Guru-gauranga: This is,
this is Anna Conan Doyle(?). And her father-in-law is a very famous author.
She's very, very interested. She wanted to put a festival on for you in the
Riviera, but didn't have enough money to do it. So she said next year she will
do this for you. And she has all your books and reads them every morning. She
rises very early and studies Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavatam.Prabhupada: She
looks very intelligent face. Yes. Yes. Oh, that's nice.
Guru-gauranga: She speaks English.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Anna Conan Doyle: I speak English. I'm Danish but I speak English.
Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. It is very nice. So intelligent men and women should take interest in this great movement. It is a very scientific spiritual movement. People are suffering for lack of spiritual knowledge. They have become materially like animals. Materialism means animalism. Yes. Materialism means animalism. Animalism means in the lower grade of existence. What is the difference between dog and a human being. He has got a lower grade body, and the human being has got a higher grade body. So the more we become materialistic, we get lower grade body. In the lower grade body, the consciousness works only on four activities, eating sleeping, sex life and defence. This is lower grade activities. And higher grade activities: working for understanding God. That is higher grade life. In the lower grade life, nobody can understand God. In the higher grade life, one can understand God, yes. One can feel with intelligence. Just like dog may understand this is day, this is night. But he does not understand why it is day, why it is night. But a man can understand that it is day because the sun is there. And it is night because sun is now set. That is the difference dog and man. Better knowledge. So as we advance in better knowledge, that is perfection of life. And the topmost knowledge is to understand Krsna. Then he's most perfect being. That is perfection. Knowledge other than Krsna consciousness-degraded knowledge, or lower grade knowledge. So at the present moment, although superficially, we have got very nice building, nice apartment, but the knowledge is doggish. How to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life and how to defend. That's all. No more. The same degraded life as the dog. Dog is also trying how to live, how to sleep, how to have sex, and how to defend. He's making: "bak bok bok bok." (barking sound) That is defence. His way of defence. That is defence. He's defending for the master. Similarly dog has also sex life, dog has also sleeps, dog also eats. So if a human being is also engaged in these four principles of business, then where is the difference between him and the dog? He must be interested in the business of understanding God. Then he's human being. Otherwise, he's a dog. Do you agree? Eh?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes.
Prabhupada: Thank you.
Anna Conan Doyle: Actually, we are, in a sense, the God to the dog. Aren't we?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Anna Conan Doyle: We are, in a sense, to a dog, we are God to him. As man is a dog, we are God to him, to the dog. Because the way he loves us, his fidelity to us, he doesn't understand God, and we understand God.
Prabhupada: No, he's not in position to understand God.
Anna Conan Doyle: He doesn't understand. He understands only us.
Prabhupada: He understands that he has got a superior, but he does not understand who is the most superior. A human being can understand who is the most superior, topmost superior.
Anna Conan Doyle: Well, we have also superior, but we have forgotten to understand that.
Prabhupada: Yes, we have forgotten. Everyone is... Dog is also forgotten. But his forgotten stage is more acute. More acute. And human being is advanced.
Bhagavan: Should we distribute this?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Bhagavan: Would you like some, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: In the human form of life, if we do not try to understand God, then we are committing suicide. Yes. Because we got the chance. Nature gave us the chance to understand God. But if we do not divert our attention in understanding God, then we are making suicide. Misuse of human life. For a human being, the only business is how to understand God. Not for economic development. What economic development? This Napoleon planned so many things. But where he is now? Can anyone say where is Napoleon? One astrologer in India has said that Jawaharlal Nehru is now a dog in the house of a gentleman in Sweden.
Guru-gauranga: Could you understand that?
Anna Conan Doyle: Not exactly.
Guru-gauranga: Prabhupada said that Jawaharlal Nehru, the former prime minister of India, someone has said now he is a house dog in a home in Sweden.
Anna Conan Doyle: I hope not for him.
Prabhupada: You may not, but nature is different. Just like a child does not hope that if he puts his finger in a fire, it will not burn. But nature is so strict, it doesn't care for the child or the old man. It will burn. I may prove very innocent, but nature doesn't care for that. Nature doesn't care for that. Nature will not show any mercy for the innocent child. No. That is nature. Is it not fact? If a child puts his finger on the fire, nature will not consider that: "Here is a innocent child. He may not be burned." No. Equally. Therefore nature is very strong. We cannot avoid the control of the nature. If you do something, it must acting, react in the same way. The same... If you put your finger in the fire, it must react, burn it. Nature is so strong. So as soon as you violate any law of nature, you'll be punished. That is... Just like God... State police is there, engaged by the government. As soon as you violate law, the police will arrest you and give you punishment. Similarly material nature means the police of God. As soon as you violate God laws, it will give immediately punishment. That is material nature. It is always punishing us. Because we are, one after another, we are violating the laws of God. Therefore she's always punishing. That is her business. Mother nature is described as Goddess Durga, and she has got a trident in her hand. That is punishment. Three kinds of miserable condition. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyatmika, pertaining to the body and mind, adhibhautika, miserable condition offered by others, and adhidaivika, miserable condition offered by higher authorities. Just like if there is no rain, you cannot do anything. Your so-called science and advancement of knowledge will not be able to help. Or if there is over flood. That also you cannot do anything. Therefore you have to accept there is a controller of this raining. It is not under my control. That is nature. But nature is working under the direction of God. Behind the background of nature is God. Just like background of police force is the government. Similarly, background of the stringent laws of nature is God. That they do not understand. They're struggling with the natural laws. And that struggle they are taking as advancement. That's all. It is a struggle. But they're taking it as advancement. This is called illusion. It is not advancement. It is simply struggle. But they're taking it as advancement. Such a great, powerful man like Napoleon, Hitler, they struggled only. Later on, they vanquished. So what to speak of others? Such big, big men, they struggled against the nature, but they vanquished. Nature is there. Nature is always victorious. So we have to own over victory over the nature. That is only possible if you take shelter of Krsna. Otherwise, not. Do you think we are right in our statement.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes.
Prabhupada: If not you can ask that: "Why I am talking nonsense?" (laughter)
Guru-gauranga: Mrs. Conan Doyle is interested also in speaking in St. Paul in her home about travelling to visit other planets,...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Guru-gauranga: Travelling to visit higher planets, still in the material world, to accumulate experiences before going back home, back to Godhead. I was trying to explain the more important aspect...
Prabhupada: You can, you can experience. That is stated in the Bhagavata.
Guru-gauranga: She wants to go to other planets.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guru-gauranga: Before going home.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is stated in the Bhagavata. Yogis, they try to see also other planets. They're inquisitive. Instead of going directly to the planet of Krsna, they want to see intermediate planets, how they are working.
Bhagavan: Instead of an express to Goloka.
Prabhupada: No. Yes. That is natural. Only the strong devotees, they don't like. "No, I don't want to see anything. I want to go immediately to Krsna." That is strong devotion. Because they are after, mad after seeing Krsna. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam, sunyayitam jagat sarvam. For them, the whole universe is vacant for want of Krsna. Just like if you love somebody, if he's not seen, you see, in spite of so many cars, you see the whole city of Paris, void, void. You don't give you any pleasure. A strong love for Krsna. Sunyayitam. Sunyayitam means everything vacant. Without seeing Krsna, everything is vacant. What is the value of this house or this city? He doesn't take. So higher planetary system means better standard of life. Just like if Indian comes here, materially, they see the higher standard of life in Paris, in London. But because we are interested in Krsna, we do not take very much care of this higher standard of life. So higher planetary system means many, many thousand times better standard of life. Many, many thousand times. Just like Brahmaloka, the one day of Brahma, described, you cannot even calculate mathematically. Just find out: sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. This is the topmost planetary system, Brahmaloka, and the duration of life in Brahmaloka is described in the Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. Sahasra... S-A-H. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam.
Bhagavan: This is Bhagavad-gita.
Anna Conan Doyle: Oh.
Guru-gauranga: Just like before you said you had a distaste for sight-seeing in Paris, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Guru-gauranga: You had a distaste for sightseeing wherever you were.
Prabhupada: No, I don't go.
Srutakirti:
sahasra-yuga-paryantam
ahar yad brahmano viduh
ratrim yuga-sahasrantam
te 'ho-ratra-vido janah
[Bg. 8.17]
By human calculation a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day, and such also is the duration of his night."
Prabhupada: What is the purport? Read.
Srutakirti: "The duration of the material universe is limited. It is manifested in cycles of kalpas. A kalpa is a day of Brahma and one day of Brahma consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas or ages, Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. A cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts one million, seven hundred and twenty-eight thousand years. In the Treta-yuga vice is introduced and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years. In the Dvapara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and the yuga lasts 864,000 years. And finally in Kali-yuga, the yuga we have now been experiencing over the past five thousand years, there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically non-existent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years. In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga, the Supreme Lord Himself appears as the Kalki avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves His devotees and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again. These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, compromise one day of Brahma, the creator god, and the same number compromise one night. Brahma lives one hundred of such years and then dies. These hundred years, by Earth calculations total to 311,000,040,000,000 Earth years. By these calculations, a life of Brahma seems fantastic and interminable, but from the point, from the viewpoint of eternity, it is as brief as a lightning flash. In the Causal Ocean, there are innumerable Brahmas, rising and disappearing like bubbles in the Atlantic. Brahma and his creation are all part of the material universe, and therefore they are in constant flux. In the material universe, not even Brahma is free from the process of birth, disease, old age and death. Brahma, however, is directly engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord in the management of this universe. Therefore he at once attains liberation. Elevated sannyasis are promoted to Brahma's particular planet, Brahmaloka, which is the highest planet in the material universe, and which survives all the heavenly planets in the upper strata of the planetary system. But in due course, Brahma, and all inhabitants of Brahmaloka are subject to death, according to the law of material nature."
Prabhupada: In the higher planetary system also, the four rules, birth, death, old age and disease, they are also there. The life is long duration. But the miserable conditions of, or living conditions, that one must die, that is there also. Simply if you go to Krsna's planet, you haven't got to die. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna.
Srutakirti: Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna, mam upetya...
Prabhupada: Upetya punar janma na vidyate.
Srutakirti: Punar janma na vidyate. "From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again."
Prabhupada: Just see. So going to the higher planetary system means to achieve higher standard of life, but that does not mean solution of material problems. Just like Western countries, they are supposed to be living in higher standard of life than Eastern countries, but that does not mean they have conquered over death. That's not possible. They might possess a nice motor car, but the Eastern man may not possess. He has a bullock cart. This much advancement may be there. But the death, birth, death, is the same, in the Eastern and the Western.
Guru-gauranga: Why should we think that birth and death is so painful, Srila Prabhupada, because wherever we are, we can think about Krsna...
Prabhupada: But you feel pain, or do you like to die?
Guru-gauranga: Well, some people like to travel.
Prabhupada: Why it is painful. That is painful. You, even if you think, shudder, that "I have to die immediately," you'll shudder immediately. It is very painful. It is very painful because as soon as you die, you are again packed up within the womb of the mother to develop another body. And that is also not certain. Nowadays the father, mother is killing the child. So even if you develop a body to come with the expectation to come out, the father, mother kills you, again you have to enter another mother's body. Again you may be killed. This is the position of the sinful man. Because a man is sinful, he shudders. "Oh, again death is coming." So you, you cannot argue... Death is very painful. It is so painful that at the last stage, because the pain is not tolerated, the soul immediately gives up the body. Just like a man commits suicide. It is very painful. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha [Bg. 13.9]. It is painful. Duhkha-dosanudarsanam. Anudarsanam means if he's a foolish, if he cannot understand, then he should understand described by higher authorities. It is painful. So unless you make a solution that no more birth, there is no question of getting out of the painful condition of material condition. That's not possible.
Anna Conan Doyle: But what if you are reincarnated into other planets?
Prabhupada: Yes. That is easy.
Anna Conan Doyle: Is it less painful, or is it the same procedure of...?
Prabhupada: As soon as you enter into the womb of a mother, it is painful. You are packed up like this, in this way. Can you, can you live for a few minutes, packed up like that, At the present moment, if I pack up and put in a bag, and then put in a box, how long you can exist?
Anna Conan Doyle: But we are not conscious at, at that particular moment.
Prabhupada: That doesn't matter. Just like surgical operation is going on. He's unconscious. That is another thing. By some method, he's unconscious. But the pain is there. The pain is there. The pain is not felt. Just like animals. They, they are in painful condition, but because they are animal, they do not feel it. On the horseback, you are driving horseback, like this, like this. It is painful, but because he's animal he cannot protect himself. It is very painful. Suppose if a chain is shackled on your mouth, and I constantly push like this...? Is it not painful? The horse is controlled by the mouth...
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, by the foot...
Prabhupada: By the chain, yes. Horse is very powerful animal than the man. How the man can control the horse? But he knows the trick, that it has to be controlled in the mouth. As soon as there is pain in the mouth, he becomes puzzled. He has to abide by the order. The man knows the tricks. Horse is not controlled by the tai... [break] ...he's controlled.
Bhagavan: Really?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hamsaduta: So every animal can be controlled...
Prabhupada: Therefore there was a meeting of all animals that how to get out of the control of man. (laughter) The elephant said: "My dear sir, I am so powerful. I am also controlled by that. So it is useless to hold meeting." "I am also controlled by man." The meeting was organized by an ass. (laughter) He thought that: "I have to work so hard. Let us have a conference of animals to avoid man's control." But he saw that elephant also said that "I am so powerful. Still I am also controlled by the man. So it is useless."
Anna Conan Doyle: But many human beings get into the same conditions.
Prabhupada: Similarly, our position is like that, like ass. We are also trying to get out of the control of material nature. Like an ass. But it is not possible. The conference is failure. Here, in the material world, even a so powerful being as Brahma, he's also controlled. By God. He's also controlled. You have seen that picture? Brahma is bowing down before Krsna.
Guru-gauranga: You remember this picture? In the temple in Geneva? Brahma with four heads is offering respects to Krsna.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, yes. Yes.
Prabhupada: He's the controller of the whole universe. He also bowing down before little Krsna. "Sir, I wanted to show You my superior power, but I am insignificant before You." Brahma stole away all His calves and cows and cowherd boys, and he saw again the same calves and cows and boys are playing with Him. So he became surprised: "How is that? I took away, and again He's keeping. He has expanded himself." You have read that portion? So God is called self-sufficient because He can expand Himself to satisfy His needs, whatever He wants. So He doesn't require anyone's help. He's completely independent. But still He's so kind that He comes to your temple, as He has come today, and He's dependent. If you give Him some foodstuff, He'll eat. Otherwise, He'll starve. So we should always remember the most powerful, self-sufficient has come kindly at my place, just to become dependent on my foodstuff. This is His kindness. And if we think: "Oh, I am giving food to Krsna. What is Krsna?" Then you are finished. You have to think always that He is self-sufficient. But He's so kind, in spite of His being self-sufficient, He invites my, He accepts my invitation, and He has come. We have to treat in that way.
Guru-gauranga: Do you have any questions about the ceremony that you saw this morning?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes. I wanted to know what was that, the meaning of that mark you made...
Bhagavan: Oh, from the fire.
Anna Conan Doyle: The fire, yes. Yes, oil and... Was it a third eye?
Prabhupada: No.
Anna Conan Doyle: That means you are dust and you become dust again, or what?
Prabhupada: No, we attended the ceremony. (laughter)
Bhagavan: It is a souvenir of the ceremony.
Prabhupada: You were not marked because you did not attend the ceremony.
Anna Conan Doyle: I see. It's just a sign. It has no particular meaning.
Prabhupada: No, this is the general meaning. And this is blessing. After, after the ceremony, if there is any blessing, you get the blessing. Yes.
Guru-gauranga: It's a nicer kind of souvenir than the kind you find in Paris.
Anna Conan Doyle: Exactly, (indistinct) to my eye.
Prabhupada: Just like nowadays, voting, the man who goes to put his vote, he's marked with a star here. You know that? That means he cannot come again. He cannot represent a false voter. Like that. [break] ...book you are reading now, my books?
Anna Conan Doyle: At the moment, Gita.
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Very nice.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, yes. That is a very complicated book. To read many, many, many times.
Prabhupada: That is the elementary ABCD. Yes. Here is a statement of my interview with the Vice-president. [break] Just Arjuna, he was a family man. Is it not?
Guru-gauranga: Arjuna, in the Bhagavad-gita.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, Arjuna, yes.
Prabhupada: Not only family man, he was in the battlefield. So if he could understand Bhagavad-gita in that position, why we cannot?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, that's right.
Prabhupada: So it is no question of you have to give up family life. There is no such thing. You have to understand the science. Arjuna was a family man. After understanding Bhagavad-gita, he did not give up family.
Anna Conan Doyle: No.
Prabhupada: No. So it is a wrong impression that to become Krsna conscious one has to give up family relations. No, that's not the fact. Sometimes people think like that, but that is wrong thinking.
Anna Conan Doyle: (indistinct) mixed up...
Prabhupada: Spiritual understanding does not depend on material conditions, no.
Anna Conan Doyle: That is true, that is true.
Prabhupada: You may be in any material condition. Still you can develop your spiritual consciousness. That is there. But sometimes we accept a certain position for our personal convenience. That is another thing. But spiritual consciousness is not dependent on any material condition. It is spontaneous. Either he's a householder or a sannyasi or brahmacari or business man, or... It doesn't matter. He can become fully Krsna conscious if he accepts the principles.
Guru-gauranga: She speaks English.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Anna Conan Doyle: I speak English. I'm Danish but I speak English.
Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. It is very nice. So intelligent men and women should take interest in this great movement. It is a very scientific spiritual movement. People are suffering for lack of spiritual knowledge. They have become materially like animals. Materialism means animalism. Yes. Materialism means animalism. Animalism means in the lower grade of existence. What is the difference between dog and a human being. He has got a lower grade body, and the human being has got a higher grade body. So the more we become materialistic, we get lower grade body. In the lower grade body, the consciousness works only on four activities, eating sleeping, sex life and defence. This is lower grade activities. And higher grade activities: working for understanding God. That is higher grade life. In the lower grade life, nobody can understand God. In the higher grade life, one can understand God, yes. One can feel with intelligence. Just like dog may understand this is day, this is night. But he does not understand why it is day, why it is night. But a man can understand that it is day because the sun is there. And it is night because sun is now set. That is the difference dog and man. Better knowledge. So as we advance in better knowledge, that is perfection of life. And the topmost knowledge is to understand Krsna. Then he's most perfect being. That is perfection. Knowledge other than Krsna consciousness-degraded knowledge, or lower grade knowledge. So at the present moment, although superficially, we have got very nice building, nice apartment, but the knowledge is doggish. How to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life and how to defend. That's all. No more. The same degraded life as the dog. Dog is also trying how to live, how to sleep, how to have sex, and how to defend. He's making: "bak bok bok bok." (barking sound) That is defence. His way of defence. That is defence. He's defending for the master. Similarly dog has also sex life, dog has also sleeps, dog also eats. So if a human being is also engaged in these four principles of business, then where is the difference between him and the dog? He must be interested in the business of understanding God. Then he's human being. Otherwise, he's a dog. Do you agree? Eh?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes.
Prabhupada: Thank you.
Anna Conan Doyle: Actually, we are, in a sense, the God to the dog. Aren't we?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Anna Conan Doyle: We are, in a sense, to a dog, we are God to him. As man is a dog, we are God to him, to the dog. Because the way he loves us, his fidelity to us, he doesn't understand God, and we understand God.
Prabhupada: No, he's not in position to understand God.
Anna Conan Doyle: He doesn't understand. He understands only us.
Prabhupada: He understands that he has got a superior, but he does not understand who is the most superior. A human being can understand who is the most superior, topmost superior.
Anna Conan Doyle: Well, we have also superior, but we have forgotten to understand that.
Prabhupada: Yes, we have forgotten. Everyone is... Dog is also forgotten. But his forgotten stage is more acute. More acute. And human being is advanced.
Bhagavan: Should we distribute this?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Bhagavan: Would you like some, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: In the human form of life, if we do not try to understand God, then we are committing suicide. Yes. Because we got the chance. Nature gave us the chance to understand God. But if we do not divert our attention in understanding God, then we are making suicide. Misuse of human life. For a human being, the only business is how to understand God. Not for economic development. What economic development? This Napoleon planned so many things. But where he is now? Can anyone say where is Napoleon? One astrologer in India has said that Jawaharlal Nehru is now a dog in the house of a gentleman in Sweden.
Guru-gauranga: Could you understand that?
Anna Conan Doyle: Not exactly.
Guru-gauranga: Prabhupada said that Jawaharlal Nehru, the former prime minister of India, someone has said now he is a house dog in a home in Sweden.
Anna Conan Doyle: I hope not for him.
Prabhupada: You may not, but nature is different. Just like a child does not hope that if he puts his finger in a fire, it will not burn. But nature is so strict, it doesn't care for the child or the old man. It will burn. I may prove very innocent, but nature doesn't care for that. Nature doesn't care for that. Nature will not show any mercy for the innocent child. No. That is nature. Is it not fact? If a child puts his finger on the fire, nature will not consider that: "Here is a innocent child. He may not be burned." No. Equally. Therefore nature is very strong. We cannot avoid the control of the nature. If you do something, it must acting, react in the same way. The same... If you put your finger in the fire, it must react, burn it. Nature is so strong. So as soon as you violate any law of nature, you'll be punished. That is... Just like God... State police is there, engaged by the government. As soon as you violate law, the police will arrest you and give you punishment. Similarly material nature means the police of God. As soon as you violate God laws, it will give immediately punishment. That is material nature. It is always punishing us. Because we are, one after another, we are violating the laws of God. Therefore she's always punishing. That is her business. Mother nature is described as Goddess Durga, and she has got a trident in her hand. That is punishment. Three kinds of miserable condition. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyatmika, pertaining to the body and mind, adhibhautika, miserable condition offered by others, and adhidaivika, miserable condition offered by higher authorities. Just like if there is no rain, you cannot do anything. Your so-called science and advancement of knowledge will not be able to help. Or if there is over flood. That also you cannot do anything. Therefore you have to accept there is a controller of this raining. It is not under my control. That is nature. But nature is working under the direction of God. Behind the background of nature is God. Just like background of police force is the government. Similarly, background of the stringent laws of nature is God. That they do not understand. They're struggling with the natural laws. And that struggle they are taking as advancement. That's all. It is a struggle. But they're taking it as advancement. This is called illusion. It is not advancement. It is simply struggle. But they're taking it as advancement. Such a great, powerful man like Napoleon, Hitler, they struggled only. Later on, they vanquished. So what to speak of others? Such big, big men, they struggled against the nature, but they vanquished. Nature is there. Nature is always victorious. So we have to own over victory over the nature. That is only possible if you take shelter of Krsna. Otherwise, not. Do you think we are right in our statement.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes.
Prabhupada: If not you can ask that: "Why I am talking nonsense?" (laughter)
Guru-gauranga: Mrs. Conan Doyle is interested also in speaking in St. Paul in her home about travelling to visit other planets,...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Guru-gauranga: Travelling to visit higher planets, still in the material world, to accumulate experiences before going back home, back to Godhead. I was trying to explain the more important aspect...
Prabhupada: You can, you can experience. That is stated in the Bhagavata.
Guru-gauranga: She wants to go to other planets.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guru-gauranga: Before going home.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is stated in the Bhagavata. Yogis, they try to see also other planets. They're inquisitive. Instead of going directly to the planet of Krsna, they want to see intermediate planets, how they are working.
Bhagavan: Instead of an express to Goloka.
Prabhupada: No. Yes. That is natural. Only the strong devotees, they don't like. "No, I don't want to see anything. I want to go immediately to Krsna." That is strong devotion. Because they are after, mad after seeing Krsna. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam, sunyayitam jagat sarvam. For them, the whole universe is vacant for want of Krsna. Just like if you love somebody, if he's not seen, you see, in spite of so many cars, you see the whole city of Paris, void, void. You don't give you any pleasure. A strong love for Krsna. Sunyayitam. Sunyayitam means everything vacant. Without seeing Krsna, everything is vacant. What is the value of this house or this city? He doesn't take. So higher planetary system means better standard of life. Just like if Indian comes here, materially, they see the higher standard of life in Paris, in London. But because we are interested in Krsna, we do not take very much care of this higher standard of life. So higher planetary system means many, many thousand times better standard of life. Many, many thousand times. Just like Brahmaloka, the one day of Brahma, described, you cannot even calculate mathematically. Just find out: sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. This is the topmost planetary system, Brahmaloka, and the duration of life in Brahmaloka is described in the Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. Sahasra... S-A-H. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam.
Bhagavan: This is Bhagavad-gita.
Anna Conan Doyle: Oh.
Guru-gauranga: Just like before you said you had a distaste for sight-seeing in Paris, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Guru-gauranga: You had a distaste for sightseeing wherever you were.
Prabhupada: No, I don't go.
Srutakirti:
sahasra-yuga-paryantam
ahar yad brahmano viduh
ratrim yuga-sahasrantam
te 'ho-ratra-vido janah
[Bg. 8.17]
By human calculation a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma's one day, and such also is the duration of his night."
Prabhupada: What is the purport? Read.
Srutakirti: "The duration of the material universe is limited. It is manifested in cycles of kalpas. A kalpa is a day of Brahma and one day of Brahma consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas or ages, Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. A cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts one million, seven hundred and twenty-eight thousand years. In the Treta-yuga vice is introduced and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years. In the Dvapara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and the yuga lasts 864,000 years. And finally in Kali-yuga, the yuga we have now been experiencing over the past five thousand years, there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically non-existent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years. In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga, the Supreme Lord Himself appears as the Kalki avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves His devotees and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again. These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, compromise one day of Brahma, the creator god, and the same number compromise one night. Brahma lives one hundred of such years and then dies. These hundred years, by Earth calculations total to 311,000,040,000,000 Earth years. By these calculations, a life of Brahma seems fantastic and interminable, but from the point, from the viewpoint of eternity, it is as brief as a lightning flash. In the Causal Ocean, there are innumerable Brahmas, rising and disappearing like bubbles in the Atlantic. Brahma and his creation are all part of the material universe, and therefore they are in constant flux. In the material universe, not even Brahma is free from the process of birth, disease, old age and death. Brahma, however, is directly engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord in the management of this universe. Therefore he at once attains liberation. Elevated sannyasis are promoted to Brahma's particular planet, Brahmaloka, which is the highest planet in the material universe, and which survives all the heavenly planets in the upper strata of the planetary system. But in due course, Brahma, and all inhabitants of Brahmaloka are subject to death, according to the law of material nature."
Prabhupada: In the higher planetary system also, the four rules, birth, death, old age and disease, they are also there. The life is long duration. But the miserable conditions of, or living conditions, that one must die, that is there also. Simply if you go to Krsna's planet, you haven't got to die. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna.
Srutakirti: Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna, mam upetya...
Prabhupada: Upetya punar janma na vidyate.
Srutakirti: Punar janma na vidyate. "From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again."
Prabhupada: Just see. So going to the higher planetary system means to achieve higher standard of life, but that does not mean solution of material problems. Just like Western countries, they are supposed to be living in higher standard of life than Eastern countries, but that does not mean they have conquered over death. That's not possible. They might possess a nice motor car, but the Eastern man may not possess. He has a bullock cart. This much advancement may be there. But the death, birth, death, is the same, in the Eastern and the Western.
Guru-gauranga: Why should we think that birth and death is so painful, Srila Prabhupada, because wherever we are, we can think about Krsna...
Prabhupada: But you feel pain, or do you like to die?
Guru-gauranga: Well, some people like to travel.
Prabhupada: Why it is painful. That is painful. You, even if you think, shudder, that "I have to die immediately," you'll shudder immediately. It is very painful. It is very painful because as soon as you die, you are again packed up within the womb of the mother to develop another body. And that is also not certain. Nowadays the father, mother is killing the child. So even if you develop a body to come with the expectation to come out, the father, mother kills you, again you have to enter another mother's body. Again you may be killed. This is the position of the sinful man. Because a man is sinful, he shudders. "Oh, again death is coming." So you, you cannot argue... Death is very painful. It is so painful that at the last stage, because the pain is not tolerated, the soul immediately gives up the body. Just like a man commits suicide. It is very painful. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha [Bg. 13.9]. It is painful. Duhkha-dosanudarsanam. Anudarsanam means if he's a foolish, if he cannot understand, then he should understand described by higher authorities. It is painful. So unless you make a solution that no more birth, there is no question of getting out of the painful condition of material condition. That's not possible.
Anna Conan Doyle: But what if you are reincarnated into other planets?
Prabhupada: Yes. That is easy.
Anna Conan Doyle: Is it less painful, or is it the same procedure of...?
Prabhupada: As soon as you enter into the womb of a mother, it is painful. You are packed up like this, in this way. Can you, can you live for a few minutes, packed up like that, At the present moment, if I pack up and put in a bag, and then put in a box, how long you can exist?
Anna Conan Doyle: But we are not conscious at, at that particular moment.
Prabhupada: That doesn't matter. Just like surgical operation is going on. He's unconscious. That is another thing. By some method, he's unconscious. But the pain is there. The pain is there. The pain is not felt. Just like animals. They, they are in painful condition, but because they are animal, they do not feel it. On the horseback, you are driving horseback, like this, like this. It is painful, but because he's animal he cannot protect himself. It is very painful. Suppose if a chain is shackled on your mouth, and I constantly push like this...? Is it not painful? The horse is controlled by the mouth...
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, by the foot...
Prabhupada: By the chain, yes. Horse is very powerful animal than the man. How the man can control the horse? But he knows the trick, that it has to be controlled in the mouth. As soon as there is pain in the mouth, he becomes puzzled. He has to abide by the order. The man knows the tricks. Horse is not controlled by the tai... [break] ...he's controlled.
Bhagavan: Really?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hamsaduta: So every animal can be controlled...
Prabhupada: Therefore there was a meeting of all animals that how to get out of the control of man. (laughter) The elephant said: "My dear sir, I am so powerful. I am also controlled by that. So it is useless to hold meeting." "I am also controlled by man." The meeting was organized by an ass. (laughter) He thought that: "I have to work so hard. Let us have a conference of animals to avoid man's control." But he saw that elephant also said that "I am so powerful. Still I am also controlled by the man. So it is useless."
Anna Conan Doyle: But many human beings get into the same conditions.
Prabhupada: Similarly, our position is like that, like ass. We are also trying to get out of the control of material nature. Like an ass. But it is not possible. The conference is failure. Here, in the material world, even a so powerful being as Brahma, he's also controlled. By God. He's also controlled. You have seen that picture? Brahma is bowing down before Krsna.
Guru-gauranga: You remember this picture? In the temple in Geneva? Brahma with four heads is offering respects to Krsna.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, yes. Yes.
Prabhupada: He's the controller of the whole universe. He also bowing down before little Krsna. "Sir, I wanted to show You my superior power, but I am insignificant before You." Brahma stole away all His calves and cows and cowherd boys, and he saw again the same calves and cows and boys are playing with Him. So he became surprised: "How is that? I took away, and again He's keeping. He has expanded himself." You have read that portion? So God is called self-sufficient because He can expand Himself to satisfy His needs, whatever He wants. So He doesn't require anyone's help. He's completely independent. But still He's so kind that He comes to your temple, as He has come today, and He's dependent. If you give Him some foodstuff, He'll eat. Otherwise, He'll starve. So we should always remember the most powerful, self-sufficient has come kindly at my place, just to become dependent on my foodstuff. This is His kindness. And if we think: "Oh, I am giving food to Krsna. What is Krsna?" Then you are finished. You have to think always that He is self-sufficient. But He's so kind, in spite of His being self-sufficient, He invites my, He accepts my invitation, and He has come. We have to treat in that way.
Guru-gauranga: Do you have any questions about the ceremony that you saw this morning?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes. I wanted to know what was that, the meaning of that mark you made...
Bhagavan: Oh, from the fire.
Anna Conan Doyle: The fire, yes. Yes, oil and... Was it a third eye?
Prabhupada: No.
Anna Conan Doyle: That means you are dust and you become dust again, or what?
Prabhupada: No, we attended the ceremony. (laughter)
Bhagavan: It is a souvenir of the ceremony.
Prabhupada: You were not marked because you did not attend the ceremony.
Anna Conan Doyle: I see. It's just a sign. It has no particular meaning.
Prabhupada: No, this is the general meaning. And this is blessing. After, after the ceremony, if there is any blessing, you get the blessing. Yes.
Guru-gauranga: It's a nicer kind of souvenir than the kind you find in Paris.
Anna Conan Doyle: Exactly, (indistinct) to my eye.
Prabhupada: Just like nowadays, voting, the man who goes to put his vote, he's marked with a star here. You know that? That means he cannot come again. He cannot represent a false voter. Like that. [break] ...book you are reading now, my books?
Anna Conan Doyle: At the moment, Gita.
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Very nice.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, yes. That is a very complicated book. To read many, many, many times.
Prabhupada: That is the elementary ABCD. Yes. Here is a statement of my interview with the Vice-president. [break] Just Arjuna, he was a family man. Is it not?
Guru-gauranga: Arjuna, in the Bhagavad-gita.
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, Arjuna, yes.
Prabhupada: Not only family man, he was in the battlefield. So if he could understand Bhagavad-gita in that position, why we cannot?
Anna Conan Doyle: Yes, that's right.
Prabhupada: So it is no question of you have to give up family life. There is no such thing. You have to understand the science. Arjuna was a family man. After understanding Bhagavad-gita, he did not give up family.
Anna Conan Doyle: No.
Prabhupada: No. So it is a wrong impression that to become Krsna conscious one has to give up family relations. No, that's not the fact. Sometimes people think like that, but that is wrong thinking.
Anna Conan Doyle: (indistinct) mixed up...
Prabhupada: Spiritual understanding does not depend on material conditions, no.
Anna Conan Doyle: That is true, that is true.
Prabhupada: You may be in any material condition. Still you can develop your spiritual consciousness. That is there. But sometimes we accept a certain position for our personal convenience. That is another thing. But spiritual consciousness is not dependent on any material condition. It is spontaneous. Either he's a householder or a sannyasi or brahmacari or business man, or... It doesn't matter. He can become fully Krsna conscious if he accepts the principles.
>>> Ref. VedaBase =>
Room Conversation with Anna Conan Doyle, daughter-in-law of famous author, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle -- August 10, 1973, Paris
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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