization means four varnas and four asramas. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, and brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. So those who are not following this principle of varnasrama-dharma, living like cats and dogs, they also live with wife, children. That sort of living is called grha-vrata. Grha-vratanam. Matir na krsne: "They cannot become Krsna conscious." Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. Why? Now, adanta-gobhih. Go means senses. Go means cow. Go means land also. So anyone who has taken the vow of sense gratification... That is the modern world, that "Somehow or other, satisfy senses." They cannot control the senses. Adanta-go. Adanta. Danta means control. Adanta, not controlled. Adanta-gobhih. So what is that? Visatam tamisram: "They are going towards hell," because this sense gratification process, unrestricted sense gratification process, he is creating a situation of different mentality and that mentality will be prominent at the time of death, and according to that situation he'll get his next birth.

Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. Therefore we have to become very, very careful. This life I maybe born in big nation, America, or English nation or some other nation or family, but if I create a mentality of cats and dogs or if I do not take advantage of this human form of life -- I remain dull as the trees or the animals -- then next life we have to accept a similar body. This is the law of nature. You can say or I can say that "I do not believe in the next life," but that is not the fact. The fact is... Just like if a child says, "I do not believe the next stage or next life, to become a boy," or if a boy says that "I don't believe next stage, to become a young man," so a young man says, "I do not believe that I shall become an old man," that is concoction. The nature's law will drag him, one after another. Similarly, the old man's body, when it is finished, you'll have to accept another body according to your mentality at the time of death. This is the law of nature.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is the best welfare activities for the human society to save them from a dangerous type of life. It is a very scientific movement. The fools and rascals, they do not know that there is next life and one has to accept a type of body given by nature. Karmana daiva-netrena jantor deha upapatti [SB 3.31.1]. According to karma, the nature... Just like if you infect some disease without any knowledge, so that disease, infection, will develop. If you have infected the small pox germ, then it will develop. You may believe or not believe or you may know or not know. It doesn't matter. Nature's way is like that. Similarly, we are contaminating within this material world different infection of the modes of material nature -- sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So that is also described in the Bhagavad-gita: karanam guna-sangah asya sad-asad yoni janmasu. One is getting higher type of birth, one is getting lower type of birth, why? Karanam guna sango 'sya: [Bg. 13.22] the cause is different contamination of the material modes of nature. Therefore in human form of life we should not be irresponsible animals. The animals, they do not know what he is contaminating, what he is going to take birth next. That is nature's way. But when you come to the human form of life, you have got your discrimination. You have to make your choice whether you are going to hell or you are going back to home, back to Godhead. That you have to make your choice.

If you don't make your choice, if you miss this opportunity, then you are committing suicide. You are knowingly drinking poison. As Narottama dasa Thakura says, hari hari biphale janama gonainu: "My Lord Krsna, I have wasted my time without any meaning, without any good result." Why? No, manusya-janama paiya radha-krsna na bhajiya, janiya suniya visa khainu: "I got this human form of life. It was an opportunity to worship Radha-Krsna, but I did not do it. I simply wasted my time in sense gratification. This means knowingly I have drunk poison." So anyone can drink poison if he likes. Nobody can check. But it is a fact that if one does not become Krsna conscious in this human form of life, he is drinking poison knowingly. That's a fact.

So people should be very careful, take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement. It is not a blind, sentimental religious faith. It is a great science, vijnanam. Jnanam me parama-guhyam yad vijnana-samanvitam. Jnanam te 'ham pravaksyami yad vijnana-samanvitam. These are the words. It is vijnana, a great science. Don't think that "These people are sentimentally chanting and dancing." That is the process, very easy made for this age. But if you think yourself that you are a great scientist, great philosopher, then we have got eighty-four books of four hundred pages. If you have got actually learning, you can study them. We can convince you. And people are becoming convinced. We are selling books all over the world, daily, sixty thousand dollars' worth. People are receiving, and they are appreciating. We have got big, big learned scholars' opinion.

So the idea is that you must take to Krsna consciousness movement. Otherwise you are drinking poison knowingly. Anyone, it doesn't matter what you are. Either you are Indian or Englishman or American or Hindu or Muslim, it doesn't matter. Krsna consciousness means God consciousness. I may say, "Krsna;" you may say some other name. But this human form of life is meant for this purpose, to understand Krsna, or God. Not vague idea, clear idea what is God, how he looks, what does he do -- so many things we have to know. It is not vague idea. Simply to have a vague idea of God, that is also good, but that is not perfect. You must know that is God. So how you can know God? The God is explaining Himself, coming down for your benefit. That is Krsna. Krsna is explaining Himself, "I am like this. You see Me. You know Me. I am explaining Myself." And still, if we do not take advantage of understanding God, then just imagine how we are drinking poison knowingly. How rascal we are, that God Himself is explaining before me everything about Him, and we are not taking advantage of this opportunity, and I am thinking I am independent and... This is rascaldom. You are not independent. You are completely under the control of the laws of material nature. How you are independent? So this foolishness must be stopped. That is the purpose of Krsna consciousness. Don't remain rascals fools. Take to Krsna consciousness and be happy.

Thank you very much.

Indian man: (indistinct) ...praising anyone that can perform even, praying to Krsna consciousness. So the fundamental is the four things. Please explain.

Devotee: He's talking about the four principles which are compulsory to Krsna consciousness.

Prabhupada: Yes, because we are now dull brain. Anyone who is not Krsna conscious, he is described as rascal.

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

This is Krsna's words, that anyone who is not Krsna conscious, he must be in one of these groups. What are the groups? Duskrtinah-meritorious sinful person. A person is merit. He has got merit. Just like a thief, a rogue, a cheater. He has got merit undoubtedly. Without being meritorious, they cannot be expert thief or expert rogue or expert politician. (laughter) So they have got merit, but duskrtinah. Krti means merit, and dus means abominable. Merit is being used for bad purposes or sinful purposes. They are called duskrtinah. This is one group. Another group-mudha. Mudha means fools, rascals, or children, those who have no knowledge or one who does not know what is the purpose of life. They are called mudhas. And another group is called naradhamah. Naradhama means the lowest of the mankind. The highest of the mankind is one who is Krsna conscious, and the lowest, one who does not know what is Krsna consciousness, the lowest of the mankind. This human life, human form of life was given to him by laws of nature to understand Krsna, or God, but he's not using it. Misusing it. They are called naradhama. And then, next group is mayayapahrta jnana. You can say, "There are so many learned persons. They are not Krsna conscious. They are after drinking and eating meat and... They are education." So then, He says that "They are educated. They have so-called educated, but their real knowledge is taken away." Just like one is rich man, but his money is taken away. So these four groups... So why this meritorious person or educated person, they do not take to Krsna consciousness? That means dull brain. So in order to make the dull brain suitable for understanding Krsna, these four principles of austerities is the first need: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication. Then his brain, the finer tissues of the brain, will develop to understand Krsna. Otherwise, not possible.

Devotee: There's one more question, Srila Prabhupada.

Indian woman: (Hindi)

Prabhupada: Pitar, what is this pitar?

Indian man: Forefathers.

Prabhupada: Yes. So there are different processes. (Hindi)

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam
 [Bg. 9.25]

(Hindi) (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sunday Feast Lecture -- London, July 25, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Don't Forget Your Heritage

20 Jun 76 , Toronto

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: (leads chanting) "Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world."

Prabhupada:

asraddadhanah purusa
dharmasyasya parantapa
aprapya mam nivartante
mrtyu-samsara-vartmani
 [Bg. 9.3]

Krsna (is) instructing that there are two pathways. One is go back to home, back to Godhead, and other path is remain in this material world which is full of miseries, especially birth, death, old age and disease. Two paths. Actually, we living entities, we are not subjected to birth, death, old age and disease. We are eternal part and parcel of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we are part and parcel of Him, just like father is there and he may have many children. So every child is the part and parcel of the father. Similarly, Krsna, the Supreme Lord, God, we all living entities, we are sons, or part and parcel of God. Qualitatively we are one. Just like a small particle of gold is also gold. It is not a different thing. But one is small particle and one is big lump. But qualitatively, both of them are gold. So we are small particle of Krsna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Krsna is vibhu, the great, God is great, and we are small particle.

Somehow or other we have fallen in this material world. There are many causes, but as we are in this material world, it is to be taken that somehow or other we have come here. Light, the sparks of fire... There is fire, and there are sparks. Everyone has got this experience. So the sparks are coming and dancing within the fire. It is also brilliant and it is also fire. If a small spark of fire falls on your cloth, immediately it will burn. It will immediately make a black spot. We have got this experience. Because although it is small, but it is fire. Therefore it burns. Similarly, we are a small particle, part and parcel of God. Just like the spark, it falls down from the fire. There may be three conditions. The spark may fall down on the ground, the spark may fall down on the water and the spark may fall down on some dry grass. So if the spark falls down on the dry grass, then it may, again, makes another fire. And if the spark falls down on the water, then it is completely finished. And if it falls down on the ground, then it may continue as fire for some time, then it becomes extinguished.

Anyway, in these three conditions... So when we fall down in this material world... The material world is of three modes of material nature, goodness, passion and ignorance. So if we acquire the quality of goodness, there is chance of enlightenment, knowledge, so that again fire can be generated. But if we fall down on the water, practically it is finished. Ignorance. So sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So in our fallen condition, mostly the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is very prominent, in our fallen condition, in this material condition. So symptoms of rajo-guna and tamo-guna means material desires and greediness. And sattva-guna means enlightenment. If we cultivate the sattva-guna quality, just means, if we cultivate the brahminical qualification, that is the platform of sattva-guna. So that is described in the Bhagavad-gita, satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. If we cultivate this kind of life, to be truthful, to be peaceful, to be tolerant, to be men of wisdom, knowledge, faith in God and the sastras, in this way there are nine to twelve qualities. If we acquire that qualities, then we become brahmana.

Brahmana means there is chance of understanding Brahman. Brahma janati iti brahmana. And this human life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is the first verse, aphorism, of the Vedanta-sutra. So the whole Vedic literature, in a gist form, is described in the Bhagavad-gita. And it is being explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. So it is a very important book, spoken by God Himself. And another system of religion... Sometimes the representative of God is speaking, the servant of God speaking. They are also the same, but according to time and circumstances they are modified. But here in this Bhagavad-gita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is speaking.

So you are coming, I mean to say, the Indians who are present here, from a country where Krsna appeared. It is a great fortune for you that you have taken your birth in India. It is not ordinary fortune. So why? To take Indian birth, to take birth in India, automatically they are advanced in spiritual knowledge. Still, so much fallen condition of India, still, you go to a village, they will very easily understand Krsna consciousness without any advanced education. Because by birthright they have got the knowledge. In Vrndavana, when we walk on the street, the thela-walla, the cartsmen, the milkmen carrying milk, immediately they'll offer namaskara, "Swamiji." The other day, I think you were present? We were walking. So we entered one field, just for walking. So the villagers, the cultivators, they came to congratulate us. To receive us. "Swamiji, it is our great fortune that you have come to our field." But in this country if I would have entered in another place, perhaps would have brought charge of trespass or might shot down. So that is the different system. That by birthright they are Krsna conscious.

If we speak something about Krsna and Rama... Generally, in the villages, the Ramayana or Mahabharata, they are recited by the panditas, and still thousands and thousands of men come to hear about Ramayana and Mahabharata. We have practical experience in India. We held several Hare Krsna festivals in Calcutta, Bombay and Hyderabad, Madras, many thousands people come. Twenty thousand, thirty thousand people, they come, still. So my request is that you are here in foreign country, you don't forget your heritage. That is my request. Don't be bada saheb. Remain as Indian with Indian culture, and here is the temple of Krsna, we are distributing this Krsna culture all over the world. So don't miss this opportunity, but you take advantage of it. That is the duty of every Indian. That is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His mission is, especially to the Indians He said,

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

 Para-upakara, just to do something good for others, for upakara. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said anyone who has taken birth in India, he should, bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara [Cc. Adi 9.41], anyone who has taken birth in India, for every one of them, it is the duty, janma sarthaka kari', first of all make your life successful, janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara, then you begin the welfare activities for all others. The idea is that India is enriched with Vedic knowledge, and those who are born in India, they should take advantage of this facility, especially those who are in the higher topmost ranks, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas. Especially the brahmanas. Take this education perfectly well. Make your life perfect and distribute the knowledge all over the world. This is your duty. That is the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He wanted...

Krsna preached this Bhagavad-gita, five thousand years ago, but it was not broadly preached. It was spoken on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Arjuna knew it and some of his other friends. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also Krsna. He appeared as a devotee of Krsna. And He distributed this Krsna consciousness movement and He wanted that every Indian should seriously take this Krsna consciousness movement, make his life perfect, and distribute the knowledge. This is India's duty. So you have got one opportunity, you Indian people, that you take this advantage of distributing Krsna consciousness. It is good for you and for everyone who takes the knowledge very adherently. Therefore Krsna says... This is Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita where He is speaking plainly about bhagavata-bhakti. And this knowledge is described as raja-guhyam. Most confidential knowledge. Here,

raja-vidya raja-guhyam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyaksavagamam dharmyam
susukham kartum avyayam
 [Bg. 9.2]

This is the beginning of this chapter. Raja-vidya, the king of education. Raja-vidya raja-guhyam. And very confidential. It is not understood by any ordinary man. Because it is very confidential. You go anywhere. Suppose you go to a bank. A few persons in the bank, like the manager or the cashier or the accountant, they know everything confidential. Not the clerks or the customers, no. So this is, also Krsna concludes Bhagavad-gita with these words, guhya guhyatamam. This knowledge is very confidential. This means when one thing is very confidential means it is very, very important. So Krsna says therefore that asraddadhanah purusah [Bg. 9.3]. "This is so nice confidential. And I am speaking personally to enlighten the people in general." Not general, but people like Arjuna. Arjuna was not ordinary person. He was born in royal family and he was so exalted that he could speak with Krsna face to face. He's not an ordinary person. So this confidential knowledge is not for ordinary person, but it is so easy. As it is said, susukham kartum avyayam. It is so easy to perform that everyone can do it.

Just like what we are doing here in this temple? These boys, these American and Canadian boy, what they are doing? It's very easy. What is that? Chanting Hare Krsna, dancing and eating prasada. What is the difficulty? To chant Hare Krsna or in ecstasy, dance nicely and dancing, dancing, when you become hungry and tired, take nice prasada. What is the difficulty? By this process they are becoming devotees. There is no need of discussing higher philosophy or becoming a mystic or magician or juggler or bluffer or cheater, nothing. Simply accept this simple process. You come here and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra and automatically you'll be ecstatic. Because this Hare Krsna maha-mantra is not ordinary sound. It is spiritual sound. Narottama dasa Thakura has sung, golokera prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana. This sound, just like you receive sound from distant place, in radio. Similarly, this sound is not produced in this material world. It is brought from the spiritual world. Golokera prema-dhana. There in the spiritual world there are eternal liberated devotees. They are so much ecstatically enjoying simply by chanting and dancing, the descriptions are there, that there is no sex life.

Just imagine. Here in this material world there is sex life. That is considered to be the highest pleasure. But the spiritual world means there is no sex life. Although there are very beautiful women, very beautiful men, with four hands. The men are with four hands there and very attractive. All of them are young. They never become old. Because in the spiritual world there is no birth, death, old age and disease. That is spiritual world. So there is no... Old age is due to this body. Otherwise, spirit soul is everlastingly young. You can think over yourself. Just like I am now old man. So sometime I think that in my childhood, when I was born, I was jumping and dancing. Now I cannot do that. Because of this old body. So we are hampered on account of this material body. Encagement.

So there are two ways, as I have already explained, that if you like you can become free from this bondage of material body. If you like. And if you don't like you can continue your material way of life, changing different material bodies. Changing different material body is described here: mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Mrtyu. Because with any body, material body, either cat's body, a dog's body or human being's body or demigod's body or even Brahma's body, you have to die. There is no escape. Therefore it is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. And the, another path is, aprapya mam, this mrtyu-samsara-vartmani means you don't get Krsna. Krsna says aprapya, not getting mam, Me. Two alternatives. Either you get Krsna and go back to home, back to Godhead, this is one path. And the other path that you remain in this material world and repeatedly get a body and die again, get again another body. This is going on. Repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. So Krsna is, because He is our supreme father, supreme friend... suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Krsna says

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
 [Bg. 5.29]

For our happiness we require cooperation of some friend. That is our practical experience. But if we make Krsna as our supreme friend... He is supreme friend. He's so supreme friend that... You'll find in the Bhagavad-gita, everything is explained. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Sarva-bhutanam. Of all living entities, within the core of the heart, Krsna is sitting there along with the living entity. The living entity is also within the heart and the supreme living entity, Krsna, is also sitting by him.

This is confirmed in the Upanisad, that two birds are sitting on one tree. One bird is eating the fruit and another bird is simply observing. So the observing bird is Krsna and the eating bird is the living entity. Two birds. In another place also Krsna says ksetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata [Bg. 13.3]. The question of the ksetra-jna, the owner of the body and the body. In this Chapter, in the Thirteenth Chapter, it is discussed. So in that chapter Krsna says that "I am also one of the owner of the body, but the difference of this singular individual body and Myself is this, that the individual soul knows about his own body. But so far I am concerned, I am present in everyone's body and I know everything of everyone's body." Just like you are a spirit soul, I am a spirit soul within this body. You know the pleasure and pains of your body. I know the pleasure and pains of my body. But Krsna, he knows the pleasure and pains of your body and pleasure and pains of my body and everyone's body. That is Krsna. That is Paramatma. Jivatma and Paramatma.

So all these facts have been very widely described and discussed. So we should be very careful to accept the instruction of Bhagavad-gita as it is. If we do not accept, then Krsna says asraddadhanah. One is not interested in this type of occupational duty, dharma means occupational duty. So dharmasyasya parantapa. Asya dharmasya. What is this dharma? In the end of Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is dharma. This is real dharma. And anything except this, is bogus, cheating. This is real dharma. Krsna came, He said that yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata tadatmanam srjamy aham [Bg. 4.7]. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. Hm? Dharma-samsthapanarthaya. To reestablish the religious system. Yuge yuge sambhavami, "I come." He comes. So, or He sends His representative, His son or His devotee. His servant. In this way, Krsna is trying to enlighten the whole human society.

So we should take advantage of it. If you don't take advantage of it, asraddadhanah, no faith, no interest... Asraddadhanah purusah, the human being. This is a chance of human form of life to accept the system which is offered by God Himself. That is our duty. But if one is not interested, then the result is that aprapya mam. "He cannot get Me." Aprapya mam. So if we don't get Krsna, then what is the wrong there? Very, very wrong. That Krsna says: nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani, [Bg. 9.3] then he remains in the cycle of birth and death. That is not very pleasing job. We are making material efforts to make nice road, nice cars, nice skyscraper building, nice other facilities of life. But why I am doing this? This is practical. If I am called by death. How, we are not very happy, "Oh, I am attempting to build this and now I am dying," this is very painful. Sometimes at the time of death, they cry, that "I could not finish my business."

So that is the way of nature. That you may try to become very happy in this material world, nature will kick you out, will not allow you to stay here. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. This world is duhkhalayam. You make so many imagination, try to fulfill it, that's a very troublesome job. To get money and to make material arrangement, that is not very easy. After you've undergone severe hardship, then you can get some money and build big, big buildings or purchase car. So before possessing big, big buildings and cars you had to work so hard. And to keep them intact, that is also very difficult. So, and again there is no guarantee that you shall be able to enjoy it. Today you may be proprietor of a big house, big motor car, but after death you don't know, you have to accept a body, and it may be you become a cockroach in the car or in the house. That is not in your hands. That is in the prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. That will be considered. If you have got attachment for the car and you are dying, then you have done working such a way that you have no right to possess a car any more. You have to accept a cockroach body. Then you become, a, because you have got attachment, in the same car you become a cockroach. This nature's law we do not know.

prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
 [Bg. 3.27]

The rascals, they do not know how prakrti, nature is working, and we are completely under the control of material nature. So after death we have to accept one body. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptih, dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. One has to accept. Just like we have given up our childhood body and we accepted another body, boyhood body or youth-hood body or old aged body. Similarly, after giving up this body, old aged body, I have to accept another body. That will be created by nature according to your karma. So that is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Then you begin another chapter. Even you become a demigod or a dog or a cockroach or human being, from the date of your birth you begin another chapter. Again duhkhalayam, to grow up, to change body, to adjust things according to the atmosphere.

So this is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. If we want to save this botheration, then hear what Krsna says. Then your life will be successful. If you don't accept Krsna's works, which are very plainly explained in the Bhagavad-gita, then you have to remain in this mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. It is very plain truth. There is no doubt about it, that... You may be very proud of your strong body, your social condition or political condition, but after death it is not under your control. It is under the control of the material nature. So don't be falsely proud, bewildered. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. Don't be foolish person by false egotism that "I am free, I can do whatever I like." Then you'll suffer and remain in the path of repetition of birth and death. And there are 8,400,000 species of life. We have to go through this process, we fall down. So this human form of life is obtained, bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19], after many many births, evolutional process we have got it. Now it is the time to understand our position. What is that position? The position is that we are eternal part and parcel of God.

mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah sasthanindriyani
prakrti-sthani karsati
 [Bg. 15.7]

"These living entities," Krsna says, "They are My part and parcels. But foolish rascals, they're creating concoction, mental speculation, to become happy." Manah sasthanindriyani. And according to their mentality they are getting a different type of body, indriyani. Indriyani, the... As I was explaining in one morning, the pig has got also tongue, that is indriya, sense, and I have got also tongue, but his tongue will like to eat stool. We won't like. Because the different body, the tongue is also tasteful in different way. So indriyani. Manah sasthanindriyani. First of all with subtle mind we create a different type of indriya. If we live like dogs and hogs, then that mentality will give me similar senses, the body of a dog and hog. And we change our taste according to dog and hog. Similarly, we can change our taste according to the body of demigods. But the subject matter of tasting or enjoyment is the same. Eating, sleeping, sex and defense. That will continue. But the quality of eating may be different. Not the quality, but the form may be different.

So in this way things are going on. They are described in this Bhagavad-gita very widely and expressively. So every human being is expected to receive this knowledge directly from Krsna. Don't interpret wrong way according to your whims. Take it as it is and be benefited. If you don't take it, asraddadhanah purusah [Bg. 9.3]. Those who have no interest to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, the result is mam aprapya. Aprapya mam. He never approaches God. He remains in this material world of repetition of birth and death. That is not a very good job.

So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten people so that they can accept these principles of Bhagavad-gita. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is para-upakara. And He advises everyone, especially Indians, to become guru. He said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Every one of you, you become a guru, and try to deliver the persons where you are living. So how can I become guru? Yes, it is very easy. What is that? Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It's not very difficult.

Krsna says man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], four things only. And mam evaisyasi asamsayah [Bg. 18.65]. "By doing these four things, without any doubt, you come back to Me." And what are those four things? Man-mana bhava. "Always think of Me." That is very difficult job? You are seeing... [break] So man-manah. And then you become bhakta. Unless you are bhakta, you cannot continue to think of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad, mad-yaji. "Worship Me." So here is Krsna, accepting everyone's worship. And what is the means of worship? Very simple. If you can offer very valuable things, that is all right. But if you think that you are poor man, you cannot supply any valuable things, Krsna says, "Never mind." Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. "Simply little flower, little fruit, if you offer Me with devotion, I accept." So there is no difficulty.

Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. These four things. Very, very easy to do it. It is universal. There is no restriction. It is not that "I am not a brahmana, I am not an Indian, I am not a Sanskrit scholar, I cannot go to the temple." No, that is not. Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Never mind whether he is Indian, brahmana or this or that. Even if he's born in the lowest, lowest grade of family, papa-yoni. They are kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah [SB 2.4.18], there are so many. They're papa-yoni, almost animal. Sudhyanti, they also become purified and comes to Krsna. It is so wide, universal, easy and especially you are Indian, why you should not take advantage of this facility. You take it and be happy. That is my request. Thank you very much.
 
Guest: Swamiji, is there some way (indistinct) duty of the student to the knowledge (indistinct) guru shortcoming?

Prabhupada: First of all, you have to know who is guru. If you accept one rascal as guru, how you can be helped? First thing is who is guru. That I have already explained. Guru is he who repeats the words of Krsna. He is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal. This is the test. Krsna says that

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
 [Bg. 4.34]

So tattva-darsi, one who has seen the truth, you have to accept him as guru. Tattva-darsi. Darsi means who has practical experience. Take, for example, just like Arjuna. Arjuna is directly receiving the knowledge from Krsna. He's guru. What he said, we accept that. But if you accept somebody who wants to kill Krsna and become himself Krsna, he's a rascal. He's not guru. Because his policy is to accept the place of Krsna, not to serve Him. That is maya. And Krsna has said very freely that

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

A person who is imbibed with asuric tendency... Asuric tendency means to refute the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All the asuras... Just like Ravana. Ravana is described as raksasa, asura. What was his fault? His fault was that he did not care for Rama. "What is this Rama? Kidnap his wife, bring him(her), I shall enjoy." This is raksasa. So he could not enjoy Sita, but the result was, with his whole family, state, and himself, everything, he was ruined. This is asura. So those who are asuram bhavam asritah, followers of Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, they do not surrender to Krsna.

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

So our simple method is to see whether somebody is speaking about Krsna or what Krsna has said. If he does not do so, then immediately accept him asuram bhavam asritah, a raksasa. How you can accept him as guru? A raksasa? That is your mistake. How can you accept a person as guru who has imbibed with raksasa. So then what is their position? Duskrtinah. Very sinful. Mudhah, rascal, ass. Naradhamah, lowest of the mankind. "No, he's so educated." Mayayapahrta-jnanah. His so-called education has no value because maya has taken away the essence of... Because education means... Veda means knowledge. So the Vedas are there for education. So vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. Ultimately Vedanta, Vedanta means the ultimate knowledge. The end of knowledge. The end of knowledge is to know Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. So after studying Vedas, if he does not understand Krsna, then it is to be understood, mayayapahrta-jnanah, his knowledge has been taken away by maya. So simple thing is that Krsna is the original guru. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. There is no more better guru than Krsna. So anyone who repeats the words of Krsna, teach others, he is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal.

Guest: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: Why do you ask this question? That means you have no faith.

Guest: I have faith, I don't (indistinct) knowledge.

Prabhupada: You read this, then you'll get the knowledge.

Guest: I would like to know about what time

Prabhupada: Time it may be. Any time, but the knowledge is eternal. Just like Krsna spoke five thousand years ago to Arjuna and some forty millions of years ago to the sun-god. Time is different. Once He spoke forty millions of... Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. Find out this verse:

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. These things are there that Krsna said to Arjuna that "This philosophy, yoga, the yoga system, bhakti-yoga, I spoke to Vivasvan, the sun-god." So if you take, take calculation... Because it is said there: vivasvan manave praha, if you take calculation of Manu, then you can calculate the age of Manu. Seventy-two cycle of four ages. Four ages means, one age means forty-three lakhs of years, multiply it by seventy-two. That becomes the duration of life of one Manu. So it is said that the sun-god said to Manu. So this is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So you can understand when it was spoken. So we have calculated, it is about forty millions of years ago he spoke this... And Krsna says sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah [Bg. 4.3]. Read that?

Hari-sauri:

sa evayam maya te 'dya
yogah proktah puratanah
bhakto 'si me sakha ceti
rahasyam hy etad uttamam
 [Bg. 4.3]

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna said "The same system I am speaking to you. Puratanah. Because you are My bhakta." So either you hear it forty millions of years ago or five thousand years ago or today from us, the subject matter is the same. Why do you make difference of the time? There is no difference of time. The subject, the puratanah, everything is the same old. Even it is spoken in different time, the subject matter remains the same. There is no change. Just like millions and millions of years ago there was sun. And what is the sun? Heat and light. And today also there is the sun. What is the sun. Heat and light. So there is no difference. There is no consideration of age. The subject matter is the same.

Guest: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: Yes, eternally means that this creation, the material creation, it takes place at a certain date and it continues for certain millions and trillions of years, and again it becomes annihilated, dissolved. There is no creation for... Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. And again millions of years passes, and again there is creation. So one who does not take advantage of this creation, manifestation, especially in the human form of life, as I was discussing, mrtyu-samsara-vartmani, then he remains in the path of birth and death in this creation, and because he does not deliver himself, then next creation and next creation. So unless he takes to it, it is eternally going on. If he does not take advantage of this opportunity, then he remains in the cycle of birth and, mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. And the mrtyu-samsara-vartmani continues in this creation, next creation and before that it is going on.

Devotee: Another question?

Prabhupada: That's all right. Thank you very much.
 
Devotees: Jaya! Jaya Prabhupada! (end)
 
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"Don't Forget Your Heritage"
20 Jun 76 , Toronto

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Prabhupada: (leads chanting) "Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world."

Prabhupada:

asraddadhanah purusa
dharmasyasya parantapa
aprapya mam nivartante
mrtyu-samsara-vartmani
 [Bg. 9.3]

Krsna (is) instructing that there are two pathways. One is go back to home, back to Godhead, and other path is remain in this material world which is full of miseries, especially birth, death, old age and disease. Two paths. Actually, we living entities, we are not subjected to birth, death, old age and disease. We are eternal part and parcel of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we are part and parcel of Him, just like father is there and he may have many children. So every child is the part and parcel of the father. Similarly, Krsna, the Supreme Lord, God, we all living entities, we are sons, or part and parcel of God. Qualitatively we are one. Just like a small particle of gold is also gold. It is not a different thing. But one is small particle and one is big lump. But qualitatively, both of them are gold. So we are small particle of Krsna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Krsna is vibhu, the great, God is great, and we are small particle.

Somehow or other we have fallen in this material world. There are many causes, but as we are in this material world, it is to be taken that somehow or other we have come here. Light, the sparks of fire... There is fire, and there are sparks. Everyone has got this experience. So the sparks are coming and dancing within the fire. It is also brilliant and it is also fire. If a small spark of fire falls on your cloth, immediately it will burn. It will immediately make a black spot. We have got this experience. Because although it is small, but it is fire. Therefore it burns. Similarly, we are a small particle, part and parcel of God. Just like the spark, it falls down from the fire. There may be three conditions. The spark may fall down on the ground, the spark may fall down on the water and the spark may fall down on some dry grass. So if the spark falls down on the dry grass, then it may, again, makes another fire. And if the spark falls down on the water, then it is completely finished. And if it falls down on the ground, then it may continue as fire for some time, then it becomes extinguished.

Anyway, in these three conditions... So when we fall down in this material world... The material world is of three modes of material nature, goodness, passion and ignorance. So if we acquire the quality of goodness, there is chance of enlightenment, knowledge, so that again fire can be generated. But if we fall down on the water, practically it is finished. Ignorance. So sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So in our fallen condition, mostly the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is very prominent, in our fallen condition, in this material condition. So symptoms of rajo-guna and tamo-guna means material desires and greediness. And sattva-guna means enlightenment. If we cultivate the sattva-guna quality, just means, if we cultivate the brahminical qualification, that is the platform of sattva-guna. So that is described in the Bhagavad-gita, satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. If we cultivate this kind of life, to be truthful, to be peaceful, to be tolerant, to be men of wisdom, knowledge, faith in God and the sastras, in this way there are nine to twelve qualities. If we acquire that qualities, then we become brahmana.

Brahmana means there is chance of understanding Brahman. Brahma janati iti brahmana. And this human life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is the first verse, aphorism, of the Vedanta-sutra. So the whole Vedic literature, in a gist form, is described in the Bhagavad-gita. And it is being explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. So it is a very important book, spoken by God Himself. And another system of religion... Sometimes the representative of God is speaking, the servant of God speaking. They are also the same, but according to time and circumstances they are modified. But here in this Bhagavad-gita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is speaking.

So you are coming, I mean to say, the Indians who are present here, from a country where Krsna appeared. It is a great fortune for you that you have taken your birth in India. It is not ordinary fortune. So why? To take Indian birth, to take birth in India, automatically they are advanced in spiritual knowledge. Still, so much fallen condition of India, still, you go to a village, they will very easily understand Krsna consciousness without any advanced education. Because by birthright they have got the knowledge. In Vrndavana, when we walk on the street, the thela-walla, the cartsmen, the milkmen carrying milk, immediately they'll offer namaskara, "Swamiji." The other day, I think you were present? We were walking. So we entered one field, just for walking. So the villagers, the cultivators, they came to congratulate us. To receive us. "Swamiji, it is our great fortune that you have come to our field." But in this country if I would have entered in another place, perhaps would have brought charge of trespass or might shot down. So that is the different system. That by birthright they are Krsna conscious.

If we speak something about Krsna and Rama... Generally, in the villages, the Ramayana or Mahabharata, they are recited by the panditas, and still thousands and thousands of men come to hear about Ramayana and Mahabharata. We have practical experience in India. We held several Hare Krsna festivals in Calcutta, Bombay and Hyderabad, Madras, many thousands people come. Twenty thousand, thirty thousand people, they come, still. So my request is that you are here in foreign country, you don't forget your heritage. That is my request. Don't be bada saheb. Remain as Indian with Indian culture, and here is the temple of Krsna, we are distributing this Krsna culture all over the world. So don't miss this opportunity, but you take advantage of it. That is the duty of every Indian. That is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His mission is, especially to the Indians He said,

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

 Para-upakara, just to do something good for others, for upakara. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said anyone who has taken birth in India, he should, bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara [Cc. Adi 9.41], anyone who has taken birth in India, for every one of them, it is the duty, janma sarthaka kari', first of all make your life successful, janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara, then you begin the welfare activities for all others. The idea is that India is enriched with Vedic knowledge, and those who are born in India, they should take advantage of this facility, especially those who are in the higher topmost ranks, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas. Especially the brahmanas. Take this education perfectly well. Make your life perfect and distribute the knowledge all over the world. This is your duty. That is the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He wanted...

Krsna preached this Bhagavad-gita, five thousand years ago, but it was not broadly preached. It was spoken on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Arjuna knew it and some of his other friends. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also Krsna. He appeared as a devotee of Krsna. And He distributed this Krsna consciousness movement and He wanted that every Indian should seriously take this Krsna consciousness movement, make his life perfect, and distribute the knowledge. This is India's duty. So you have got one opportunity, you Indian people, that you take this advantage of distributing Krsna consciousness. It is good for you and for everyone who takes the knowledge very adherently. Therefore Krsna says... This is Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita where He is speaking plainly about bhagavata-bhakti. And this knowledge is described as raja-guhyam. Most confidential knowledge. Here,

raja-vidya raja-guhyam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyaksavagamam dharmyam
susukham kartum avyayam
 [Bg. 9.2]

This is the beginning of this chapter. Raja-vidya, the king of education. Raja-vidya raja-guhyam. And very confidential. It is not understood by any ordinary man. Because it is very confidential. You go anywhere. Suppose you go to a bank. A few persons in the bank, like the manager or the cashier or the accountant, they know everything confidential. Not the clerks or the customers, no. So this is, also Krsna concludes Bhagavad-gita with these words, guhya guhyatamam. This knowledge is very confidential. This means when one thing is very confidential means it is very, very important. So Krsna says therefore that asraddadhanah purusah [Bg. 9.3]. "This is so nice confidential. And I am speaking personally to enlighten the people in general." Not general, but people like Arjuna. Arjuna was not ordinary person. He was born in royal family and he was so exalted that he could speak with Krsna face to face. He's not an ordinary person. So this confidential knowledge is not for ordinary person, but it is so easy. As it is said, susukham kartum avyayam. It is so easy to perform that everyone can do it.

Just like what we are doing here in this temple? These boys, these American and Canadian boy, what they are doing? It's very easy. What is that? Chanting Hare Krsna, dancing and eating prasada. What is the difficulty? To chant Hare Krsna or in ecstasy, dance nicely and dancing, dancing, when you become hungry and tired, take nice prasada. What is the difficulty? By this process they are becoming devotees. There is no need of discussing higher philosophy or becoming a mystic or magician or juggler or bluffer or cheater, nothing. Simply accept this simple process. You come here and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra and automatically you'll be ecstatic. Because this Hare Krsna maha-mantra is not ordinary sound. It is spiritual sound. Narottama dasa Thakura has sung, golokera prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana. This sound, just like you receive sound from distant place, in radio. Similarly, this sound is not produced in this material world. It is brought from the spiritual world. Golokera prema-dhana. There in the spiritual world there are eternal liberated devotees. They are so much ecstatically enjoying simply by chanting and dancing, the descriptions are there, that there is no sex life.

Just imagine. Here in this material world there is sex life. That is considered to be the highest pleasure. But the spiritual world means there is no sex life. Although there are very beautiful women, very beautiful men, with four hands. The men are with four hands there and very attractive. All of them are young. They never become old. Because in the spiritual world there is no birth, death, old age and disease. That is spiritual world. So there is no... Old age is due to this body. Otherwise, spirit soul is everlastingly young. You can think over yourself. Just like I am now old man. So sometime I think that in my childhood, when I was born, I was jumping and dancing. Now I cannot do that. Because of this old body. So we are hampered on account of this material body. Encagement.

So there are two ways, as I have already explained, that if you like you can become free from this bondage of material body. If you like. And if you don't like you can continue your material way of life, changing different material bodies. Changing different material body is described here: mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Mrtyu. Because with any body, material body, either cat's body, a dog's body or human being's body or demigod's body or even Brahma's body, you have to die. There is no escape. Therefore it is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. And the, another path is, aprapya mam, this mrtyu-samsara-vartmani means you don't get Krsna. Krsna says aprapya, not getting mam, Me. Two alternatives. Either you get Krsna and go back to home, back to Godhead, this is one path. And the other path that you remain in this material world and repeatedly get a body and die again, get again another body. This is going on. Repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. So Krsna is, because He is our supreme father, supreme friend... suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Krsna says

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
 [Bg. 5.29]

For our happiness we require cooperation of some friend. That is our practical experience. But if we make Krsna as our supreme friend... He is supreme friend. He's so supreme friend that... You'll find in the Bhagavad-gita, everything is explained. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Sarva-bhutanam. Of all living entities, within the core of the heart, Krsna is sitting there along with the living entity. The living entity is also within the heart and the supreme living entity, Krsna, is also sitting by him.

This is confirmed in the Upanisad, that two birds are sitting on one tree. One bird is eating the fruit and another bird is simply observing. So the observing bird is Krsna and the eating bird is the living entity. Two birds. In another place also Krsna says ksetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata [Bg. 13.3]. The question of the ksetra-jna, the owner of the body and the body. In this Chapter, in the Thirteenth Chapter, it is discussed. So in that chapter Krsna says that "I am also one of the owner of the body, but the difference of this singular individual body and Myself is this, that the individual soul knows about his own body. But so far I am concerned, I am present in everyone's body and I know everything of everyone's body." Just like you are a spirit soul, I am a spirit soul within this body. You know the pleasure and pains of your body. I know the pleasure and pains of my body. But Krsna, he knows the pleasure and pains of your body and pleasure and pains of my body and everyone's body. That is Krsna. That is Paramatma. Jivatma and Paramatma.

So all these facts have been very widely described and discussed. So we should be very careful to accept the instruction of Bhagavad-gita as it is. If we do not accept, then Krsna says asraddadhanah. One is not interested in this type of occupational duty, dharma means occupational duty. So dharmasyasya parantapa. Asya dharmasya. What is this dharma? In the end of Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is dharma. This is real dharma. And anything except this, is bogus, cheating. This is real dharma. Krsna came, He said that yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata tadatmanam srjamy aham [Bg. 4.7]. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. Hm? Dharma-samsthapanarthaya. To reestablish the religious system. Yuge yuge sambhavami, "I come." He comes. So, or He sends His representative, His son or His devotee. His servant. In this way, Krsna is trying to enlighten the whole human society.

So we should take advantage of it. If you don't take advantage of it, asraddadhanah, no faith, no interest... Asraddadhanah purusah, the human being. This is a chance of human form of life to accept the system which is offered by God Himself. That is our duty. But if one is not interested, then the result is that aprapya mam. "He cannot get Me." Aprapya mam. So if we don't get Krsna, then what is the wrong there? Very, very wrong. That Krsna says: nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani, [Bg. 9.3] then he remains in the cycle of birth and death. That is not very pleasing job. We are making material efforts to make nice road, nice cars, nice skyscraper building, nice other facilities of life. But why I am doing this? This is practical. If I am called by death. How, we are not very happy, "Oh, I am attempting to build this and now I am dying," this is very painful. Sometimes at the time of death, they cry, that "I could not finish my business."

So that is the way of nature. That you may try to become very happy in this material world, nature will kick you out, will not allow you to stay here. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. This world is duhkhalayam. You make so many imagination, try to fulfill it, that's a very troublesome job. To get money and to make material arrangement, that is not very easy. After you've undergone severe hardship, then you can get some money and build big, big buildings or purchase car. So before possessing big, big buildings and cars you had to work so hard. And to keep them intact, that is also very difficult. So, and again there is no guarantee that you shall be able to enjoy it. Today you may be proprietor of a big house, big motor car, but after death you don't know, you have to accept a body, and it may be you become a cockroach in the car or in the house. That is not in your hands. That is in the prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. That will be considered. If you have got attachment for the car and you are dying, then you have done working such a way that you have no right to possess a car any more. You have to accept a cockroach body. Then you become, a, because you have got attachment, in the same car you become a cockroach. This nature's law we do not know.

prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
 [Bg. 3.27]

The rascals, they do not know how prakrti, nature is working, and we are completely under the control of material nature. So after death we have to accept one body. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptih, dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. One has to accept. Just like we have given up our childhood body and we accepted another body, boyhood body or youth-hood body or old aged body. Similarly, after giving up this body, old aged body, I have to accept another body. That will be created by nature according to your karma. So that is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Then you begin another chapter. Even you become a demigod or a dog or a cockroach or human being, from the date of your birth you begin another chapter. Again duhkhalayam, to grow up, to change body, to adjust things according to the atmosphere.

So this is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. If we want to save this botheration, then hear what Krsna says. Then your life will be successful. If you don't accept Krsna's works, which are very plainly explained in the Bhagavad-gita, then you have to remain in this mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. It is very plain truth. There is no doubt about it, that... You may be very proud of your strong body, your social condition or political condition, but after death it is not under your control. It is under the control of the material nature. So don't be falsely proud, bewildered. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. Don't be foolish person by false egotism that "I am free, I can do whatever I like." Then you'll suffer and remain in the path of repetition of birth and death. And there are 8,400,000 species of life. We have to go through this process, we fall down. So this human form of life is obtained, bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19], after many many births, evolutional process we have got it. Now it is the time to understand our position. What is that position? The position is that we are eternal part and parcel of God.

mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah sasthanindriyani
prakrti-sthani karsati
 [Bg. 15.7]

"These living entities," Krsna says, "They are My part and parcels. But foolish rascals, they're creating concoction, mental speculation, to become happy." Manah sasthanindriyani. And according to their mentality they are getting a different type of body, indriyani. Indriyani, the... As I was explaining in one morning, the pig has got also tongue, that is indriya, sense, and I have got also tongue, but his tongue will like to eat stool. We won't like. Because the different body, the tongue is also tasteful in different way. So indriyani. Manah sasthanindriyani. First of all with subtle mind we create a different type of indriya. If we live like dogs and hogs, then that mentality will give me similar senses, the body of a dog and hog. And we change our taste according to dog and hog. Similarly, we can change our taste according to the body of demigods. But the subject matter of tasting or enjoyment is the same. Eating, sleeping, sex and defense. That will continue. But the quality of eating may be different. Not the quality, but the form may be different.

So in this way things are going on. They are described in this Bhagavad-gita very widely and expressively. So every human being is expected to receive this knowledge directly from Krsna. Don't interpret wrong way according to your whims. Take it as it is and be benefited. If you don't take it, asraddadhanah purusah [Bg. 9.3]. Those who have no interest to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, the result is mam aprapya. Aprapya mam. He never approaches God. He remains in this material world of repetition of birth and death. That is not a very good job.

So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten people so that they can accept these principles of Bhagavad-gita. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is para-upakara. And He advises everyone, especially Indians, to become guru. He said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Every one of you, you become a guru, and try to deliver the persons where you are living. So how can I become guru? Yes, it is very easy. What is that? Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It's not very difficult.

Krsna says man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], four things only. And mam evaisyasi asamsayah [Bg. 18.65]. "By doing these four things, without any doubt, you come back to Me." And what are those four things? Man-mana bhava. "Always think of Me." That is very difficult job? You are seeing... [break] So man-manah. And then you become bhakta. Unless you are bhakta, you cannot continue to think of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad, mad-yaji. "Worship Me." So here is Krsna, accepting everyone's worship. And what is the means of worship? Very simple. If you can offer very valuable things, that is all right. But if you think that you are poor man, you cannot supply any valuable things, Krsna says, "Never mind." Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. "Simply little flower, little fruit, if you offer Me with devotion, I accept." So there is no difficulty.

Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. These four things. Very, very easy to do it. It is universal. There is no restriction. It is not that "I am not a brahmana, I am not an Indian, I am not a Sanskrit scholar, I cannot go to the temple." No, that is not. Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Never mind whether he is Indian, brahmana or this or that. Even if he's born in the lowest, lowest grade of family, papa-yoni. They are kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah [SB 2.4.18], there are so many. They're papa-yoni, almost animal. Sudhyanti, they also become purified and comes to Krsna. It is so wide, universal, easy and especially you are Indian, why you should not take advantage of this facility. You take it and be happy. That is my request. Thank you very much.
 
Guest: Swamiji, is there some way (indistinct) duty of the student to the knowledge (indistinct) guru shortcoming?

Prabhupada: First of all, you have to know who is guru. If you accept one rascal as guru, how you can be helped? First thing is who is guru. That I have already explained. Guru is he who repeats the words of Krsna. He is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal. This is the test. Krsna says that

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
 [Bg. 4.34]

So tattva-darsi, one who has seen the truth, you have to accept him as guru. Tattva-darsi. Darsi means who has practical experience. Take, for example, just like Arjuna. Arjuna is directly receiving the knowledge from Krsna. He's guru. What he said, we accept that. But if you accept somebody who wants to kill Krsna and become himself Krsna, he's a rascal. He's not guru. Because his policy is to accept the place of Krsna, not to serve Him. That is maya. And Krsna has said very freely that

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

A person who is imbibed with asuric tendency... Asuric tendency means to refute the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All the asuras... Just like Ravana. Ravana is described as raksasa, asura. What was his fault? His fault was that he did not care for Rama. "What is this Rama? Kidnap his wife, bring him(her), I shall enjoy." This is raksasa. So he could not enjoy Sita, but the result was, with his whole family, state, and himself, everything, he was ruined. This is asura. So those who are asuram bhavam asritah, followers of Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, they do not surrender to Krsna.

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

So our simple method is to see whether somebody is speaking about Krsna or what Krsna has said. If he does not do so, then immediately accept him asuram bhavam asritah, a raksasa. How you can accept him as guru? A raksasa? That is your mistake. How can you accept a person as guru who has imbibed with raksasa. So then what is their position? Duskrtinah. Very sinful. Mudhah, rascal, ass. Naradhamah, lowest of the mankind. "No, he's so educated." Mayayapahrta-jnanah. His so-called education has no value because maya has taken away the essence of... Because education means... Veda means knowledge. So the Vedas are there for education. So vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. Ultimately Vedanta, Vedanta means the ultimate knowledge. The end of knowledge. The end of knowledge is to know Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. So after studying Vedas, if he does not understand Krsna, then it is to be understood, mayayapahrta-jnanah, his knowledge has been taken away by maya. So simple thing is that Krsna is the original guru. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. There is no more better guru than Krsna. So anyone who repeats the words of Krsna, teach others, he is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal.

Guest: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: Why do you ask this question? That means you have no faith.

Guest: I have faith, I don't (indistinct) knowledge.

Prabhupada: You read this, then you'll get the knowledge.

Guest: I would like to know about what time

Prabhupada: Time it may be. Any time, but the knowledge is eternal. Just like Krsna spoke five thousand years ago to Arjuna and some forty millions of years ago to the sun-god. Time is different. Once He spoke forty millions of... Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. Find out this verse:

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. These things are there that Krsna said to Arjuna that "This philosophy, yoga, the yoga system, bhakti-yoga, I spoke to Vivasvan, the sun-god." So if you take, take calculation... Because it is said there: vivasvan manave praha, if you take calculation of Manu, then you can calculate the age of Manu. Seventy-two cycle of four ages. Four ages means, one age means forty-three lakhs of years, multiply it by seventy-two. That becomes the duration of life of one Manu. So it is said that the sun-god said to Manu. So this is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So you can understand when it was spoken. So we have calculated, it is about forty millions of years ago he spoke this... And Krsna says sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah [Bg. 4.3]. Read that?

Hari-sauri:

sa evayam maya te 'dya
yogah proktah puratanah
bhakto 'si me sakha ceti
rahasyam hy etad uttamam
 [Bg. 4.3]

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna said "The same system I am speaking to you. Puratanah. Because you are My bhakta." So either you hear it forty millions of years ago or five thousand years ago or today from us, the subject matter is the same. Why do you make difference of the time? There is no difference of time. The subject, the puratanah, everything is the same old. Even it is spoken in different time, the subject matter remains the same. There is no change. Just like millions and millions of years ago there was sun. And what is the sun? Heat and light. And today also there is the sun. What is the sun. Heat and light. So there is no difference. There is no consideration of age. The subject matter is the same.

Guest: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: Yes, eternally means that this creation, the material creation, it takes place at a certain date and it continues for certain millions and trillions of years, and again it becomes annihilated, dissolved. There is no creation for... Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. And again millions of years passes, and again there is creation. So one who does not take advantage of this creation, manifestation, especially in the human form of life, as I was discussing, mrtyu-samsara-vartmani, then he remains in the path of birth and death in this creation, and because he does not deliver himself, then next creation and next creation. So unless he takes to it, it is eternally going on. If he does not take advantage of this opportunity, then he remains in the cycle of birth and, mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. And the mrtyu-samsara-vartmani continues in this creation, next creation and before that it is going on.

Devotee: Another question?

Prabhupada: That's all right. Thank you very much.
 
Devotees: Jaya! Jaya Prabhupada! (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 9.3 -- Toronto, June 20, 1976
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