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Prabhupada: Svado 'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate. It is commented by Srila Jiva Gosvami that a, a person born in the brahmana family waits for being initiated as twice-born. To take birth in the family of a brahmana is not sufficient qualification. He has to study the Vedas; he has to be initiated with thread ceremony; so many ritualistic performances. Dasa-vidha-samskara. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. So the distinction is being made by Jiva Gosvami that a brahmana, son of a brahmana, awaits so many ritualistic ceremonies before he is competent to perform yajna. Not that because he's born of a brahmana father, therefore he becomes eligible to perform yajna. He requires primarily so much purificatory methods. But a Vaisnava, one who has taken to devotional service, for him, it is said, sadyah savanaya kalpate. As soon as he becomes a devotee, he becomes eligible to perform yajna. Savanaya kalpate. That means preference is given to the devotee (more) than to the son of a brahmana. A devotee, although born in the family of dog-eaters, the lowest of the mankind, but if he's Vaisnava, initiated, diksa-vidhanena, then he becomes eligible to perform sacrifice. That is officially accepted, that a Vaisnava, even born of dog-eaters' family... Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-
One may question how he becomes purified. He's born in a family of dog-eaters. How he becomes purified? It requires... According to Smarta consideration, he requires next birth. There are two processes of Vedic understanding, Smarta-vicara and Gosvami-vicara. According to Smarta-vicara, unless a person born in a low-grade family takes another birth, he cannot be eligible to become a brahmana. But according to Gosvami-vicara, if he's properly initiated by a bona fide Vaisnava, then he becomes more than a brahmana. Svadyo 'pi sadyah. Immediately he becomes eligible to perform sacrifices. so the problem is that at the present moment we are not taking care... I mean that our Indian brahmanas, those who are spiritual leaders, they are not actually taking care of the fallen souls. But in the Bhagavad-gita it is sanctioned, it is said clearly: mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Any person born of low-grade family, papa-yoni, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim... So it is the duty of the elevated person, brahmanas and Vaisnavas, to take charge of this business. Krsna says, ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Never mind one is born in low-grade family, but he can go back to home, back to Godhead. Te 'pi yanti param gatim. So who will take the initiative to elevate these persons? Unless one who is expert does take interest for elevating these fallen souls, then how they will be elevated? This is problem. But we are not careful about these affairs. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore indicated that,
bharata-bhumite manusya janma haila yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara paropakara
[Cc. Adi 9.41]
This is paropakara. Those who are born in low-grade family... The most regrettable fact is that in India the brahmanas and Vaisnavas, they did not take care of the fallen souls. Once one becomes, somehow or other, a Muhammadan, he has no more chance to come back to the Hindu society. This policy was being followed. And therefore the result is that these fallen souls, whom we call fallen souls, the Muhammadans, they partitioned. Now we are crying. Not only that. I think, from historical point of view, this whole planet was India, Bharata-varsa. This planet was called Bharata-varsa -- not this portion of land. But because gradually the Vedic culture became diminished, they separated from this Vedic culture, as we have got actual experience, and within twenty years the Pakistan is taken away from India.
So if follow that policy that one who is born in India as brahmana, except him, nobody can become brahmana, then this Vedic civilization will be, in due course of time, lost. We should be very careful. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is spreading Vedic culture outside India. And they are welcoming it, those who are intelligent, they are welcoming it. They are accepting it. We should encourage them. Instead of discouraging this movement, we should encourage, so that the whole world can be united on the platform of this Krsna consciousness movement. If we simply hate low-grade families, low-grade men, that will not solve the problem. Just like when there was political movement in India, the Britishers, they presented so many problems. Just like the untouchables, the Muhammadans, and so many things. The Britishers they put forward these problems (because) they were not willing to separate the British rule. Only some high class, higher section of the Hindus, they are trying to separate the British rule. At that time, Gandhi stamped the camaras (?) and the bhangis as harijana. But means as soon as there was the word "harijana," immediately a person would be considered coming from the camaras and the bhangis. But such exalted title, harijana, is offered to personalities like Narada, Brahma, those who are actually associates with Hari. But according to sastra, there is no objection to accept these camaras and the bhangis or any low-grade family to make him harijana, provided he accepts the lotus feet of Krsna in a regular way, by the Vaisnava vidhana. Just (as) recommended by the Gosvamis, Sanatana Gosvami: tatha diksa-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrnam. Diksa-vidhanena, by the proper initiative process, one can become dvija, twice-born. Nrnam. Tatha, yatha kan...,
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanena
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
This is the injunction of Sanatana Gosvami. Just like by chemical manipulation, by mercury, with kamsya, bell metal... This is the suggestion given by Sanatana Gosvami, that, as bell metal can be transformed into gold by mixing with mercury, similarly -- it is a question of manipulating -- similarly, by expert manipulation, even a, any man, not low or high, it doesn't matter, any man can be transformed into a brahmana, dvija, twice-born.
So this is recommended not only by Sanatana Gosvami... By Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita and Sukadeva Gosvami in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sudhyanti prabha visnave namah. He recommends that one, when one becomes a Vaisnava by the supreme power of Visnu, prabha visnave namah... He has got so much power that He can turn a low-grade man into a great Vaisnava. Just like Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura, he was born in Muhammadan family, and he was made Namacarya Haridasa Thakura by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Namacarya, "the acarya." Caitanya Mahaprabhu actually appeared for glorifying the holy name of the Lord. Harer nama harer nama harer nama iva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam [SB 11.5.32], always chanting Hare Krsna. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu especially incarnated, advented Himself for spreading this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and Haridasa Thakura, who was born in a Muhammadan family, he, he was made the Namacarya, the authority of spreading this holy name. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami, they become Muhammadans. At least, formerly. His name was also changed: Sakara Mallika, Dabira Khasa. And they were made the prime ministers of spreading this sankirtana movement, the Caitanya cult, Sanatana. We are sitting here (in) Rupa Gosvami's place. So officially, they become Muhammadan, but by the grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they became Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami. Ei chay gosani tahra mui dasa. Narottama dasa Thakura says that "These six Gosvamis, anyone who accepts these six Gosvamis as authority, spiritual masters, I am his servant." Therefore we Gaudiya Vaisnava, we are known as Rupanuga Vaisnava, following the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
So this is the process. So by following the footsteps of Rupa Gosvami, the whole world become, can become purified. Svado 'pi sadyah sayanaya kalpate. Not only purified, but they are purified so much so that they can be allowed to perform yajnas. Because performing yajna was entrusted to high-class brahmana, who is very expert in mantra-tantra-visaradah, not ordinary brahmana. So a Vaisnava is recommended to take charge of performing sacrifices. Svado'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate. So this is the exalted position. Haridasa Thakura... Actually, this was exemplified by Gadadhara, yes, Advaita Prabhu. Advaita Prabhu happened to be at that time the president of the brahmana society, very learned scholar and Vaisnava; and He was entrusted to be the president of brahmana society in Santipura. So when He performed the ritualistic ceremony after the death of His father, funeral ceremony, He offered the first prasadam to Haridasa Thakura. So Haridasa Thakura was little shy, accepting, that "Advaita Prabhu, You have exalted me in so many ways, but You..." Because according to the smarta-vidhana, when one is performing the funeral ceremony of his father, the first portion would be offered to the best of the brahmanas. So it was offered to Haridasa Thakura. So Haridasa Thakura felt little shyness, that "Advaita Prabhu, You love me. That is all right. But You are doing all these things. You may be socially ostracized." So Advaita Prabhu said, "No. By feeding you, I am feeding one crores of best brahmanas. And let any brahmana come to Me. I shall convince him." That was His statement.
So this Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that we can accept anyone -- it doesn't matter wherefrom he's coming -- and make him a pure Vaisnava. And following the footsteps of Advaita Prabhu, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, these Vaisnavas from foreign countries, those who are actually purified by the process of initiation, they should be accepted. They should not be neglected. Unfortunately, there is some silent protest that I am ruining the Hindu religion because I am initiating the Europeans and Americans. Therefore I am ruining Hindu religion. There is a grudge against me. But you can just consider these points that I am going strictly according to the regulation given by the Gosvamis and the sastras. Sastra allows. Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Papa-yoni, it doesn't matter, if he takes regularly the shelter of Krsna, lotus feet of Krsna... And Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered that
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
He predicted. Practically we are trying to carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered that anyone who has taken birth as human being in Bharata-varsa, he should engage his life for paropakara. And he said also, prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama: "All over the town, all over the world, as many towns and villages are there, My name will be established there." So we are trying to do that. So His name should be established does not mean that they should remain as yavanas or mlecchas, and simply they should simply know Lord Caitanya. No. Actually the fact is that everyone should be elevated to the position of Vaisnava, purified Vaisnava, as it is recommended in the Srimad-Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. They, they should be made into brahmanas by qualifying them as brahmana.
So the first condition is that anyone who comes to Krsna consciousness as a bona fide initiated member, he gives up all these abominable habits: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication. They have given up even smoking cigarette, even drinking tea, coffee. So they are all, after being qualified, they are accepted as Vaisnava and properly initiated. So they cannot be neglected as other than brahmanas. That is not very good proposition. They are, according to sastra, they are qualified. It may be due to some past habits, they may commit some mistake, unconsciously. Consciously, no Vaisnava commits any mistake, but maybe due to habit. That is also protected by Krsna. Api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Even there are some discrepancies, but if the only one qualification is there, that he's sticking to Krsna consciousness rigidly, he's sadhu. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. He's not to be neglected. So these Europeans, Americans devotees, according to the enunciation given by Rupa Gosvami, as it is supported by Lord Krsna Himself, as it is supported by Sukadeva Gosvami, as it is supported by Sanatana Gosvami, as it is ordered by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are regularly initiated Vaisnavas. They should not be neglected. That will be vaisnava-aparadha, offenses unto the Vaisnava. Out of all kinds of aparadhas, offenses, vaisnava-aparadha is the most dangerous. Most dangerous. So vaisnava-aparadha is not excused by Visnu. The instance is... What is called? Su... I forget his name. Ambarisa and...?
Devotee: Durvasa?
Prabhupada: Durvasa. Yes, Durvasa Muni. Durvasa Muni, because he offended to Ambarisa Maharaja, he was not excused even by Visnu. He had to fall down on the feet of Maharaja Ambarisa. Yes. Ambarisa upakhyana. So vaisnava-aparadha is the greatest offense. Even a great sage like Durvasa was not excused. He was so great, Durvasa, that he could go personally to all the lokas, Brahma-loka, Siva-loka, Visnuloka. Personally he could go, by his yogic power. Just imagine how much he was powerful. He saw face to face Lord Visnu and requested Him to give him protection from the sudarsana-cakra, and Visnu refused: "So I cannot give you protection because you are offender to a Vaisnava. Only Ambarisa Maharaja can give you protection." Just see. He was so exalted yogi that he could see personally Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Visnu, but still, he was not excused on account of his offense to a Vaisnava. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned very severely: tara madhye vaisnava aparadha hati matta. Vaisnava-aparadha is the greatest offense. We should be very careful. In... According to our Vedic civilization, a Vaisnava, a saintly person, was never under the government laws. They, they were not under the govern... Why government laws? Even Yamaraja's law. That is also stated. Yamaraja also warned his servants not to approach Vaisnava. So Vaisnava's position is so great.
So this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for turning everyone to become a pure Vaisnava. Pure Vaisnava. That is the actual aim of human life. As we are discussing this morning, mumuksavah. The aim of human life is to get out of the clutches of maya, repetition of birth and death and transmigration from body to another. That is the real aim of life. That is real freedom. So if we neglect this opportunity, then we are called atma-ha. Atma-ha means committing suicide. Just like a person, knowingly, knowingly committing suicide, cutting his throat, similarly, a human being, getting so much opportunity, especially in India... We have got so many books of knowledge, especially the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra means Srimad-Bhagavata. Srimad-Bhagavatam is explicit narration of the Vedanta-sutra. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam **. So Indians especially should take advantage of this human form of life and spread this knowledge all over the world. Then the whole world will be peaceful and happy. That is our proposition. It is not a... I repeatedly say that this is not a religious cult, that we want to supersede another type of religion. That is not our business. Our aim is to make all people happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission. Everyone should be happy. But they are trying to be happy, but they do not know how to, how to become... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They are misguided. They cannot be happy without becoming Vaisnava. This is open declaration in the sastra. They cannot become happy. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya [SB 7.5.31]. If they are trying to become happy otherwise, that is durasaya, hopeless thing. It will never be fructified. It will never be successful. Na te viduh. They do not know. Therefore our business is to make them know that "This is the way of perfection. Take Krsna consciousness. Make your life perfect. Be happy, and go back to home, back to Godhead." This is our mission. They do not know.
So we are trying to convince them in so many ways. There is no need of so many ways. The one, simple method, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, will be sufficient to make them perfect. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. The problems, bhava-maha-davagni. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, maha-davagni, "great forest fire." Forest fire, we have no experience immediately, but in America, there is occasionally forest fire. They have got very good experience. There are many forests also. So the forest fire takes place automatically. Nobody goes to set fire. Similarly, in this material world the blazing fire is always there -- problems, different problems. Bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. This will be extinguished immediately. It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's saying. How? Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Simply by spreading this sankirtana movement, all the problems of the world will be immediately mitigated. So to make people Vaisnava, pure Vaisnava, and to spread the sankirtana movement, this is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we are trying our best. Actually, it was the duty of the Indians, but fortunately, the Americans have taken up instead of Indians. Therefore I have brought them. The Indians... You are forgetting your duty. The foreigners are doing your duty. So you should welcome them, instead of driving them away by so many pleas. This is not very good. Yes. Go on.
Pradyumna: "It is stated in the Padma-Purana that there are four kinds of effects to sinful activities, which are listed as follows: (1) the effect which is not yet fructified, (2) the effect which is lying as seed, (3) the effect which is already mature, and (4) the effect which is almost mature. It is also stated that all these four effects..."
Prabhupada: Kuta-stha-bija, prarabdha... Like that. This is, these are the... Our effects. Just like we can understand in the modern... Just like if you infect some disease, it becomes immediately kuta-stha. Kuta-stha means stocked. In due course of time, it will come out, manifest. Similarly, we are acting so many sinful activities. Sometimes they complain that "This man is committing so many sinful activities, but he's happy." But actually he's enjoying the effects of his past something pious. Now he's happy, but that effect of the impious activities, that is in stock. It will come out in due course of time. That is called kuta-stha. Kuta-stha phalonmukha, prarabdha. These are the Sanskrit language. That is being explained here. Go on.
Pradyumna: "It is also stated that all these four effects become immediately vanquished for those who surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, and become engaged in His devotional service in full Krsna consciousness."
Prabhupada: Yes. This, these four kinds of stages of sinful activities, in stock, almost fructified, manifest, all the stages of sinful activities can be immediately nullified. Because it is assured by Krsna, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. It is not imagination. If we believe in the words of Krsna, then there is no question of denying this fact. Krsna personally says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksa... Sarva-papebhyo [Bg. 18.66]. The kuta-stha, phalonmukha, prarabdha, everything, it become immediately nullified, simply by this process, by surrendering: "Krsna, I, I was mistaken. I got..., forgot your mastership; You are my eternal Lord. So I was bewildered. I was wandering. Now I have come to my senses. I surrender unto You sincerely. You accept me." This very thing will give you immediately protection from all sinful activities. Krsna says,
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami...
[Bg. 18.66]
So where is the difficulty? Let us surrender to Krsna and execute His will, whatever He... Surrender means I must be prepared to execute the will of Krsna; not my whims, but Krsna's will. The Krsna's will is that you become Krsna's devotee. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Where is the difficulty? You surrender unto Him, and He assures, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Immediately he becomes relieved from the effects of illusory energy. So there is no difficulty, not at all difficulty. Let us immediately become surrendered to Krsna's lotus feet. Think of Him always. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, to become His devotee, always think of Him. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. "Always worship Me. Always offer obeisances." These are the four principles. Anyone can do it. There is no restriction for any caste, creed, nation. Everyone. It is open to the human being. So if we actually want to be happy, we must take to Krsna consciousness. There is no alternative. That is our point. Yes? Go on.
Pradyumna: "Those effects described as 'almost mature' refer to the distress from which one is suffering at present, and the effects 'lying as seed' means that in the core of the heart there is a certain stock of sinful desires which are like seeds. The Sanskrit word kutam means that they are almost ready to produce the seed, or the effect of the seed. And 'immature effect' refers to the case where the seedling has not begun. From this statement of Padma-Purana it is understood that material contamination is very subtle. Its beginning, its fruition and results, and how one suffers such results in the form of distress, are part of a great chain. When one catches some disease, it is very..., it is often very difficult to ascertain the cause of the disease, where it originated and how it is maturing. The suffering of a disease, however, does not appear all of a sudden. It actually takes time. And, as in the medical field, for precaution's sake, the doctor injects a vaccination to prevent the growing of contamination, similarly, the practical injection to stop all the fructifications of the seeds of our sinful activities is simply engagement in Krsna consciousness."
Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness. This is the best injection. Take this injection and become free from all sinful reactions. Go on.
Pradyumna: "In this connection, Sukadeva Gosvami speaks in the Sixth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Chapter, 17th verse, about the story of Ajamila, who began life as a fine and dutiful brahmana but in his young manhood became wholly corrupted by a prostitute. At the end of his wicked life, just by calling the name of Narayana (or Krsna), he was saved, despite so much sin. Sukadeva points out that austerity..."
Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. That is stated the Bhagavad-gita. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya. A little Krsna consciousness can save you from the greatest danger. The example is this Ajamila. Ajamila, he was the greatest sinful man. Similarly, Jagai-Madhai. So Krsna consciousness is so nice that from the life of Ajamila we understand, simply by uttering the name of Narayana at the time of his death, he became eligible to be promoted to the Vaikunthaloka. Go on.
Pradyumna: "Sukadeva points out that austerity, charity and the performance of ritualistic ceremonies for counteracting sinful activities are recommended processes, but that by performing them one cannot remove the sin desire-seed from the heart, as was the case with Ajamila in his youth. This sinful desire-seed can be accomplished very easily by chanting the maha-mantra, or Hare Krsna mantra, as recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In other words, unless one adopts the path of devotional service, he cannot be one hundred percent clean from all the reactions of sinful activities."
Prabhupada: So we shall discuss more tomorrow. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)
Pradyumna: (reading:) "...for anyone who is actually
engaged in devotional service in full Krsna consciousness, how is it possible
that he has not become purified? It is not possible. One who is engaged in Krsna
consciousness and devotional service has without doubt become freed from all
contaminations of material sinful activities. Devotional service therefore has
the power to actually nullify all kinds of reactions to sinful deeds. A devotee
is nevertheless always alert not to commit any sinful activities; this is his
specific qualification as a devotee. Thus the Srimad-Bhagavatam states that by
performing devotional service a person who was born even in a family of
dog-eaters may become eligible to take part in the performance of the
ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the Vedas. It is implicit in this
statement that a person born into a family of dog-eaters is generally not fit
for performing yajna, or sacrifice. The priestly caste in charge of performing
these ritualistic sacrifices, ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the Vedas,
is called the brahmana order. Unless one is a brahmana, he cannot perform these
ceremonies. A person is born in a brahmana family or in a family of dog-eaters
due to his past activities. If a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, it
means that his past activities are all sinful. But even..., if even such a
person takes to the path of devotional service and begins to chant the holy
names of the Lord -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama,
Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- he is at once fit to perform the ritualistic
ceremonies. This means that his sinful reactions have immediately become
neutralized."
Prabhupada: Svado 'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate. It is commented by Srila Jiva Gosvami that a, a person born in the brahmana family waits for being initiated as twice-born. To take birth in the family of a brahmana is not sufficient qualification. He has to study the Vedas; he has to be initiated with thread ceremony; so many ritualistic performances. Dasa-vidha-samskara. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. So the distinction is being made by Jiva Gosvami that a brahmana, son of a brahmana, awaits so many ritualistic ceremonies before he is competent to perform yajna. Not that because he's born of a brahmana father, therefore he becomes eligible to perform yajna. He requires primarily so much purificatory methods. But a Vaisnava, one who has taken to devotional service, for him, it is said, sadyah savanaya kalpate. As soon as he becomes a devotee, he becomes eligible to perform yajna. Savanaya kalpate. That means preference is given to the devotee (more) than to the son of a brahmana. A devotee, although born in the family of dog-eaters, the lowest of the mankind, but if he's Vaisnava, initiated, diksa-vidhanena, then he becomes eligible to perform sacrifice. That is officially accepted, that a Vaisnava, even born of dog-eaters' family... Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-
One may question how he becomes purified. He's born in a family of dog-eaters. How he becomes purified? It requires... According to Smarta consideration, he requires next birth. There are two processes of Vedic understanding, Smarta-vicara and Gosvami-vicara. According to Smarta-vicara, unless a person born in a low-grade family takes another birth, he cannot be eligible to become a brahmana. But according to Gosvami-vicara, if he's properly initiated by a bona fide Vaisnava, then he becomes more than a brahmana. Svadyo 'pi sadyah. Immediately he becomes eligible to perform sacrifices. so the problem is that at the present moment we are not taking care... I mean that our Indian brahmanas, those who are spiritual leaders, they are not actually taking care of the fallen souls. But in the Bhagavad-gita it is sanctioned, it is said clearly: mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Any person born of low-grade family, papa-yoni, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim... So it is the duty of the elevated person, brahmanas and Vaisnavas, to take charge of this business. Krsna says, ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Never mind one is born in low-grade family, but he can go back to home, back to Godhead. Te 'pi yanti param gatim. So who will take the initiative to elevate these persons? Unless one who is expert does take interest for elevating these fallen souls, then how they will be elevated? This is problem. But we are not careful about these affairs. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore indicated that,
bharata-bhumite manusya janma haila yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara paropakara
[Cc. Adi 9.41]
This is paropakara. Those who are born in low-grade family... The most regrettable fact is that in India the brahmanas and Vaisnavas, they did not take care of the fallen souls. Once one becomes, somehow or other, a Muhammadan, he has no more chance to come back to the Hindu society. This policy was being followed. And therefore the result is that these fallen souls, whom we call fallen souls, the Muhammadans, they partitioned. Now we are crying. Not only that. I think, from historical point of view, this whole planet was India, Bharata-varsa. This planet was called Bharata-varsa -- not this portion of land. But because gradually the Vedic culture became diminished, they separated from this Vedic culture, as we have got actual experience, and within twenty years the Pakistan is taken away from India.
So if follow that policy that one who is born in India as brahmana, except him, nobody can become brahmana, then this Vedic civilization will be, in due course of time, lost. We should be very careful. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is spreading Vedic culture outside India. And they are welcoming it, those who are intelligent, they are welcoming it. They are accepting it. We should encourage them. Instead of discouraging this movement, we should encourage, so that the whole world can be united on the platform of this Krsna consciousness movement. If we simply hate low-grade families, low-grade men, that will not solve the problem. Just like when there was political movement in India, the Britishers, they presented so many problems. Just like the untouchables, the Muhammadans, and so many things. The Britishers they put forward these problems (because) they were not willing to separate the British rule. Only some high class, higher section of the Hindus, they are trying to separate the British rule. At that time, Gandhi stamped the camaras (?) and the bhangis as harijana. But means as soon as there was the word "harijana," immediately a person would be considered coming from the camaras and the bhangis. But such exalted title, harijana, is offered to personalities like Narada, Brahma, those who are actually associates with Hari. But according to sastra, there is no objection to accept these camaras and the bhangis or any low-grade family to make him harijana, provided he accepts the lotus feet of Krsna in a regular way, by the Vaisnava vidhana. Just (as) recommended by the Gosvamis, Sanatana Gosvami: tatha diksa-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrnam. Diksa-vidhanena, by the proper initiative process, one can become dvija, twice-born. Nrnam. Tatha, yatha kan...,
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanena
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
This is the injunction of Sanatana Gosvami. Just like by chemical manipulation, by mercury, with kamsya, bell metal... This is the suggestion given by Sanatana Gosvami, that, as bell metal can be transformed into gold by mixing with mercury, similarly -- it is a question of manipulating -- similarly, by expert manipulation, even a, any man, not low or high, it doesn't matter, any man can be transformed into a brahmana, dvija, twice-born.
So this is recommended not only by Sanatana Gosvami... By Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita and Sukadeva Gosvami in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sudhyanti prabha visnave namah. He recommends that one, when one becomes a Vaisnava by the supreme power of Visnu, prabha visnave namah... He has got so much power that He can turn a low-grade man into a great Vaisnava. Just like Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura, he was born in Muhammadan family, and he was made Namacarya Haridasa Thakura by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Namacarya, "the acarya." Caitanya Mahaprabhu actually appeared for glorifying the holy name of the Lord. Harer nama harer nama harer nama iva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam [SB 11.5.32], always chanting Hare Krsna. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu especially incarnated, advented Himself for spreading this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and Haridasa Thakura, who was born in a Muhammadan family, he, he was made the Namacarya, the authority of spreading this holy name. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami, they become Muhammadans. At least, formerly. His name was also changed: Sakara Mallika, Dabira Khasa. And they were made the prime ministers of spreading this sankirtana movement, the Caitanya cult, Sanatana. We are sitting here (in) Rupa Gosvami's place. So officially, they become Muhammadan, but by the grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they became Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami. Ei chay gosani tahra mui dasa. Narottama dasa Thakura says that "These six Gosvamis, anyone who accepts these six Gosvamis as authority, spiritual masters, I am his servant." Therefore we Gaudiya Vaisnava, we are known as Rupanuga Vaisnava, following the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
So this is the process. So by following the footsteps of Rupa Gosvami, the whole world become, can become purified. Svado 'pi sadyah sayanaya kalpate. Not only purified, but they are purified so much so that they can be allowed to perform yajnas. Because performing yajna was entrusted to high-class brahmana, who is very expert in mantra-tantra-visaradah, not ordinary brahmana. So a Vaisnava is recommended to take charge of performing sacrifices. Svado'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate. So this is the exalted position. Haridasa Thakura... Actually, this was exemplified by Gadadhara, yes, Advaita Prabhu. Advaita Prabhu happened to be at that time the president of the brahmana society, very learned scholar and Vaisnava; and He was entrusted to be the president of brahmana society in Santipura. So when He performed the ritualistic ceremony after the death of His father, funeral ceremony, He offered the first prasadam to Haridasa Thakura. So Haridasa Thakura was little shy, accepting, that "Advaita Prabhu, You have exalted me in so many ways, but You..." Because according to the smarta-vidhana, when one is performing the funeral ceremony of his father, the first portion would be offered to the best of the brahmanas. So it was offered to Haridasa Thakura. So Haridasa Thakura felt little shyness, that "Advaita Prabhu, You love me. That is all right. But You are doing all these things. You may be socially ostracized." So Advaita Prabhu said, "No. By feeding you, I am feeding one crores of best brahmanas. And let any brahmana come to Me. I shall convince him." That was His statement.
So this Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that we can accept anyone -- it doesn't matter wherefrom he's coming -- and make him a pure Vaisnava. And following the footsteps of Advaita Prabhu, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, these Vaisnavas from foreign countries, those who are actually purified by the process of initiation, they should be accepted. They should not be neglected. Unfortunately, there is some silent protest that I am ruining the Hindu religion because I am initiating the Europeans and Americans. Therefore I am ruining Hindu religion. There is a grudge against me. But you can just consider these points that I am going strictly according to the regulation given by the Gosvamis and the sastras. Sastra allows. Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Papa-yoni, it doesn't matter, if he takes regularly the shelter of Krsna, lotus feet of Krsna... And Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered that
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
He predicted. Practically we are trying to carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered that anyone who has taken birth as human being in Bharata-varsa, he should engage his life for paropakara. And he said also, prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama: "All over the town, all over the world, as many towns and villages are there, My name will be established there." So we are trying to do that. So His name should be established does not mean that they should remain as yavanas or mlecchas, and simply they should simply know Lord Caitanya. No. Actually the fact is that everyone should be elevated to the position of Vaisnava, purified Vaisnava, as it is recommended in the Srimad-Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. They, they should be made into brahmanas by qualifying them as brahmana.
So the first condition is that anyone who comes to Krsna consciousness as a bona fide initiated member, he gives up all these abominable habits: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication. They have given up even smoking cigarette, even drinking tea, coffee. So they are all, after being qualified, they are accepted as Vaisnava and properly initiated. So they cannot be neglected as other than brahmanas. That is not very good proposition. They are, according to sastra, they are qualified. It may be due to some past habits, they may commit some mistake, unconsciously. Consciously, no Vaisnava commits any mistake, but maybe due to habit. That is also protected by Krsna. Api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Even there are some discrepancies, but if the only one qualification is there, that he's sticking to Krsna consciousness rigidly, he's sadhu. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. He's not to be neglected. So these Europeans, Americans devotees, according to the enunciation given by Rupa Gosvami, as it is supported by Lord Krsna Himself, as it is supported by Sukadeva Gosvami, as it is supported by Sanatana Gosvami, as it is ordered by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are regularly initiated Vaisnavas. They should not be neglected. That will be vaisnava-aparadha, offenses unto the Vaisnava. Out of all kinds of aparadhas, offenses, vaisnava-aparadha is the most dangerous. Most dangerous. So vaisnava-aparadha is not excused by Visnu. The instance is... What is called? Su... I forget his name. Ambarisa and...?
Devotee: Durvasa?
Prabhupada: Durvasa. Yes, Durvasa Muni. Durvasa Muni, because he offended to Ambarisa Maharaja, he was not excused even by Visnu. He had to fall down on the feet of Maharaja Ambarisa. Yes. Ambarisa upakhyana. So vaisnava-aparadha is the greatest offense. Even a great sage like Durvasa was not excused. He was so great, Durvasa, that he could go personally to all the lokas, Brahma-loka, Siva-loka, Visnuloka. Personally he could go, by his yogic power. Just imagine how much he was powerful. He saw face to face Lord Visnu and requested Him to give him protection from the sudarsana-cakra, and Visnu refused: "So I cannot give you protection because you are offender to a Vaisnava. Only Ambarisa Maharaja can give you protection." Just see. He was so exalted yogi that he could see personally Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Visnu, but still, he was not excused on account of his offense to a Vaisnava. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned very severely: tara madhye vaisnava aparadha hati matta. Vaisnava-aparadha is the greatest offense. We should be very careful. In... According to our Vedic civilization, a Vaisnava, a saintly person, was never under the government laws. They, they were not under the govern... Why government laws? Even Yamaraja's law. That is also stated. Yamaraja also warned his servants not to approach Vaisnava. So Vaisnava's position is so great.
So this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for turning everyone to become a pure Vaisnava. Pure Vaisnava. That is the actual aim of human life. As we are discussing this morning, mumuksavah. The aim of human life is to get out of the clutches of maya, repetition of birth and death and transmigration from body to another. That is the real aim of life. That is real freedom. So if we neglect this opportunity, then we are called atma-ha. Atma-ha means committing suicide. Just like a person, knowingly, knowingly committing suicide, cutting his throat, similarly, a human being, getting so much opportunity, especially in India... We have got so many books of knowledge, especially the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra means Srimad-Bhagavata. Srimad-Bhagavatam is explicit narration of the Vedanta-sutra. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam **. So Indians especially should take advantage of this human form of life and spread this knowledge all over the world. Then the whole world will be peaceful and happy. That is our proposition. It is not a... I repeatedly say that this is not a religious cult, that we want to supersede another type of religion. That is not our business. Our aim is to make all people happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission. Everyone should be happy. But they are trying to be happy, but they do not know how to, how to become... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They are misguided. They cannot be happy without becoming Vaisnava. This is open declaration in the sastra. They cannot become happy. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya [SB 7.5.31]. If they are trying to become happy otherwise, that is durasaya, hopeless thing. It will never be fructified. It will never be successful. Na te viduh. They do not know. Therefore our business is to make them know that "This is the way of perfection. Take Krsna consciousness. Make your life perfect. Be happy, and go back to home, back to Godhead." This is our mission. They do not know.
So we are trying to convince them in so many ways. There is no need of so many ways. The one, simple method, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, will be sufficient to make them perfect. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. The problems, bhava-maha-davagni. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, maha-davagni, "great forest fire." Forest fire, we have no experience immediately, but in America, there is occasionally forest fire. They have got very good experience. There are many forests also. So the forest fire takes place automatically. Nobody goes to set fire. Similarly, in this material world the blazing fire is always there -- problems, different problems. Bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. This will be extinguished immediately. It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's saying. How? Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Simply by spreading this sankirtana movement, all the problems of the world will be immediately mitigated. So to make people Vaisnava, pure Vaisnava, and to spread the sankirtana movement, this is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we are trying our best. Actually, it was the duty of the Indians, but fortunately, the Americans have taken up instead of Indians. Therefore I have brought them. The Indians... You are forgetting your duty. The foreigners are doing your duty. So you should welcome them, instead of driving them away by so many pleas. This is not very good. Yes. Go on.
Pradyumna: "It is stated in the Padma-Purana that there are four kinds of effects to sinful activities, which are listed as follows: (1) the effect which is not yet fructified, (2) the effect which is lying as seed, (3) the effect which is already mature, and (4) the effect which is almost mature. It is also stated that all these four effects..."
Prabhupada: Kuta-stha-bija, prarabdha... Like that. This is, these are the... Our effects. Just like we can understand in the modern... Just like if you infect some disease, it becomes immediately kuta-stha. Kuta-stha means stocked. In due course of time, it will come out, manifest. Similarly, we are acting so many sinful activities. Sometimes they complain that "This man is committing so many sinful activities, but he's happy." But actually he's enjoying the effects of his past something pious. Now he's happy, but that effect of the impious activities, that is in stock. It will come out in due course of time. That is called kuta-stha. Kuta-stha phalonmukha, prarabdha. These are the Sanskrit language. That is being explained here. Go on.
Pradyumna: "It is also stated that all these four effects become immediately vanquished for those who surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, and become engaged in His devotional service in full Krsna consciousness."
Prabhupada: Yes. This, these four kinds of stages of sinful activities, in stock, almost fructified, manifest, all the stages of sinful activities can be immediately nullified. Because it is assured by Krsna, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. It is not imagination. If we believe in the words of Krsna, then there is no question of denying this fact. Krsna personally says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksa... Sarva-papebhyo [Bg. 18.66]. The kuta-stha, phalonmukha, prarabdha, everything, it become immediately nullified, simply by this process, by surrendering: "Krsna, I, I was mistaken. I got..., forgot your mastership; You are my eternal Lord. So I was bewildered. I was wandering. Now I have come to my senses. I surrender unto You sincerely. You accept me." This very thing will give you immediately protection from all sinful activities. Krsna says,
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami...
[Bg. 18.66]
So where is the difficulty? Let us surrender to Krsna and execute His will, whatever He... Surrender means I must be prepared to execute the will of Krsna; not my whims, but Krsna's will. The Krsna's will is that you become Krsna's devotee. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Where is the difficulty? You surrender unto Him, and He assures, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Immediately he becomes relieved from the effects of illusory energy. So there is no difficulty, not at all difficulty. Let us immediately become surrendered to Krsna's lotus feet. Think of Him always. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, to become His devotee, always think of Him. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. "Always worship Me. Always offer obeisances." These are the four principles. Anyone can do it. There is no restriction for any caste, creed, nation. Everyone. It is open to the human being. So if we actually want to be happy, we must take to Krsna consciousness. There is no alternative. That is our point. Yes? Go on.
Pradyumna: "Those effects described as 'almost mature' refer to the distress from which one is suffering at present, and the effects 'lying as seed' means that in the core of the heart there is a certain stock of sinful desires which are like seeds. The Sanskrit word kutam means that they are almost ready to produce the seed, or the effect of the seed. And 'immature effect' refers to the case where the seedling has not begun. From this statement of Padma-Purana it is understood that material contamination is very subtle. Its beginning, its fruition and results, and how one suffers such results in the form of distress, are part of a great chain. When one catches some disease, it is very..., it is often very difficult to ascertain the cause of the disease, where it originated and how it is maturing. The suffering of a disease, however, does not appear all of a sudden. It actually takes time. And, as in the medical field, for precaution's sake, the doctor injects a vaccination to prevent the growing of contamination, similarly, the practical injection to stop all the fructifications of the seeds of our sinful activities is simply engagement in Krsna consciousness."
Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness. This is the best injection. Take this injection and become free from all sinful reactions. Go on.
Pradyumna: "In this connection, Sukadeva Gosvami speaks in the Sixth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Chapter, 17th verse, about the story of Ajamila, who began life as a fine and dutiful brahmana but in his young manhood became wholly corrupted by a prostitute. At the end of his wicked life, just by calling the name of Narayana (or Krsna), he was saved, despite so much sin. Sukadeva points out that austerity..."
Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. That is stated the Bhagavad-gita. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya. A little Krsna consciousness can save you from the greatest danger. The example is this Ajamila. Ajamila, he was the greatest sinful man. Similarly, Jagai-Madhai. So Krsna consciousness is so nice that from the life of Ajamila we understand, simply by uttering the name of Narayana at the time of his death, he became eligible to be promoted to the Vaikunthaloka. Go on.
Pradyumna: "Sukadeva points out that austerity, charity and the performance of ritualistic ceremonies for counteracting sinful activities are recommended processes, but that by performing them one cannot remove the sin desire-seed from the heart, as was the case with Ajamila in his youth. This sinful desire-seed can be accomplished very easily by chanting the maha-mantra, or Hare Krsna mantra, as recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In other words, unless one adopts the path of devotional service, he cannot be one hundred percent clean from all the reactions of sinful activities."
Prabhupada: So we shall discuss more tomorrow. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion --
Vrndavana, November 6, 1972
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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