Don't Live the Life of a Hog
Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.1-2
Bombay, March 25, 1977
download flash player
Take a testBombay, March 25, 1977
download flash player
Bhavananda:
rsabha uvaca
nayam deho deha-bhajam nr-loke
kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye
tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam
suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam
[SB 5.5.1]
"Lord Rsabhadeva told His sons: My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever."
Prabhupada: Next verse.
Bhavananda:
mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes
tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam
mahantas te sama-cittah prasanta
vimanyavah suhrdah sadhavo ye
[SB 5.5.2]
"One can attain the path of liberation from material bondage only by rendering service to highly advanced spiritual personalities. These personalities are impersonalists and devotees. Whether one wants to merge into the Lord's existence or wants to associate with the Personality of Godhead, one should render service to the mahatmas. For those who are not interested in such activities, who associate with people fond of women and sex, the path to hell is wide open. The mahatmas are equipoised. They do not see any difference between one living entity and another. They are very peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional service. They are devoid of anger, and they work for the benefit of everyone. They do not behave in any abominable way. Such people are known as mahatmas."
Prabhupada: So Mr. Jyesthish(?) Gandhi, ladies and gentlemen, the instruction of Rsabhadeva is very important. Rsabhadeva was the father of Maharaja Bharata, under whose name this planet is called Bharatavarsa. So before retirement, Rsabhadeva instructed His one hundred sons about the aim of life. So this is Vedic civilization. So He says, "My dear boys, don't spoil your life by living like hogs." This very word has been used. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nr-loke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. Vid-bhujam. Vid-bhujam means there are hogs who are very much enthusiastic to eat stool. So why this particular animal has been named? Because we can find especially in Indian villages, the hogs, day and night, they are working very hard to find out where there is stool. And as soon as he eats stool, the hog very easily become fatty and strong. Therefore a class of men, they like to eat the flesh of hog because it becomes easily fatty. And the hog's business is, as soon as he gets little strength, then next business is sex, without any discrimination. The hog has no discrimination who is sister, who is mother, who is daughter. So therefore this particular animal has been named, and Rsabhadeva warns His sons that "Don't live the life of hogs. Live like human being."
That is wanted. And for that purpose you require to execute tapasya. Tapasa brahmacaryena samena damena va [SB 6.1.13]. These are the injunction of the sastras. Human life is meant for tapasya, not to imitate the hogs and dogs. This is not human life. This is Vedic culture. The Krsna consciousness movement is tryng to give this Vedic culture all over the world, but they are after hogs and dogs. What can be done? This is very difficult job. But still we have to do, because we have placed ourself to become servant of Krsna. Never mind we have to face so many dangerous positions; still we have to do this thankless task. "My dear brothers, do not be hogs and dogs. Be a saintly person." This is our mission. That is India's culture. Bhagavad-gita, the same thing said: manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhi. Siddhi means perfection. Nobody is interested how to make this life perfect. Everyone is being carried away by the waves of material nature. This is not life. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a Bengali Vaisnava poet, he has written one song, kena mayara vase yaccha bhese kaccha habu dubu bhai. Jiva krsnadasa ei visvasa korleto ar duhkha nai. Mayara vase. There is the laws of nature. We are under the grip of laws of nature. You cannot violate. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. If you have touched fire, it doesn't matter whether you are elderly person or a child, innocent or knowingly or unknowingly, the fire must burn. There is no excuse. Similarly, we are contaminating different types of modes of nature. There are three modes of material nature -- sattva-guna, raja-guna and tamo-guna. Now mix it up, three into three equal to nine, nine into nine it becomes eighty-one. Again eighty-one... It increases. Those who are expert in mixing color, they know how to make different colors by mixing the original three colors: blue, yellow and red. Similarly, we are in this material world under the clutches of the modes of material nature, and according to different circumstances we are mixing with different modes of nature. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-yoni-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Because we are mixing with different types of material nature, next life we are preparing. Tatha dehantara praptir. We have to accept another body. Karanam guna-sango 'sya. This is our position. Don't be very happy that "Today I am such and such big person. It will continue." No, sir, it will not continue. Tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. You have to change your body.
So we have to understand this responsibility of life. That is human life -- not to enjoy senses by imitating the hogs and dogs. This is not human civilization. We have to learn from the sastras how our life is being transformed from one form to another, and there are 8,400,000 different species of life. Once this human form of life missed and if you are put into these waves of birth and death, then the opportunity finished. We must always be alert that we have got this responsibility. The Rsabhadeva says that tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattva [SB 5.5.1]. Sattva means existence. Your existence is eternal. That is the first information in the Bhagavad-gita. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Na jayate na mriyate va. This is the first instruction. There are so many commentator or instructor of Bhagavad-gita, but they are missing the first instruction. They are not interested that "What is going to happen my next life?" They are not interested. Nobody takes care. They have concluded they have no life after death. This body is finished, everything is finished. Most irresponsible life. This is not to be carried on. Rsabhadeva says that "My dear sons, don't live this irresponsible life like animals, hogs and dogs, but take the responsibility of human life. Undergo austerities, penances, as they ae recommended in the sastras and make your life..." It is individual. If this movement cannot be taken massively, every individual can practice it. That is Indian culture. Every Indian was educated how to become a brahmana, for coming to this platform of austerity. And following the examples of brahmana, the ksatriya and the vaisyas and the sudras, they also benefited.
So this is a very elaborate scientific subject matter, and we are trying to present all over the world. Why not our Indian brothers take it very seriously? Why we should be carried away by the waves of material nature? This is not very good idea. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattva [SB 5.5.1]. Sattva, my existence. At the present moment... Just like I am coughing. So because I am, for the present moment, I am diseased. So this is the symptom of coughing. Similarly, why I am dying? This should be the question. Ke ami kena more japatiya traya. I hear from Bhagavad-gita that I am eternal: na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Na jayate na mriyate va. Then why I am dying? This is intelligence. Why I am dying? This "why." Kena Upanisad. But this is not being educated. We are carried away by the temporary problems and missing the chance of human life. This is not very good, and Rsabhadeva especially instructs that mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes. If you actually want liberation from these clutches of maya, vimukti, vimukti... Vimukti means liberation. What is liberation? Muktir hitva anyatha rupam svarupena avasthitih. We are living in a different way. This is not mukti. This is conditioned. I am living as Indian condition, I am living as European condition. This is not mukti. You must live in your original form. That is called mukti. Muktir hitva anyatha rupam. Now we are living anyatha rupam. Somebody is living as Indian, somebody is living as European, somebody as cat, somebody as dog, somebody... This is anyatha rupam. You must realize yourself,
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
[Bg. 18.54]
So Dr. Jyestish(?) gave stress on bhakti. That is very good idea. So simply by becoming bhakta... Kevalaya... Kecid kevalaya bhaktya vasudeva-parayanah. Kevalaya bhakta. Simply if you take to the process of bhakti... That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita also. Bhaktya mam abhijananti. If you want to know God, if you want to know the relationship with God, if you know what is your business after understanding God, then bhakti. Krsna says. Krsna, no... Although there are different ways of self-realization -- karma, jnana, yoga, bhakti, these are the principles. But Krsna recommends that "If you want to know Me actually, then bhaktya." Krsna teaches Arjuna Bhagavad-gita because Arjuna was a devotee. Bhakto 'si me priyo 'si: [Bg. 4.3] "Because you are My dear friend and bhakta, therefore I am teaching you."
So bhakti-marga is not very difficult. Very easy. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Any child can do it. Any child, if he sees the form of Lord Krsna in the temple, he remembers, and he continues to think of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. And if you think of Krsna always, automatically you become devotee. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. And then mad-yaji, little offering. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Where is the difficulty? Little flower, little fruit, little water. Krsna is not poor person, (that) He wants something from you. But yo me bhaktya prayacchati. He wants to revive your original Krsna consciousness. Therefore He comes. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7]. So in India we have got this opportunity. Why should we miss this opportunity? It is a suicidal policy. Don't do it. Take to it very seriously.
Thank you very much.
Devotee: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada!
Tamala-krsna: If anyone has any questions, this is the time. The process of receiving knowledge is to place inquiry at the perfect person, the spiritual master. So if any of you have any questions, there will be a microphone up front, and you can come up and place your questions to Srila Prabhupada. (no one responds)
Prabhupada: All right. Don't try to agitate them. Chant Hare Krsna. Oh, they are coming?
Guest (1): If God is everywhere, why His presence not felt by everybody?
Prabhupada: Everybody is not intelligent. Mostly they are rascals.
manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascid vetti mam tattvatah
[Bg. 7.3]
This is the statement by God, that "Out of millions and millions of persons, one tries to become perfect. And out of many millions of perfect persons, one may understand God." So God understanding is not so easy, but if we want to understand, God will help us. That is the point.
Guest (1): Thank you.
Guest (2): I want to ask two separate questions. One question is number one. What is the meaning of the giving up of the fruition of action?
Prabhupada: Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana. This is the... Action and reaction, there are two things. But under both headings, action and reaction means you become bound up. Yajnarthe karma anyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanam. This is the statement, that if you work if you work for yajna... Yajna means Visnu. Then it is all right. Otherwise you become under the laws of karma, good or bad. You have to suffer or enjoy. There is no question of enjoyment; there is suffering. Therefore one should be taught not to accept the result of karma, but do it for Krsna, yajnarthe. Then you are free.
Guest (2): When the fruit comes, should we give it up?
Prabhupada: No. The fruit you can take as prasadam. Prasade sarve-duhkhanam hanir asyopajayate. When you take as prasadam, then you are not bound up. But if you enjoy it as your fruitive result, then you have to suffer or enjoy. That is not good.
Guest (2): We have that difficult with us.
Prabhupada: No difficulty.
Guest (2): Because when the fruit comes, we cannot distinguish whether it is ripened one or the wrong one. How to distinguish?
Prabhupada: Yes. So it is said clearly, yajnarthe. You work for yajna. Krsnarthe. Yajna, another name of Krsna or Visnu. Then it is all right. Otherwise you will have to suffer.
Guest (2): My next question is...
Prabhupada: First of all, you understand this question, that you have to work for Yajna. Then you are free. Otherwise you will be entangled.
Guest (2): My next question is, I don't think God is opposed to sex. Seriously. I have heard many a lecture, and it is always stressed that as if the God is opposed to sex. But I don't think that's so. And from Gita, Krsna Himself says...
Prabhupada: God is never opposed to sex. Who said? God said, dharmaviruddhah kamo 'smi: "Sex which is not against the regulative principle of religious life, that I am." God never says that "Stop sex." Otherwise, why there is grhastha asrama? Asrama means that there is Krsna consciousness. As soon as we say, "Here is an asrama," we understand that there is consciousness of Krsna. So brahmacari asrama, grhastha asrama, vanaprastha asrama, sannyasa asrama, make it asrama and follow the rules and regulations of asrama. Then it is all right. Otherwise you are bound up by the laws of nature.
Guest (2): As we heard in the beginning, one of the principal statements that a man goes on the motor train, stands there for two hours, reaches his place of business, and work there from nine o'clock in the morning to five o'clock in the evening, returns back, has his food and sex and all that. I found many a people who have worked very hard, raised children very nicely, have sex, but lead a good life. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
Prabhupada: Yes, if there is no
wrong, it is all right. But this sort of life is not very
palatable.
Guest (2): Because I find even the dogs...
Prabhupada: If you like that life, it is very good. That is up to you. But I don't think this is a very nice way of life, to work so hard simply for bread.
Guest (2): No, I agree there.
Prabhupada: Then agreed, agreed. Then why disagree? (laughter) That's all right, no more.
Tamala-krsna: Another question, Prabhupada, a different man.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guest (3): Karma is the cause of also the cycle of death and birth. So virtuous karma of action, liberation of man are inclined to the supreme (?). If it is so, that is called mukta. If it is so, what is the first cause that should denial(?) me from the supreme or the action?
Prabhupada: Karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. We have already mentioned. Karanam, the first cause. Guna-sango 'sya. As soon as you want to associate with the modes of material nature, then you are bound up, immediately, by the modes of material nature. Then your work begins. Karanam guna-sango 'sya. That is natural. Actually, every living entity is constitutionally the servant of Krsna, but when he wants to enjoy without Krsna, without becoming servant of Krsna, he wants to enjoy independently this material nature, then he has to associate with the modes of material nature and he becomes bound up. Yajnarthe karma anyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. So you have to know or study all these understanding. Then you will understand what is what. That's all.
Guest (3): No, when we are with the Krsna...
Prabhupada: Huh, what is that?
Guest (3): ...then we are in supreme bliss.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Guest (3): When we are with Krsna, we are enjoying the supreme bliss there. As soon as we come to this material world we are in a miserable condition.
Prabhupada: Well this is natural.
Guest (3): Why did we left Sri Krsna and came to this world? What was the cause? There was no action at all.
Prabhupada: There is cause: karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. There is master and servant. The servant sometimes desires, "Why not become a master?" That is natural. So...
Guest (3): No. When I was with Krsna, I was, matter was (indistinct) that my master is served.
Prabhupada: You are master? You are kicked by the material nature and you are master? Why you are so falsely proud? You are not master.
Guest (3): But you said that the moksa is I am, once...
Prabhupada: Moksa means that when you are eternal servant of Krsna. Whe
n you desire to become master of the
world, then you become bound up. And when you give up this artificial desire,
that is moksa.
Guest (3): Thank you.
Guest (4): Would you agree that God is just a concept? If you do not, please give a logical reason for that.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Guest (4): Would you agree that God is just a concept? If you do not agree to that, please explain it logically.
Prabhupada: Why shall I agree, God is only concept?
Guest (4): Because I want it
logically.
Prabhupada: You do not know logic. You have to learn logic.
Guest (4): But I still would like you to explain it logically.
Prabhupada: Yes, but you have to learn how to know it. There is master. There is master. Just like you cannot prove logically that without father there is a child. This is no logic.
Guest (4): Not without logic.
Prabhupada: This is no logic. There cannot be any child without father. Therefore if anyone thinks that without father there can be child, he is animal. He has no logic.
Guest (4): But still the question is unanswered. Would you agree that God is just a concept?
Prabhupada: No, no. There must be father. Just like you see everything is growing out of this earth. Sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah [Bg. 14.4]. So there is mother, there is child. Where is the father? This is logic. Unless you come to this point, that there is mother, there is child, there must be father, then there is no logic. Without father there cannot be child. Simply mother cannot give birth to a child. This is logic.
Guest (4): Thank you.
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Now chant Hare Krsna. (end)
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
No comments:
Post a Comment