Nothing Can Check Us

Nothing Can Check Us

Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.1
Hyderabad, April 10, 1975

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Prabhupada:

nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke
kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye
tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam
suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam [SB 5.5.1]

This evening I shall recite some verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, Fifth Chapter, on the instruction of Rsabhadeva. Rsabhadeva was the father of King Bharata, after whose name this tract of land is called Bharata-varsa. So Rsabhadeva, before retiring from family life, He had one hundred sons, and He instructed them about spiritual realization of life.

This Bharata-varsa, land of Bharata-varsa, it is meant for spiritual realization. And Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His mission is to distribute the message of Bharata-varsa throughout the whole world. He said -- it is recorded in a Bengali stanza –

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

Upakara, you can understand -- it is very common word: to do something good to others. Upakara. And apakara means to do something harm to others. At the present moment, throughout the whole world, the desire is how to do something harmful to others. This is called envy. The material world is full of envies. I am envious of you, and you are envious of me. This is materialism, this struggle between man to man, family to family, community to community, nation to nation, species to species. Everyone is envious. This is material disease. And spiritual life means not to become envious. That is spiritual life.

Therefore in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam [SB 1.1.2]. This dharma, bhagavata-dharma... Bhagavata-dharma means the religious principles connecting with Bhagavan. That is bhagavata, and that is dharma. If the dharma, or the principle of religion, does not try to understand God, or to reestablish the relationship with God, that is not religion; that is cheating. Therefore Bhagavata says. So all types of cheating religion is rejected from Srimad-Bhagavatam. We have manufactured so many religious systems: Hindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religion, and so many others. Why religion should be designated? Just like gold. Gold is gold. There cannot be any Hindu gold or Muslim gold or Christian gold. Gold is gold. Everywhere you take gold, people will accept as gold. Because one Hindu is taking gold to some Muslim country, it does not mean the Muslims will not accept because it is brought by the Hindu. Gold is gold. Therefore religion, the conception of religion, must be gold. That is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]

That is first-class religion, parah. Parah means transcendental, not material.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]

That system of religion is first class, or transcendental, which teaches the followers how to become devotee of the Lord. That is religion, and that is instructed in the Bhagavad-gita:

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekamsaranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]

That is religion.  

 

Krsna appeared. His mission was,

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

So He appears for reestablishing the principles of religion. Now, at the end of His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita, He says sarva-dharman parityajya. He did not appear to teach Hindu religion or Muslim religion or Christian religion. He appeared for teaching what is religion. Religion cannot be two. Religion is one. Man's religion should be one. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam  [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma, religion, means the codes or the orders given by God. That is religion. This is the simplest definition of religion. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam  [SB 6.3.19]. Just like law means the codes or the orders given by the state. You cannot manufacture law at your home. That is not possible. That is not law. What the state says, "Keep to the left" or "Keep to the right," that is law. If you violate the law, then you will be punished. Similarly, the laws of God is the laws of material nature. In the Bhagavad-gitait is said,

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]

Just like the legislative assembly passes the law, to be carried out, to be executed, by the people in general. And if they do not do it, then they are punishable. Similarly, the dharma, or the codes of Bhagavan, you have to accept. Compulsory. If you do not accept, then you will suffer.

mudha janmani janmani
mam aprapyaiva [Bg. 16.20]

This is the law.

So human life, especially meant for understanding what is God and what is the law of God and how to follow it and achieve success in life. That is human life. Sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. Sambandha means first of all we must understand what is our relationship with this material world or with God. So many there are. Everything is relative -- this is a relative world. So what is the relativity between God and ourself? There must be God. The atheist class of men, they deny the existence of God. But that is superfluous. They cannot deny the existence of God, because they have to abide by the laws of God. How you can deny the existence of God? Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham  [Bg. 10.34]. The atheist class of men, they do not believe in God, but they believe in death. That they will have to believe. They cannot avoid. And Krsna says that "Death I am. If you do not believe in God, then you will have to believe Me when I come as death and take everything from you."Mrtyuh sarva-haras caham  [Bg. 10.34]. You may deny God, and you may do whatever you like, and you may create your own kingdom by plans. But when Krsna will come, He will come as death, because you are atheist, and He will take away everything what you have created. Just like Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu was atheist number one, and he was very much persecuting his own son because he was a devotee of God. The only fault. So when it was very, very terrible, at that time Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared and killed Hiranyakasipu within a second.

So unless you make a solution of the four problems, namely birth, death, old age and disease, which is compulsory, how you can deny God? That is not possible. A madman says that "I don't care for God," but no sane man will say like that. So God is there. I may believe or not believe -- that is my business. But God is there, God's laws are going on, and we have to follow. We shall be forced to follow, this way or that way, so there is no excuse to deny the existence of God. That is foolishness. Therefore if you are sane man, then we should be sober. In cool head we should think of how we are being controlled, who is the controller, why we are being controlled, why we are not independent, why we are forced to accept something which we do not want. These things are to be considered in human life, and that is the beginning of Vedanta-sutra, athatho brahma-jijnasa.

Now this human life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. That is the only business. That is the only business. Sastra says that,

tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah [SB 1.5.18]

Everything is arranged according to the body I have received. How I have received this body? I have received this body by the material nature. Everyone can understand it.

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

karanam guna-sangah asya
sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]

So the prakrti is instrument through which God's law is working. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. The scientists are trying to make something new, but the real problem,

janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-
duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]

That is under the control of prakrti, or the instrument of God.

Now, how to make our life successful, that is being instructed by Rsabhadeva to His sons. The first business, He says,

nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke
kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]

"My dear sons, this life,"ayam dehah. Ayam dehah means this body, this human form of body. Deha-bhajam nrloke. There are many other bodies. There are 8,400,00s forms of body.

jalaja nava-laksani
sthavara laksa-vimsati
krmayo rudra-sankhyakah
paksinam dasa-laksanam [Padma Purana]

Then,

pasavah trimsal-laksani
catur-laksani manusah [Padma Purana]

So there are so many forms of life in this material world. Ayam loke. Deha-bhajam. Deha-bhajam means one, the spirit soul, has accepted this body -- but by evolutionary process, from aquatics to plant's life, then insect life, then reptile's life, then bird's life, beast life, then human form of life, then civilized form of life, then the life of human body born in Bharata-varsa. This is the highest, highest developed life by evolutionary process, this land of Bharata-varsa.

So I am especially speaking to the Indians, bharata-varsis, that you have got this life in this land after many, many evolutionary process, bahunam janmanam ante. Bahu-sambhavante, the sastras say. Bahu-sambhavante  [SB 11.9.29]. Unfortunately, we are forgetting this. At the present moment we are forgetting the importance of this life born in the land of Bharata-varsa. This is our misfortune. Don't be misled. You have got this human form of life, bharata-varsi. Very easily you can take the opportunity of understanding what is God, what is your relationship with God, because in India there are so many Vedic sastras. I am reading one, this Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is also Vedic literature. It is the commentary on the Vedanta-sutra. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam  [Garuda Purana]. So this Krsna consciousness movement means that we are spreading this knowledge of Srimad-Bhagavatam throughout the whole world. And as far the Indians, bharata-varsi, it is a special prerogative to understand these Vedic literatures and make his life successful. Do not spoil your, the gift, the boon given by God -- this human form of life. Do not waste it for nothing. Utilize it.

Therefore long, long ago, about some millions and millions of years ago, this knowledge was imparted by Rsabhadeva to His sons: "My dear boys, you have got this human form of life, especially the body received from Me -- I am King in royal family -- so don't spoil it."Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke. How to spoil it? Kastan kaman, simply for sense gratification. Working very hard like an ass is not human form of life. Human form of life should be utilized to become very sober, cool-headed, and to understand what is God, what is my life. This is the necessity. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]

Not that everyone should be very much intelligent. It is not possible. In the... Although everyone has got this human form of body, not that everyone is very intelligent.

So according to the intelligence, the divisions should be there. That is confirmed by Krsna:

catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]

In the human society there must be four divisions -- the brahmana, the ksatriya, the vaisya and the sudra -- according to the quality. The most intelligent class of men, they should become brahmanas. Satya, samah, damah, titiksa, arjavam,

jnanam vijnanam astikyam
brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]

So the next-intelligent class of men should become the administrators. And the next-intelligent class men should be the productive class, vaisyas.

krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam
vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]

Everything is there. And especially in India, this ideal life of human society should be inaugurated. We should not imitate the Western people, who are now dwindling. Their material civilization is no longer giving them happiness. That is a fact. They are seeking after athatho brahma-jijnasa. They are now seeking after inquiring about Brahman. Therefore you will find so many Europeans and Americans, they have taken to this Krsna consciousness movement because they are now inquisitive –inquisitive: "What is next?" Why..., why we are following them, how to make machine and skyscraper building? They are coming to Krsna consciousness.

So long, long before, Rsabhadeva advised, "My dear sons, this body should not be misused working whole day and night for sense gratification, because that is the business of the hogs and dogs." Here it is clearly said, kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye. Vid-bhujam. You have seen. In our India we see vid-bhujam. Vid-bhujam means stool-eater, the pigs. They are seeking after stool, whole day and night, and they are eating. And after eating stool... The stool is very substantial food. According to chemical examination, it contains all the hydrophosphates, because the essence of the foodstuff we have taken, that is stool. So anyone, if one can eat. But we can see that the hogs, they become very fatty, because it contains fat. Sometimes in the wartime, I learned that the German people are taking, extracting, fat from stool. So there is enough fat. The result is they become very much sexually inclined. And they have no distinction how to enjoy sex life. Never mind it is mother or sister or daughter, it doesn't matter. That is hog's life.

Therefore Rsabhadeva is advising His sons, "Don't be like hogs -- eat very sumptuously, become fatty, and then seek after sex life and without any discrimination. Don't be like hogs and dogs. This life is not meant for, to become like dogs and hogs." This is the first instruction. Then what it is meant for? He says, tapo divyam putraka: "My dear sons, this life is meant for tapasya." Tapasya means voluntarily accepting some miseries. Just like we ask our students for tapasya: no illicit sex. So in the Western countries it is very difficult to give up this habit. But these boys and girls, on my request, they have given up. This is called tapasya. I do not like to give up something, but for achieving some higher result, if I give up voluntarily something, which may cause some miseries, still I shall accept it. That is called tapasya. Tapah.

So why tapasya? Tapasya is accepted for some higher achievement. So therefore He said, tapo divyam putraka. Divyam. Divyam means "transcendental." Just like Krsna says, janma karma ca me divyam. Divyam: transcendental, divine. So Krsna says that,

janma karma ca me divyam
yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]

Anyone who tries to understand Krsna's activities, that is divyam. So tapo divyam: "My dear sons, accept tapasya for that transcendental realization." Not for manufacturing atom bomb. That is also tapasya. The scientists undergo severe penances how to find out, discover some... Not that kind. That Hiranyakasipu... Hiranyakasipu, he also underwent great tapasya, but what was the result of that tapasya? To tease his own son, because he was devotee. Not that kind of tapasya. That is demonic. Tapo divyam. Divyam. You just try to undergo austerities and penances for divine, transcendental realization. That is tapasya. "Why I shall go? I am enjoying my senses very nicely like the dogs and hogs. Why shall I undergo tapasya?" Now the answer is given: tapo divyam yena sattvamsuddhyed. This tapasya is required if you want to purify your existence. Just like a man suffering from some disease, he is advised by the physician that "You don't eat for some time. Fast." That is tapasya. Why? Not to be cured -- to purify the body from the disease. That is tapasya.

So here tapasya is advised not for some material profit but for transcendental realization. Then what will be the result? Now, suddhyed sattvam. This existence... At the present moment my existence, this bodily existence, is not pure. If it is pure, then why shall I be subjected to birth, death and old age? Because it is not pure. The so-called scientists, philosophers, they do not know. They say death is, it is inevitable; we cannot avoid it. No! Death is..., can be avoided. That is called tapasya. That is called purification. Just like Krsna says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti  [Bg. 4.9]. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti  [Bg. 4.9]. After giving up this body, Krsna assures, then you don't get another material body. Where is that science? They do not know whether we are going to accept another body. That's a fact, but they do not know it. Big, big scientist, big, big professor, they do not know it. They think that this life is the end, and after, there is nothing -- zero. Sunyavadi. Nirvisesa-sunyavadi.

But that is not the fact. Krsna says, tatha dehantara-praptir. The most, I mean, authorized person, Krsna. Who can be greater authority than Krsna? All acaryas accept -- Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Sankaracarya -- the acaryas who guide the destiny of Indian civilization, they accept krsnas tu bhagavan svayam  [SB 1.3.28]. So how can you deny the statement of Krsna? Krsna says, tatha dehantara-praptir. As you are changing body in this life,

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir [Bg. 2.13]

So there is dehantara-praptir. So this dehantara-praptir means diseased condition. And we have accepted the so-called material happiness as happiness. But that may be happiness, but that is temporary. But real happiness, as it is stated here, that,

tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam
suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam [SB 5.5.1]

If you purify your existence, that you are hankering after happiness -- that happiness should be eternal. Eternal. Never interrupted. That is wanted. Ananda-cin-maya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis  [Bs 5.37]. Ananda-cin-maya-rasa. Rasa means "taste." We taste some happiness, but not this material happiness. But just like you taste sugar candy when you are suffering from jaundice, the taste will be bitter. But sugar candy is not bitter; it is sweet. But when you are cured from the jaundice disease, the same sugar candy will be tasting very sweet.

So we are hankering after tasting sugar candy in the diseased condition, and we are tasting the bitterness of it. But if you are cured, sattvamsuddhyed, our existence is purified, then we shall taste brahma-saukhyam tv anantam -- unlimited, eternal happiness. That is the business of human life. Not that for temporary happiness we shall work like hogs and dogs perpetually, and getting change of another body, another body, another body. That is not very good intelligence. That will be described by Rsabhadeva in the later verses:

nunam pramattah kurute vikarma
yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti
na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam
asann api klesa-da asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]

This kind of working means I am creating another body. That we do not know. Neither this science is known to the modern civilized man. They are in ignorance how we are creating another body, how there are so many different types of body. That is warned: yata atmano 'yam asann api klesa-da asa deha. This body is not tempo..., not permanent, but as long the, as long the body is there, you must suffer. You must suffer threefold miseries. That is not coming to our brain. We are accepting suffering as happiness. Hah?

asatyere satya kori mani
nitai-pada pasariya
ahankare matta hoiya [Manah-siksa 3, Prarthana]

Asatyere satya kori mani: you are accepting untruth as truth. This is our modern disease. It is not new, and some thousands and thousands of years ago...Srimad-Bhagavatam was written five thousand years ago, and this instruction of Rsabhadeva is there, so it must have had happened long, long, many, many years before this Bhagavata was written.

So the same disease. Because the material creation is not new. The disease is there from the very beginning. Now, in the Kali-yuga, the disease is very acute. Otherwise the same birth and death. We have not improved anything, because the same birth and death is continuing. We are eating, sleeping, mating, and everything is going on. So if we want to improve our position, if we want to enjoy life eternally, blissfully, then we must take to this Krsna consciousness movement. That is our request. If you don't take it compulsorily, then you are committing suicide. We are just trying to save the human society from this suicidal policy.

So my request is that it is a very scientific movement, authorized, taken from the Vedic literatures, and based on the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is. So our only request is, especially here in India, they should take it very seriously and try to apply the principles in their life, and spread it all over the world. That is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara  [Cc. Adi 9.41]. We Indians, we are not meant for exploiting others. That is not our civilization. Cheating others. No. That is not ours. Our civilization is to do good to others. This is Indian civilization. Don't forget it! You have got a very exalted position. Take advantage of the sastras, make your life successful, and try to do good to others. Thank you very much.

Devotee: Jaya gurudeva. Jaya Srila Prabhupada. Haribol. [end]

 

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"How To See Greatness Of God"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.18
New York, April 10, 1973

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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

kunty uvaca
namasye purusam tvadyam
isvaram prakrteh param
alaksyam sarva-bhutanam
antar bahir avasthitam

Translation: "Srimati Kunti said: O Krsna, I offer my obeisances unto You because You are the original personality and are unaffected by the qualities of the material world. You are existing both within and without everything, yet You are invisible to all."

Prabhupada: So this is the position of God, that He is everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. He is within this universe; He is within the atom also. Andantara-stha-paramanu-caya...

eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-kotim
yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antah
andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.35]

This is Brahma-samhita. The Lord, by expansion of one of His plenary portion, He is existing within this universe. Not only within the universe, but within the atom also. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. This is God's qualification, that He can become greater than the greatest. Just like we have got conception the greatest -- this universe. We cannot even imagine how long, how far it is extended. But such universes are coming out from the breathing of Maha-Visnu. Yah karanarnava-jale bhajati sma yoga-nidram ananta-jagad-anda-saroma-kupah [Bs. 5.47]. From His breathing, when He exhales, innumerable universes come out, and when He inhales, all those universes again enters. Bhutva bhutva praliyate. It is generated and again annihilated. This is going on. This is one side, that innumerable universes can be put into the nostril hole of the Maha-Visnu. And another side, He can enter even within the atom. This is God consciousness. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. He is greater than the greatest. We generally say, "God is great," but we do not know how great He is. People say, "God is great," but we have no conception how great He is. He is so great that He can swallow innumerable universes within His belly.

Just like when Krsna was challenged by His mother that "Show me Your face. You say that You have not eaten the earth. Your friends complained, and You say that You have not eaten. So I want to see. Open Your mouth." So when He opened, (s)he saw all the universes within the mouth. All the universes. He proved, "My dear mother, not only a little earth, but the whole universe is within My mouth." (laughter) So when mother Yasoda was astonished, she thought something illusory, "All right, don't do it again. That's all." (laughter) She does not know that "Here is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To show me His mercy He has become my child." She does not know. She always thinks, "He is my child. He is under my control."

This is the relationship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with His devotees. This is wanted. Simply to understand "God is very great," that is not sufficient knowledge. When you deal with the great, exchange your relationship with the great, that is perfect. That is perfect. Suppose your president is very great. That's all right. Everyone knows, "President is very great." But what shall I derive out of that? When I actually deal with him, I become his friend, I become his servant, I become his secretary, I become... Some way or other, if I am related with that great personality, that is my benefit. Otherwise what is the use knowing, "Oh, President Nixon is very great"? There are so many... What I am deriving from that great? This is Krsna consciousness. The Mayavadi philosophers, they simply remain silent, "Oh, God is very great," and they cannot imagine how great He is. But a devotee can understand how great He is. He can see that innumerable universes are within the mouth of God. This is the position of devotee. This is not sufficient knowledge: "God is great. God must be great." That's all right. But unless you come in dealing with that great, you cannot relish actually what is God and how great He is.

So here Kunti says, alaksyam sarva-bhutanam. Sarva-bhutanam, "All living entities..." alaksyam, "You are invisible, invisible, although," antar bahir avasthitam, "You are within and without." God is within yourself. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara, the Supreme Lord, is situated in everyone's heart. The yoga system means to see, find out that God, Paramatma, or meditate upon Him. Now the yoga system has come down as bodily exercise to keep the health very good, to reduce fat, this is yoga system. This is not yoga system. This is a bodily exercise. Real yoga is that God is within me, but He is invisible, alaksyam. Antar bahih, although He is within and without, still I cannot see.

So meditation means concentrating the mind to find out God, where He is within my heart. That is real perfection of yoga. So people do not know this science. Here it is nicely explained that antar bahir avasthitam. The virad-rupa... Just like Arjuna wanted to see the gigantic form of God. He showed him. So we can see the gigantic form in this universe. That is described in the Bhagavatam. You have read that the big, big mountains, hills, they are the bones of the gigantic form. So they are described. The highest planetary system, Brahmaloka, is the head, or what it is called? Skull? What is this portion? Skull. So the rivers are the veins. The seas are holes like here we have got. In this way it is all described, the gigantic form. So... And gigantic form, at the same time, He is within your heart, very small form.

So He is within and without. Simply we have to purify our eyes to see Him. That's all. You can see God without and within, but you cannot see with these eyes. These materially contaminated eyes or materially contaminated senses, you cannot understand by these senses. But God can be perceived, can be seen, by these senses, by these eyes, when you purify it. That purificatory process is Krsna consciousness. The more you purify, the more you can see God within and without. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [BRS. 1.2.234]. The indriya, these senses, cannot perceive, cannot see, cannot touch, cannot hear namadi. Unless you are purified, you cannot hear also Krsna name. Unless you are purified, the name enters this ear and goes out in this ear. You cannot appreciate. Therefore purificatory process is required.

People are affected with three kinds of material qualities: goodness, passion and ignorance. Generally, they are affected by the lower two qualities -- ignorance and passion. Rajas-tamah. How do we know that "This man is in the modes of goodness and this man is in the modes of passion and this man is in the modes of ignorance"? How do we know? By the symptoms. By the symptoms. When one is affected by the lower qualities, rajas-tamah, passion and ignorance, his symptoms are that he is very greedy and lusty. These are the symptoms. As soon as you find a person is very greedy and lusty, he is to be understood under the control of the lower-grade qualities of this material world. And sattva-guna means prakasa, illumination. When one is situated in the goodness, that is brahminical qualification. Satyam samo damas titiksa. He is truthful, he is controlling the mind, controlling the senses, sama, dama; titiksa, he is tolerant; titiksa, arjavam, he is simple, simplicity. Samo damas titiksa suci, he is clean; jnanam, he knows things what it is; vijnanam, he can apply the knowledge in practical life, jnanam vijnanam astikyam. Astikyam means to have firm faith in God. He knows that God is there. God is there and he knows that God is within, God is without. These are the symptoms of a person who is in goodness.

So these three classes of men are there. So Krsna consciousness movement means to bring persons from the wretched, low qualities, ignorance and passion, to bring him to the platform of goodness. And that goodness also has to be purified. In the material world the goodness is also attacked by the other, lower qualities. Big, big men, very good men, but there are so many defects. Because unless... First of all you have to come to the platform of goodness, brahminical position. Then you have to purify that goodness, sattvam visuddham, visuddha-sattva, vasudeva-sattva, vasudeva platform. Then you will be able to understand what is God. It is not so cheap thing that one can understand God so easily while he is in the modes of material nature, especially the lower grade modes.

So at the present moment, most people, they are in the lower grades of the material qualities, ignorance and passion. Therefore you see all over the world, rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobha. Every man is greedy and lusty. Every man. So in this position, it is very difficult. Alaksyam sarva-bhutanam. So unless you change this quality... This quality can be changed. It is not that it is stereotyped. How these European, American boys and girls, they are coming to Krsna consciousness? How? They have changed their quality. By the process, we have got this process. In this process we can change the quality. That process is explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]

Krsna says, "One who is engaged in My unalloyed service," avyabhicarena, "no adulteration, pure devotional service..." Mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena [Bg. 14.26].

bhakti-yogena sevate, one who is engaged in the service of the Lord, purified, unalloyed... Unalloyed means no motive, no motive. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [BRS 1.1.11]. Other motives, completely zero. Generally, they go to temple to church, to..., or mosque, generally, they go with a motive. Just like in the Christian world, they go that "God must be order supplier. We shall pray to God, and He must supply. Then I accept God. This is the condition. And if He does not supply my order, I don't care for this God." So they are not going to become servant of God. They want to make God his servant: "God, give us our daily bread." That's all right. God is giving daily bread. Why you are asking, bothering God? He is supplying to millions and trillions of living entities, and why not to you? He'll also supply. That is not our problem, that God will supply our bread. He is supplying without asking. Do the animals go to the church and ask for bread? But they are getting sufficient. They are getting sufficient.

Therefore God consciousness does not mean any motive to take from some God, something from God. That is not God consciousness. You give everything to God. That is God consciousness. Just like the conception of accepting God as child. That is better conception (than) to accept God as father, because from father we simply take away: "Father, give me this, give me that, give me that, give me that." And if you accept God as child, then you have to give everything. This is Gaudiya-Vaisnava conception. Yasodamayi. (S)He has accepted, (s)he is worshiping God as child, so that she is always engaged that Krsna may not be in any inconvenience, about His body, about His comforts. Always mother Yasoda is anxious that "Krsna is now very naughty. He may not capture some monkey, He may not fall down on the water, He may not be burnt in the fire." Always anxious. Because this is Krsna consciousness. She is always anxious to give protection to Krsna. The best service. Krsna does not require anyone's service. He is complete, purnam. But for pleasing His devotee, He becomes dependent. He is bothering mother, "I am hungry. Why don't you give Me food. I will steal butter, your stock."

So this philosophy, Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy, is very sublime, to accept God as subordinate. Krsna says in Caitanya-caritamrta, you will find, that "Everyone worships Me with awe and veneration. But if anyone worships Me without any awe, veneration, and treats Me as insignificant, I like that. (laughter) I like that." So that exchange of Krsna's feelings you can find in this Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy, that mother Yasoda is treating Krsna as very insignificant. "He is my child. If I don't give Him protection, He will die." Therefore Krsna is very much obliged to mother Yasoda. Yes. But nobody... Everyone comes to God, "Oh, God is so exalted and..." That He is hearing throughout, but when the mother Yasoda comes and chastises Him, He likes it very much. Yes, yes, likes it very much.

So Krsna, although He happened to be nephew of Kunti... Kunti was Krsna's father's sister. But because (s)he was devotee, she knew that "Krsna also, although He is playing the part of my nephew, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Therefore she said, namasye purusam tvadyam isvaram prakrteh param: "You are isvara, You are the controller." What kind of controller? There are so many, food controller and house controller, these... You have got. No. Not that kind of controller. Prakrteh param: "You are controller. Your position is beyond this material world," prakrteh. Prakrti means this material world. Prakrteh param. That means these controllers within this material world, they are produced at a certain date and they will be finished at a certain date, these controllers. Just like your President Nixon. He is controller of your country, but his controlling power is given at a certain date and it will be finished at a certain date. So Kunti says, "You are not that kind of controller, that Your controlling power begins at a certain date and finishes at a certain date." Therefore, prakrteh param. In the prakrti, within the material nature, we have got some controlling power. Everyone. But that has the beginning and ending. As our life begins and ends, everything here in this material world, it has a beginning and end. But Krsna's controlling power is not like that. He says, she says, namasye purusam tu adyam: "You are the original person. You have created this cosmos. So before the creation of the cosmos, You were controller, and when the cosmos will end, You will remain controller." Therefore prakrteh param. "Within the prakrti, within the material nature, everything has got beginning and end, limited. You are not that kind of controller." Prakrteh param, eternal.

Another understanding is that because Krsna is controller, beyond this material nature, therefore He is not a product of this material nature. The Mayavadi philosophers, they cannot understand. Their poor fund of knowledge... If God has created this material world, then He must not be anything of this material world. Because before creation He was existing, and after creation, after annihilation, He will remain, then how He can be anything of this material world? Material world, anything has got a beginning and end. But God is beyond this material world. He was existing... He said, "Let there be creation." Just like in your Bible it is said. So there was creation. So how He can be one of the created beings? By His wish there was creation. And another thing is then His desires, His wish, they are nothing of this material world. They are spiritual. Prakrteh param means "superior to this material world."

In the Bhagavad-gita, you understand, there are two kinds of nature: para and apara. So this material nature is apara, apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim param. Apareyam. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh. The land, water, fire, air, sky, these five elements, they are described in the Bhagavad-gita, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "They are separated energy, inferior quality energy. But beyond this inferior quality energy, I have got another superior quality of energy." What is that? Jiva-bhuta. You can understand that jiva-bhuta, the living entities. Yayedam dharyate jagat. Because jiva-bhuta, we living entities, we are superior than the matter because we are controlling the matter. Just like we have been in the riverside, so many things, material things, we saw. But who has made it? The living entities. The matter has not come into so many forms without the touch of the living entity. Everyone can understand. The big, big ship, how it has come into existence? Because a living entity planned, engineered how to do it, and he brought material things, and he manufactured it. Therefore this inferior energy, the material things, they are subordinate to the spiritual energy.

Therefore Krsna, when He is prakrteh param, He is beyond this material nature. His body, His activities, His pastimes, His name, His form, everything, it is not material. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. If everyone simply tries to understand Krsna as He is in truth, then he becomes liberated, simply by understanding Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement. You try to understand Krsna not by speculation, but as Krsna says, as God says, or as a Krsna devotee says. Just like Kunti. Kunti is a devotee of Krsna. She said that "You are prakrteh param." She is authority. She is authority, because devotee, every devotee, pure devotee, they are confidential. Otherwise how Krsna has accepted to become her nephew? Just like Krsna has accepted to become the son of Yasodamayi or Devaki, similarly, He has accepted to become a nephew of Kuntidevi. This prayer was offered by Kunti when Krsna was taking leave. After establishing them, after the battle of Kuruksetra, when everything was settled up and Krsna was going back to Dvaraka, so He came to offer His respects to His aunt, Kuntidevi, and when the farewell was taking place, Kunti offered this prayer to Krsna. Namasye, namasye. He happens to be nephew, but she is offering his obeisances. Because (s)he knows, "He is playing the part of my nephew, but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Therefore although she is superior in position because aunt, she is offering namasye, "I offer my respectful obeisances unto You." This is the position.

So God is invisible, who? For the persons who have no eyes to see Him. Alaksyam. Although He is everywhere: andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham, idam hi visvam bhagavan. This visvam, this universe, is the transformation of the energy of Krsna. Therefore... The energy is not different from the energetic. Therefore the whole world is Krsna, whole world is Krsna. So we have to make our eyes. That eyes can be purified, as it is stated in the Brahma-samhita, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Santah, those who are saintly persons, those who have developed love for God, prema, that anjana, that ointment, who have smear the ointment of love on the eyes... So then... Just like we apply sometimes ointment and curna... What is called in English, curna? Powder, something? Anyway... So when our eyes are cleansed we thinks clearly; similarly, if we apply the ointment of love of God on the eyes, then we can see God. Just like Arjuna, Krsna. Kunti is seeing. Others, they do not understand that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Pandavas, and the Pandavas' mother, they know that "Here is Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Alaksyam. Just like Krsna was exhibiting His virad-rupa in the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Only Arjuna was seeing, nobody else.

So God reveals Himself to the devotee. Although... Just like Prahlada Maharaja was seeing that Nrsimhadeva has come, and his father, atheist father, he was challenging, "Where is your God?" So God is everywhere, but He is not visible to the nondevotee. But one who is devotee, he can see Him. Every... Not only once. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva [Bs. 5.38]. Sadaiva means always. He is seeing always Krsna. That is the position of saintly person. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu [Bs. 5.38]. Hrdayesu, in the heart, vilokayanti, they see.

So if you can see God, you can talk with God, if you can go back to home, back to God, why should you lose this opportunity? This opportunity is in the human being. You can see God, you can talk with God, you can go back home, back to God. Everything is possible. And that is Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.18 -- New York, April 10, 1973

"A Life Of Purity"

74/04/10 Bombay, Bhagavad-gita 4.21


Pradyumna: (leads chanting) Translation: "Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reactions."

Prabhupada:

nirasir yata-cittatma
tyakta-sarva-parigrahah
sariram kevalam karma
kurvan napnoti kilbisam

This is required in human life. It is not forbidden, that "You starve," no. That is not stated in the sastra: Yavad artha-vinirnayam. To keep your health and body, and the body and the soul together, you must live very nicely so that you may not be diseased. Because this human form of life is meant for making progress so that all the problems of life may be solved. It is required. Yukta. Yuktahara-viharasya. In another place, yuktahara-viharasya yogo bhavati siddhi-da.

When one becomes yogi.... Our real purpose of life is to become yogi. Yogi means to reestablish our connection, our lost connection, with God. At the present moment, in our material condition, we have forgotten our relationship, our eternal relationship with Krsna, or God.

nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

The krsna-bhakti, our love for Krsna, is there eternally. But on account of our contamination with this material world, we have forgotten our relationship.

Just like a madman, he forgets his relationship with the family. He loiters in the street. He eats anywhere and everywhere and all rubbish things. Although he may have a very rich father, well-to-do family, but forgetting.... Madness means forgetfulness of his real life. So we are now forgetful of our real life. This has been also exemplified by a Vaisnava poet,

pisaci paile yena mati-cchanna haya
maya-grasta jivera haya se bhava udaya

Pisaci. When a man is haunted by ghosts, as he speaks all nonsense, he cannot recognize his father, mother or relative.... Sometimes he calls them by ill names. On account of being ghostly haunted. Pisaci paile.

Similarly, in the conditioned state, under the influence of maya, we are also talking so many nonsense things, "I belong to this family, I belong to this nation, I belong to this community, my business is this," simply forgetting Krsna consciousness. All other business, he will remember, but when he is requested to become Krsna conscious, to understand Krsna, he doesn't like it. Except Krsna consciousness, he will take all responsibility and work hard for that purpose. This is called maya-grasta jiva. So nirasih, now, to go to our original position, that is called tapasya. Tapasya means to revive our original normal life of Krsna consciousness. That is called tapasya. This tapasya is not possible by the cats and dogs or animals. Tapasya is meant for the human being. Therefore the human life is called durlabha-janma. Durlabham manusam janma tad apy arthadam adhruvam.
Prahlada Maharaja said,

kaumara acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
[SB 7.6.1]

He advised his class friends, "My dear friends, from childhood we shall learn the science of Bhagavata-dharma. Bhagavata-dharma means to reestablish our lost relationship with Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And this can be solved in this human form.

Therefore education of Krsna consciousness should be given from the very childhood, kaumara. Kaumara means from the age of fifth year up to the tenth year. This is called kaumara age. So we have opened our school in Texas. We are training very nicely all these children, and they are very learned. Children, as you teach them, they learn. They are innocent. Unfortunately, we do not give them training about Krsna consciousness. We give them education for sense gratification, how you can earn money, economic development.

Economic development means to get more money and to satisfy senses more and more. This is the modern theory. But Krsna says that to achieve the perfection of life, one should be nirasih. Nirasih means unnecessarily desiring for sense gratification, unnecessarily. Everyone has got right to live and live nicely. For that purpose there is sufficient arrangement by the Lord. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. There is sufficient arrangement. No living being will starve. There is such arrangement. But when we forget more and more Krsna and God, nature will punish. There will be restriction of supply of foodstuffs. That is nature's law.

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

So present crisis, food crisis...

Everything is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita does not say that "You live by breathing air." No. Bhagavad-gita says, annad bhavanti bhutani. Anna. Anna means food grains. There is necessity of food grain. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Bhagavad-gita never says that "you don't require to eat. You simply breathe air and practice yoga." No. But we must eat neither more, nor less. That is recommended. Yuktahara-viharasya. We should not eat more, nor less. And nirasih. Nirasih means desireless of extravagance. Now we are desiring for sense gratification more and more. That is not wanted. If you want perfection of life.... This is called tapasya.

One has got the desire, but he should not desire unnecessarily. Everyone has got the right to eat, even the animals. Everyone has got the right. But because we are desiring to enjoy more, therefore we do not give the chance to the animals to live properly; rather, we are trying to eat the animals. This is not required. This is called nirasih. Why you should eat animals? That is uncivilized life. When there is no food, when they are aborigines, they may eat animals, because they do not know how to grow food. But when the human society becomes civilized, he can grow so many nice foods, he can keep the cows, instead of eating the cows. He can get milk, sufficient milk. We can make so many preparation from milk and grains. So we should not desire unnecessarily to enjoy more.

Then it is said here, kurvan napnoti kilbisam. Kilbisam means resultant action of sinful life. Kilbisam. So if we don't desire more than our necessary, then we are not implicated, involved in sinful activity, kurvan api, even though he is engaged in working. While you are working, knowingly or unknowingly, you have to commit something which is not pious, even sinful, but if you simply desire for living properly, then kurvan napnoti kilbisam. Our life should be without any sinful reaction. Otherwise we will have to suffer. But they do not believe, although they are seeing so many abominable lives. Wherefrom they are coming, 8,400,000 species of life? There are so many lives living very abominable condition. Of course, the animal or the living creature does not know, but we human being, we should know why this abominable life. It is maya's illusion.

Even one is.... Just like a pig is living in a very filthy condition, eating stool, and still, he is thinking very happy, and therefore he is getting fat. When one feels happy, "I am very happy," he becomes fatty. So you will find these pigs, they are very much fatty, but what they eat? They eat stool and live in a filthy place. But they think that "We are very happy." So that is maya's illusion. Anyone who is living in a very abominable condition of life, maya, by illusion, he is thinking that he is all right, he is living very perfectly. But a person who is on the higher stage, he sees that he is living in a very abominable condition.

So this illusion is there, but by knowledge, by good association, by taking instruction from the sastra, from guru, from saintly persons, one should understand what is the value of life and live like that. So this is instructed by Krsna, that nirasih, one should be unnecessarily desireful, more than his necessities of life. This is called nirasih. Nirasih. Another meaning is that not very much fond of material enjoyment. And that is possible when he is in full knowledge that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul. My necessity is how to advance in spiritual knowledge." Then he can become nirasih. These are the items for tapasya, austerity, penance.

People have forgotten now. They do not know what is the austerities. But the human life is meant for that purpose. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam yena brahma-saukhyam anantam. These are the instruction of the sastra. The human life is meant for tapasya. And tapasya...

Therefore in the Vedic way of life the beginning of life is tapasya, brahmacari, brahmacari. A student is sent to gurukula for practicing brahmacarya. This is tapasya, not comfortable life. Lying down on the floor, going door-to-door for begging alms for guru. But they are not tired. Because they are children, if they are trained these austerities, they become to practice. They call all woman, "Mother." "Mother, give me some alms." And they come back to guru's place. Everything belongs to guru. This brahmacari life. This is tapasya. Tapo divyam. That is Vedic civilization, that children should be from the very beginning of life trained up in tapasya, brahmacarya. Celibacy. A brahmacari cannot see any young woman. Even the guru's wife is young, he cannot go to the guru's wife. These are the restriction. Now where is that brahmacarya? No brahmacari. This is Kali-yuga. No tapasya.

But according to Vedic civilization, varnasrama-dharma. Vedic civilization means four varnas and four asramas. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. We have begin. We have began our lecture on the basis, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. So this is civilization. Unless one comes to this standard of civilization, varnasrama-dharma, that is animal civilization. So we prefer animal civilization. Therefore we are living like animal also, fighting like cats and dogs and suffering like cats and dogs also. This is the position. Nirasir yata-cittatma. Control. I shall accept as much as I require, not more than that, not less than that. Controlling the citta, intelligence, and atma, mind or self, self-control.

Nirasir yata-cittatma tyakta-sarva-parigrahah. Parigrahah means unnecessarily collecting something, atyaharah. Atyaharah prayasah... Sri Rupa Gosvami has given definition how bhakti is killed:

atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati

If you want to advance in spiritual life, bhakti-yoga, then you should avoid all these things, six kinds of, sadbhih, six kind. Bhaktir vinasyati.

What is that? Atyaharah, eating more than you require. Actually, we should not eat unless we are very hungry. That is good eating. In.... When you are hungry, you can eat any ordinary things. Still, you feel very satisfactory. So not routine eating. Routine eating must be there. We should not eat more than that. But the best principle is that if we do not feel hungry, we should not eat. But if there is no hunger and at the same time no appetite and we eat, that brings indigestion, dysentery, indigestion. So why should we accept that? Therefore it is forbidden, atyaharah. Ahara means eating. Eating more than required or ahara means collecting also. Collecting more than necessity.

Atyaharah prayasas ca. Prayasah means things which are done with great endeavor. No. We shall accept things which are very easily done. Not to waste our energy unnecessarily.

Atyaharah prayasah, prajalpah, talking all nonsense, sitting together and on the newspaper, "Oh, such politician said like this, such social worker..." All nonsense. Practically you try to avoid all this newspaper reading or talking of nonsense subject matter. That is called prajalpa.

Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah. Niyamagrahah means niyama, scheduled rules and regulation, not to accept. Niyama agraha or niyama agraha. Agraha means unnecessarily agraha, but without any result. That is called niyamagrahah. You must follow the rules regulation so that you are benefitted. But if you are not benefitted simply by following the rules and regulation, that is agraha, only for the rules and regulation, not for the result. We must see that there is result. Niyamagrahah.

Jana-sangas ca, to associate with unwanted people. You must associate with devotees, not others. They are called.... laulya, jana-sangas ca.

And laulyam, greediness, sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati.

If you are a student of devotional service, you must avoid all these things. And just the opposite number,

utsahan niscayad dhairyat
tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh
sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati

Prasidhyati means you increase. What is that? Utsaha, endeavor. "In this life I must fulfill my mission of Krsna consciousness." That is called utsaha. Dhairya. Don't be agitated because it is not giving result immediately. Just patiently go on working.

Utsahad dhairyan niscayat. Niscayat means to have full faith in the words of Krsna. Krsna says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati. This is called full faith, that "Krsna has said that if I am in devotional service, I will never be lost. Krsna will give me protection. Krsna says." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. To have faith, this is called surrender. Not that, "Oh, Krsna says, but may not be able to protect me." No. Krsna is able. He is all-powerful, omnipotent. He can give you protection. When He says that aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami, that is a fact. This is called niscayat. "Certainly Krsna will give me protection." Not that "Because I do not see Krsna, I do not know whether Krsna will give me protection." No. That word is sufficient. This is called niscayat. Utsahad dhairyan niscayad tat-tat-karma-pravartanat.

But you must follow the rules and regulation as it is enjoined in the sastra. Not that "Krsna will give me protection and I may do whatever I like. I can eat anything I like, I can do anything I like." Just some rascal advises that "There is no such thing, restriction, in the self realization. You can eat anything, you can do anything." People like that program. And as soon as there is restriction, they do not like. Because we put so many restriction, I am called in the western world, "Swamiji, you are very conservative." So we have to become conservative, follow the rules. Not that we give liberty, that "Whatever you like, you do, and at the same time you make progress, spiritual life." That is not possible.

Because spiritual life means tapasya. Formerly great, great saintly persons, they underwent very, very severe tapasya for thousands of years, hundreds of years. Then they attained success. In the Kali-yuga it is not possible to undergo such severe tapasya. There is concession. The concession is that you live a pure life and chant Hare Krsna mantra. This will make sufficient. A pure life: no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling. This is pure life. These boys and girls who have joined this movement, they have given up. They are not dying. Nobody will die if he lives a pure life. Anyone will make progress. Tapasa brahmacaryena [SB 6.1.13]. These are the injunction of the sastra. If you want to be happy, this is the.... Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam.

Sattva means my existence. At the present moment my existence is not suddha, purified. Just like if your health is contaminated, then you get some disease. So for the soul, the living entity, this disease, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam, this is a kind of disease.

Now, it is a fact because the soul is eternal. Nityah sasvato 'yam na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. The soul is eternal. It does not die. It does not annihilate after destruction of the body, but there is change of body, mrtyu. Janma-mrtyu means change of body. Tatha dehantara-praptih. So people should be intelligent to know, "Why I shall undergo this tribulation of repetition of birth and death?" But they do not know it. There is life without birth and death. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. After giving up this body, no more taking birth again with this material body. There is a life like that. We get this information. Why should we not fulfill this mission of life in this human form of life? Why unnecessarily desire so many sense gratification? This is called tapasya. If one life we have enjoyed the sense gratification.... Sense gratification, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. Eating, sleeping, sex life and protection from fearfulness. Now this has been done in so many lives. Why not in this life make a perfect process so that no more death, no more birth, no more disease, no more old age?

They think it is all utopian. But we don't think. We believe in the words of Krsna, words of the sastra. And we are trying to accept it, practice it and preach it. This is Krsna consciousness movement, tapo divyam yena suddhyet sattvam. Then why we should be interested to purify our existence? Yena brahma-saukhyam anantam. You are after happiness. So this happiness, the temporary happiness, sense gratification, this is not happiness. Sukham atyantikam yat tad atindriya-grahyam.

Real happiness -- beyond this material sense gratification. That is real happiness. So we should search after that happiness.

ramante yogino 'nante
satyanande cid-atmani
iti rama-padenasau
param brahmabhidhiyate

Real happiness is to enjoy with Rama, enjoy with Krsna. What is that enjoyment? Krsna is the master. He orders, and you perform the order. That is enjoyment. Master and servant. Not as master, as servant. That is our enjoyment. Just like a faithful servant and a rich master, the reciprocation is service. The master is also satisfied by the service of the servant, and the servant is also satisfied, giving service to the master. This is our relation. Jivera svarupa haya- -- nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Unfortunately we are trying to become master. Instead of submitting ourself to become the eternal.... We are eternal servant. We cannot be master. If we do not become servant of Krsna, then we have to become the servant of our senses. That's all. Servant we must have. As you become servant of Krsna, then automatically you become master of your senses, because senses cannot allure you for satisfaction of the senses, because senses are engaged.

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]

Hrsikesa. Krsna's another name is Hrsikesa. So Hrsikesa, when.... Hrsika means senses. When we engage our senses in the service of the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. And as soon as we engage our senses with upadhi, sarvopadhi... We have got so many upadhis. "I am this," "I am that," "I am human being," "I am cat," "I am dog," "I am brahmana," "I am sudra," "I am American," "I am Indian." These are all upadhis. So sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When one becomes free from all these upadhis. So sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When one becomes free from all these upadhis, he understands that "I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi; "Therefore my business is to reciprocate transaction with the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman."

Mayavadi philosophers, they do not know that there is relationship that the Parabrahman and Brahman can be engaged in loving transaction. That they do not understand. They think that Brahman, when merges into the existence of Parabrahman, then business is finished. No. Business is not finished. Because we are individuals. It is not possible to remain without any activity. That is theory, that without any activity we can remain. That is not possible. And if we have no information of the spiritual activity, then we have to come back again to this material activity. That is practical example. There are many sannyasis. They so-called merging into Brahman, but they come back in material activities, in politics, in sociology and so on. So therefore these instructions are very valuable. nirasir yata-cittatma tyakta-sarva-parigrahah sariram kevalam karma. Sarira, just to maintain your body. Be satisfied. Whatever is supplied by Krsna, be satisfied. Don't aspire more and more. Save time for advancing in Krsna consciousness.... [break].... so that you can, with great enthusiasm, you can make progress in Krsna consciousness. Sariram kevalam. Not for sense gratification.

You have to eat. These things are eatable: food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, sugar. That's all. Why should we eat nonsense things? This will keep your health very nice. Sattvikahara. And you can prepare so many nice preparations within this jurisdiction. Why should you go and kill animals for the satisfaction of the tongue? That is not allowed. Then you will be again entangled. Otherwise, to keep your body in nice condition, you eat all these things which is meant for the human being. Then you will keep fit and save time for advancement in Krsna consciousness. And if you become always engaged for sense gratification, go on working, working, working, then go to the restaurant, eat, drink and make your body agitated, then find out liquor and woman, what is this life? This is not life. This is animal life.

Real life is that you keep your health nicely, save time, take ordinary very nutritious food within the jurisdiction of krsna-prasada. Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. So Krsna eats all these things. Patram puspam phalam toyam, vegetables, liquid things, water, milk, and so many other things, grains. So you offer to Krsna. Krsna is here. Krsna, although He is very virat, universal form, but Krsna has accepted arca-vigraha so that you can serve, you can see, you can touch, and your life becomes successful. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Thank you very much. (end)


>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.21 -- Bombay, April 10, 1974