Nothing But Krsna

4 Sept 69 , Hamburg

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Prabhupada:

...avidya-karma-samjnanya
trtiya saktir isyate

This is a verse from Visnu Purana. It is stated there that visnu-saktih para, "The energy of the Supreme Lord is spiritual." Energy and the energetic, they are nondifferent. Just like the sunshine is the energy of the sun globe, but the quality of sunshine and the sun globe is the same. It is not different. The sunshine is bright, illuminating, hot. Similarly, we can understand the sun globe, the temperature may be very high, but the quality is the same. So visnu-saktih para prokta [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. God has got one energy. That energy is spiritual energy. And ksetrajnakhya tatha para: and the same energy is manifested in another form, which is called ksetrajna, or marginal energy, or the energy in which we living creatures are acting. Ksetrajnakhya tatha para. And avidya-karma-samjna, and trtiya saktir isyate. And besides these energies, there is another energy, which is avidya, ignorance. Karma-samjna: and it is based on fruitive activities. Anya means besides these two energies, spiritual energy and the marginal energy, living entities, there is another energy, which is called avidya. Avidya means ignorance. And karma-samjna: and in that energy, one has to enjoy his, the fruit of his own labor. This is the material world. This material world is also energy of Krsna, or God, but here ignorance prevails. Ignorance is prominent. Avidya, ignorance. Therefore one has to work. Practically one hasn't got to work, but because he is, one is in avidya, ignorance, therefore he has to work. Avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate.

So actually, there is one energy, spiritual energy. Krsna, or God, is the whole spirit, and the energies emanating from Him, that is also spiritual. Saktih saktimator abhinnah. In the Vedic language we understand that the saktiman, or the energetic, Krsna, and the energy, they are nondifferent. So this material energy is also nondifferent from Krsna. In other words of Vedic language it is said, sarvam khalv idam brahma: "Everything is Brahman." In the Bhagavad-gita also, Lord Krsna says that maya tatam idam sarvam. Sarvam means all; idam, this manifestation, this cosmic manifestation, whatever you are experiencing... Krsna says that "I am expanded as this cosmic manifestation." Maya tatam idam sarvam avyakta-murtina. This impersonal feature, avyakta, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani naham tesu avasthitah: [Bg. 9.4] "Everything is resting on Me, or everything is expansion of Myself." Naham tesu avasthitah: "But I am not there." This philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different, is our philosophy, inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although it is in the Vedanta-sutras. So everything is simultaneously one and different from the Supreme Lord. But there are two classes of philosophers. One class says that God and the living entities are different, and there is another philosopher, monist philosopher. They say God and the living entities are one. So this acintya-bhedabheda philosophy adjusts that "God and the living creatures, they are simultaneously one and different." They are one in quality, just like the energy and the energetic, the sun globe and the sunshine. In quality, in sunshine there is heat, there is illumination, light. In the sun globe also, there is heat, there is illumination. But the degrees are quite different. You can bear the heat and illumination of the sunshine, but you cannot go to the sun globe or you can bear the heat and temperature there. The scientist says that so many millions miles away, if somebody goes or some planet goes near the sun globe, it will immediately burn into ashes. Similarly, God and ourself, Krsna and living entities, they are qualitatively one, but quantitatively, we are very minute. Anu. We are smaller than the atom. Nowadays there is atomic theory. We can see the atoms within the holes of the windows when there is focus of sunlight. That is called prasarenu. Prasarenu means six atoms combined together, then it is visible. Otherwise, atom is also not visible with our naked eyes. There is atomic theory, paramanuvada, in Vedic literature also. And Bhagavata says that the scientists may be one day able to count how many atoms are there within this universe. This is not possible, of course, but it is theoretically. The Vedic, er, Srimad-Bhagavata says that "It may be possible one day by scientific research, one can count how many atoms are there within this cosmic manifestation. Still, it is not possible to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead by our ordinary sense perception." Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Krsna, or God, is not perceivable by your material senses. It is not possible. Atah, therefore, sri-krsna-namadi. Atah sri-krsna-namadi. Namadi. Namadi means "beginning from His name." Because we try to understand Krsna beginning by chanting His holy name, Hare Krsna. Then, after chanting Hare Krsna, when our heart is purified, then we can understand His form, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1].

So either His name or His form or His quality or His paraphernalia or His activities -- none of these can be understood by your material senses. It is not possible. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Indriyaih, the senses. Then how it is understood? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. When we take to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, then the Lord reveals Himself. We cannot understand. He reveals Himself. Therefore sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Jihva means tongue. The first business of is to engage the tongue in the service of the Lord. How you can engage the tongue in the service of the Lord? By chanting and glorifying His name, fame, quality, form, paraphernalia, pastimes. This is the business of the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When the tongue is engaged, gradually all other senses are also engaged in the service of the Lord. The tongue is the most important sense within our body; therefore for controlling our senses it is recommended that one should control first of all the tongue. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings in his song: ta'ra madhye jihva ati lobhamaya sudurmati. Our present conditional state is like this. Sarira avidya-jal, we are packed up in the network of this material body. It is just like a fish is caught within a net. Similarly, we are caught up by this network of this material body. Not only this body -- we are changing this net in various phases of life. There are 8,400,000's of holes of this network. This is a network of ignorance, avidya-jal. Avidya means ignorance. Sarira avidya-jal jadendriya tahe kal. And this network, my imprisonment within this network of ignorance, is being continued on account of these dangerous senses. Sense enjoyment. So out of these dangerous senses, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, the tongue is the most dangerous. Tongue is the most dangerous. The tongue... If we cannot control the tongue, then the tongue will oblige me to take different types of body, one after another. If I am very much fond of satisfying my tongue by flesh and blood, then nature, material nature, will give me facility to taste flesh and blood fresh and give me a body of the tiger. If I do not discriminate of eating, then material nature will give me a body just like a hog, when we have to accept as our food stool.

So we are so-called materially suffering and enjoying according to this body. Therefore this body, this human form of body, is a great opportunity, because God realization begins by engaging the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau [Brs. 1.2.234]. By engaging the tongue in the loving service of the Lord, one can make advance in Krsna consciousness, ultimate realization of God, the tongue. So this tongue in the human body can be engaged. In other body, in the cat's body, dog's body, tiger's body... Tiger may be a very powerful animal. No animal is powerful or better than human beings. That is accepted. So this human form of life is a great boon to the living entity who is traveling through the cycle of birth and death, perpetually changing different sorts of body. Here is the opportunity, human form of body. We can utilize the tongue properly and get out of these clutches. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. So seva, seva means service; jihva adau, beginning from the tongue. So if we can keep our tongue engaged, always chanting Hare Krsna mantra... Because "Krsna," this sound, is not different from Krsna. Krsna is absolute. Nothing is different from Him. Krsna and Krsna's name is not different. In the material sense, everything is different. I myself is different from this body. I am not this body. But Krsna is not like that. Krsna and Krsna's body is the same. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritah [Bg. 9.11]. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "Rascals and fools, they deride at Me because I appear as a human being. They are thinking just like I am ordinary human being." Param bhavam ajananto. "These rascals do not know what is My influence and what I am." Param bhavam. "What is My nature they do not know. Without knowing Me, they consider, 'Krsna is an ordinary human being.' " Avajananti mudha. This very particular word has been used, mudha. Mudha means rascals. So in spite of this warning, there are so many rascals passing as big scholars. They say like this. When there is order of Krsna that "You surrender unto Me," the rascals comment, "It is not to Krsna but the unborn spirit which is within Krsna." He does not know that Krsna is not different from His body, Krsna is not different from His name, Krsna is not different from His fame. Anything pertaining to Krsna is Krsna. They are monists, they are philosophizing that oneness, but as soon as they come to Krsna, immediately they divide: "Krsna is different from His body," or "Krsna's body is different from Krsna."

So atah sri-krsna-namadi. So Krsna's name and Krsna is not different. Therefore, as soon as my tongue touches the holy name of Krsna, that means immediately it associates with Krsna. So if you constantly keep yourself associated with Krsna by chanting this mantra, Hare Krsna, then just imagine how you are being easily purified simply by this process, chanting, jihvadau, engaging the tongue in chanting. And your tongue wants very palatable dishes to taste. So Krsna is very kind. He has given you hundreds and thousands of palatable dishes, remnants of foodstuff eaten by Him. You eat. In this way, if you simply make it a determination that "I shall not allow my tongue to taste anything which is not offered to Krsna, and I shall engage my tongue always chanting Hare Krsna," then all perfection is within your hold. All perfection. Two simple things: Don't eat anything which is not offered to Krsna. That's all. Our Krsna prasadam are so variegated, nice varieties... The variety is the mother of enjoyment. How much enjoyment you want with your tongue? You can have simply by eating Krsna prasadam. And the more your tongue is purified, the more you relish the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra. Relish. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. It is stated by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that it increases the ocean of bliss, transcendental bliss. Ocean does not increase. We have no experience within this material world. If ocean would have increased, then all the lands would have been swallowed up many long, long years ago. Ocean does not increase. But this ocean, transcendental bliss, is increasing. Some of you must have experienced, those who are actually relishing. The authorities like Rupa Gosvami, he says that "What I shall chant with one tongue? If I would have millions of tongues, then I could chant a little more. And what I shall hear with two ears?" So he's expecting, he's aspiring to have millions of ears and trillions of tongues to relish this chanting Hare Krsna. So that is another stage, of course, when this chanting will be so melodious that we shall try to have more ears and more tongues to utilize it. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. By our present senses, we cannot understand what is Krsna, or what is God, what is His name, what is His form, what is His quality. Therefore immediately, if we try to understand Krsna by His picture, "Oh, Krsna is embracing Radharani or the gopis," we shall mistake. Because unless our senses are purified, we shall accept Krsna and Radharani as ordinary young boy or girl and their dealings. But actually it is not. It is pure. Caitanya-caritamrta kar has distinguished that the loving affairs of the gopis with Krsna and the ordinary, these lustful dealings of human beings, there is a gulf of difference. He compares that the gopis' love with Krsna is gold, and our so-called love here is iron. As there is difference between gold and iron, similarly there is difference between the loving affairs of gopis with Krsna and these mundane, so-called lusty affairs between men and women or boys and girls. It is never equal. Therefore, atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved... [Brs. 1.2.234]. These present senses, these impure senses, contaminated senses, cannot understand Krsna; therefore we should follow this principle: sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. First of all, engage chanting Hare Krsna. There is Radha and Krsna. Hara is Radha, and Krsna, there is. But don't try to understand by the present senses, but simply chant their holy name, Hare Krsna. Then ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. When your, the dust on the mirror of your heart will be cleansed, and it will cleanse by simply chanting, ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam, and there will be no more any material condition...

That is the next stage. If you chant Hare Krsna mantra without any offense, then immediately the stage will be that you are freed from all material anxieties. That is the test. How I am advancing in chanting will be tested how far you are free from material anxieties. That's all. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Then real life begins. So long you are perturbed by material disturbances, you should know that your spiritual life has not begun. This is confirmed in everywhere. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Prasannatma. Bhagavad-gita says, "When one is Brahman realized..." Brahman realized means one who understands that "I am not this body. I am pure spirit soul, eternal servitor of Krsna." Simply understanding that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul," is not enough. That is not sufficient knowledge. Of course, that is good. That is just on the marginal step between matter and spirit. But you have to transcend completely this material existence and come to the platform of spiritual understanding. So for that purpose you have to go further after Brahman realization. Brahman, brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. If you are actually Brahman realized, the symptom will be that you are always joyful, no anxiety. Anxiety, why...? Everything is very nicely discussed in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad. When you forget Krsna, or God, and if we think there is something else than Krsna, then we are afraid. And those who are convinced and realized souls that there is nothing but Krsna, where is the cause of fearfulness? Therefore those who are pure devotees, they are not disturbed even in most distressed condition of life. What they think? They think, tat te 'nukampa...: "My Lord, it is Your great mercy that You have put me into this distressed condition." Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamanah [SB 10.14.8]. So in the distressed condition, the devotees take it an opportunity that "I have got a very nice opportunity to remember God constantly. Krsna, You are so kind that You have given me this distressed condition."

So this Krsna consciousness is very nice. If we try to make progress on this line, we'll feel even... Yasmin sthite gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate [Bg. 6.20-23]. Bhagavad-gita says if one is situated in Krsna consciousness, even in the terrible situation, fearful situation, he is not afraid. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. You see? Prahlada Maharaja, a five-years-old boy, his father tortured him like anything. But he was not afraid. He was not afraid. This is the Krsna consciousness state. The boy is not afraid. Even in such tortured condition, when his father challenged him, "Prahlada, with whose strength you are so powerful that you do not care for me?" he immediately answered, "My dear father, by whose power you are talking like that?" So Krsna consciousness is so nice that even one is put into the terrible condition of distress, he is not perturbed. Narayana-parah sarve... There are many verses like that. We can quote hundreds. Narayana-parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati [SB 6.17.28]. If one becomes Krsna conscious, he is not afraid, any condition of life. Na kutascana bibhyati. Svargapavarga-narakesv api. If he is put into the hell or in heaven or in the spiritual world or any world, he is happy. Tulyartha-darsinah. He thinks everything is all the same. "Either you put me in the hell or heaven or this or that, (it) is all the same." Because he is always with Krsna, chanting Hare Krsna. Krsna is always with him. So where is the cause of being afraid that "This place is not good; this place is very good"? No. Wherever Krsna is there is very good. That's all.

So we have to practice and train the tongue very nicely. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [Brs. 1.2.234]. And the more our tongue is engaged in the loving service of Krsna... It is very nice service. You simply chant and eat Krsna prasadam. Is it very difficult service? Everyone will accept, "Oh, yes." But unfortunately, everyone does not accept. (laughter) (chuckles) You see. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says, etadrs i tava krpa bhagavan mamapi: "My dear Lord, You are so kind that You have approached Me in..., by transcendental sound. Or You are always with Me." You can be. If I take, then Krsna is always with me. If I reject, then... That is the ignora... "Krsna is everywhere" means as soon as we accept, Krsna is immediately with us. And as soon as we reject, oh, He is far, far away. So Krsna can be with us very easily simply by this chanting or engaging the tongue in His service. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended this process, or He inaugurated this process in this age. Although it is not new system, but He especially introduced because His incarnation is to reclaim the fallen souls of this age. So He... [break] ...before advent of Krsna he's simply planning, "As soon as Krsna will take birth, I will kill him." This is the plan of the demons, to kill God. Atheism. "God is dead." That is also killing, one sort of killing. "There is no God. I am God." These are all different processes of trying to kill. But God is never killed. [break] Rather, they are killed. That is the whole history everywhere.

Guest: I don't follow. Is it...? Whose choice is it to be a demon? Is it the living entity's choice, complete choice, to be demonic, against God, or is it a part of Krsna's energy to put demons, or to have created him that way?

Prabhupada: No...

Guest: Is it completely each individual's choice to be demonic, or...?

Prabhupada: Yes. Demon means when he is forgotten, when has lost his sense, that is demon. When has lost his sense, that is demon. Demon means mayayapahrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.15]. Maya, by the influence of maya, the true aspect of knowledge is taken away. Anyone who is trying to establish it that "There is no God," he is demon. That's all. There are so many philosophers, so many atheists, so many scientists. Their only business is to deny God. They are demons. Yes.

Guest: Then is there individual complete choice?

Prabhupada: That is ignorance. Yes. Apahrta-jnanah means just like a madman. For the time being, his natural knowledge is taken away. Crazy. What do we mean by crazy? For the time being, his knowledge is taken away. Similarly, when a living entity is in that position, as somebody has taken away his knowledge, that is demonic condition. But he can be reestablished again in knowledge. Just like a crazy man is sent, mental disorder, to hospital for treatment; again he comes as a sane man. Similarly, the demons are just like crazy men. Even they are treated with Krsna consciousness, they can be reverted to their own position. So this is temporary. This demoniac nature is temporary due to the contact with maya. Therefore the whole business is how to get out of the clutches of maya. Then there is no more demonic nature. It is artificial. [break] ...superficial. It comes and goes. As it comes artificially, so it can go also. And the driving method is this Krsna consciousness.

Guest: So maya is temporary, and the only thing that is eternal is Krsna and the spiritual energies.

Prabhupada: Yes. Spiritual energy. That is eternal. That is eternal. So we are... Due to our ignorance, we have been very much serious with the temporary situation of maya and we have forgotten the eternal position. This is our present conditional life. Now this Krsna consciousness movement means His treatment to reclaim the living entity from the clutches of maya. Then he is situated in his natural position. [break]

...contaminated, impure. Impure condition. Apavitra. And pavitra means pure condition. Apavitrah pavitro va. One may be in impure condition and one may be in pure condition. Sarvavastham, in all conditions. Avastha means all conditions. Gato 'pi va, situated, in any condition situated; yah, anybody; smaret, remembers; pundarikaksam. Pundarikaksam means "the Lord whose eyes are like the lotus petal." Lotus eyes. Pundarikaksam. Sa, that person becomes; sa bahyabhyantaram. Bahya means externally and abhyantara means internally. Bahyabhyantaram sucih. Sucih means purified. Another suci means brahmana. A brahmana is called suci. A brahmana means a purified person. Not that by birth one becomes pure. No. The purificatory process. There are purificatory processes. Just like in infectious condition, those who are vaccinated, given injection, he is supposed to be purified. He cannot be attacked or infected by the disease. Similarly, in spiritual life also one has to remain purified. The whole process, this Krsna consciousness movement, is to purify the people in general from the contaminated condition of material existence. Purifying. It is purifying process. A living entity by nature is pure because he is part and parcel of the Supreme Pure, God. But due to his impure condition, he has forgotten his eternal relationship with God. So this initiation means that one is being accepted as student by the spiritual master to promote him gradually to the purified state, where he can realize himself and God. This is the whole process. In contaminated state we cannot approach. I have given this example many times. Just like if you want to enter into certain place, then you must be adjusted with the conditions. Just like people are going to the moon planet. There it is supposed to be it is very cold. So people go with a certain type of dress by adjusting. Similarly, if you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, the abode, the planet where Krsna lives, so you must be purified. Adjust yourself. Not only to the spiritual kingdom of Krsna -- any planet you want to enter, you must adjust yourself in that way. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

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

If you adjust yourself, then you can go to the higher planetary system. Deva-vrata devan. Devan means the planetary system or the different planets where demigods are living. Just like this moon planet. This moon planet is also another planet of the demigod Candra. I do not know the modern expedition of going to the moon planet, how far it will be successful. I think it cannot be successful. According to Vedic literature, it cannot be successful because people cannot adjust to enter that planet. One has to adjust, make the bodily condition in that way so that one can live there. In this planet also, there are different climates. In India the climate is different, and your Western country, the climate is different. So when one comes to the Western country, he also adjusts with different coats and shirts. In India we can remain naked body practically throughout the whole year, but you cannot live here. So there is adjustment. So this adjustment, the Bhagavad-gita says, mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25]. "Those who have adjusted themselves to come to Me, he can come." There is no obstruction. So this initiation process, this Krsna consciousness, means to adjust your condition so that after leaving this body, you can enter into the planet where Krsna lives. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: [Bg. 15.6] "That supreme abode, where entering, one does not come back again to this material world, that is My supreme abode." There is...

na yatra bhasayate suryo
na sasanko na pavakah
yad gatva na nivartante
tad dhama paramam mama
 [Bg. 15.6]

These kind are explained. In that spiritual kingdom there is no need of sunshine, there is no need of moonshine, there is no need of electricity. And one who goes there, he does not come back. He lives there eternally, blissful life of knowledge.

So the initiation process means to give the conditioned soul a chance. This chance can be available in this human form of life. The cats and dogs, they cannot take chance of entering into the spiritual kingdom, or they cannot... It is not possible they can take initiation for purifying the body. So everybody, every human being, should take advantage of this form of life, human form of life, and cultivate this Krsna consciousness. And it is very simple and easy also. For this age, Lord..., by the grace of Lord Caitanya, we have got very easy method: simply chanting Hare Krsna. This mantra also which we uttered just now, it is said, yah smaret pundarikaksam: "Anyone who remembers pundarikaksam, Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately he becomes purified." Suci. Suci. Suci means purified. Sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu. Three times. So the Krsna and Visnu is the same thing. Krsna is the original person of all visnu-tattva. So anyone who is keeping himself always in touch with the vibration of Krsna consciousness -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- that is the only, I mean to say, guaranteed platform where you can keep yourself purified without any material contamination. And in this purified state, if we can leave this body ultimately, then there is no doubt we enter into the supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita, and you read carefully. This initiation does not mean... Of course, this chanting will save you, only chanting. But if you read some literatures also, and the philosophy also, then it will be more and more convincing that you are making progress. And in the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita you will find that this is the process by which you can understand practically whether you are making actually progress in spiritual life. Pratyaksam avagamam dharmyam. This bhakti-yoga system is so nice that one can directly understand how he is making progress, and very quickly. That's a fact. All of our students who have taken to this process, within very short time, they are realizing that actually they are making some progress. Therefore they are sticking to the principles and going on.

So my request to you all who are going to be initiated, that you keep always yourself in contact with this chanting and that will make you, I mean to say, able to be always purified, suci. Material contamination cannot... And you avoid these four principles: illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication of all descriptions. Intoxication does not mean simply liquor. Intoxication means even tea-drinking. Tea is also intoxication, in slight degree. Tea, coffee, cigarettes -- everything should be avoided. In India they chew pan. So these things are to be give up, intoxication group, and meat-eating group. Then you make very quickly progress, and by the grace of Krsna, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. After leaving this body, one hasn't got to take another material body and suffer. So long we have got this material body, we have to suffer the material pangs. There cannot be any adjustment. So if anyone is serious for ending all troubles... Everyone wants to live peacefully and happily. That is natural, because spirit soul is anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12), by nature joyful. He wants to keep himself joyful, but he does not know how eternal joyful life can be attained. That is spiritual life. You cannot become joyful by material adjustment. No. You may be joyful for the time being by drinking or by intoxication, but how long? So long the intoxication influence is there, you may feel something. That is artificially. But that is not actually the state of joyfulness. Real state of joyfulness is to be situated in spiritual life, and when you (are) actually in the spiritual kingdom, then you become sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], eternal life, joyful life, blissful life, with full knowledge.

So on behalf of Krsna, we are trying to distribute this knowledge at least in this part of the world. Now, those who are fortunate, they will take it and be benefited. Our business is to distribute. Now it is up to you. Every individual soul is independent. He may accept or may not accept. That depends on him. But if he accepts, it is good for him. Otherwise, he may make his choice. Krsna never..., God never interferes with your independence. No. He will never do that. Then what is the meaning of living being? Dull matter, it has no independence. Even it is a big mountain or big thing, it has no independence. It will stand still. But a small ant, even a microbe, it has got independence because it is living creature. So God has made you or given you little independence. That independence does not mean that you shall misuse it. You shall use it properly. And what is that proper use? To be engaged in His loving service. Just like you citizens of this German state, what you are meant for? You are meant for rendering service to the state. Similarly, the whole... This is a small state. America is a small... Or this planet is a small state. But there is a huge state which is called the cosmic manifestation. That state belongs to Krsna, or God. So naturally, you have to render service to the supreme state, supreme will. Then it is all right. Your independence is there. So long you are rendering service to the state properly, your independence as citizen is there. But as soon as you rebel against the state, your independence is gone. Similarly, our, this conditional life is due to our rebellious condition towards God. As soon as we agree surrender and be one with Him by transcendental loving service, the whole thing becomes adjusted. So Krsna consciousness movement means to teach people and to give them practical suggestion and help to... (end)

 

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Initiation

27 August 69 , Hamburg

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Prabhupada: Apavitrah pavitro va. One may be in impure condition and one may be in pure condition. Sarvavastham, in all conditions. Avastha means all conditions. Gato 'pi va, situated, in any condition situated; yah, anybody; smaret, remembers; pundarikaksam. Pundarikaksam means "the Lord whose eyes are like the lotus petal." Lotus eyes. Pundarikaksam. Sa, that person becomes; sa bahyabhyantaram. Bahya means externally and abhyantara means internally. Bahyabhyantaram sucih. Sucih means purified. Another suci means brahmana. A brahmana is called suci. A brahmana means a purified person. Not that by birth one becomes pure. No. The purificatory process. There are purificatory processes. Just like in infectious condition, those who are vaccinated, given injection, he is supposed to be purified. He cannot be attacked or infected by the disease. Similarly, in spiritual life also one has to remain purified. The whole process, this Krsna consciousness movement, is to purify the people in general from the contaminated condition of material existence. Purifying. It is purifying process. A living entity by nature is pure because he is part and parcel of the Supreme Pure, God. But due to his impure condition, he has forgotten his eternal relationship with God. So this initiation means that one is being accepted as student by the spiritual master to promote him gradually to the purified state, where he can realize himself and God. This is the whole process. In contaminated state we cannot approach. I have given this example many times. Just like if you want to enter into certain place, then you must be adjusted with the conditions. Just like people are going to the moon planet. There it is supposed to be it is very cold. So people go with a certain type of dress by adjusting. Similarly, if you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, the abode, the planet where Krsna lives, so you must be purified. Adjust yourself. Not only to the spiritual kingdom of Krsna -- any planet you want to enter, you must adjust yourself in that way. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

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

If you adjust yourself, then you can go to the higher planetary system. Deva-vrata devan. Devan means the planetary system or the different planets where demigods are living. Just like this moon planet. This moon planet is also another planet of the demigod Candra. I do not know the modern expedition of going to the moon planet, how far it will be successful. I think it cannot be successful. According to Vedic literature, it cannot be successful because people cannot adjust to enter that planet. One has to adjust, make the bodily condition in that way so that one can live there. In this planet also, there are different climates. In India the climate is different, and your Western country, the climate is different. So when one comes to the Western country, he also adjusts with different coats and shirts. In India we can remain naked body practically throughout the whole year, but you cannot live here. So there is adjustment. So this adjustment, the Bhagavad-gita says, mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25]. "Those who have adjusted themselves to come to Me, he can come." There is no obstruction. So this initiation process, this Krsna consciousness, means to adjust your condition so that after leaving this body, you can enter into the planet where Krsna lives. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: [Bg. 15.6] "That supreme abode, where entering, one does not come back again to this material world, that is My supreme abode." There is...

na yatra bhasayate suryo
na sasanko na pavakah
yad gatva na nivartante
tad dhama paramam mama
 [Bg. 15.6]

These kind are explained. In that spiritual kingdom there is no need of sunshine, there is no need of moonshine, there is no need of electricity. And one who goes there, he does not come back. He lives there eternally, blissful life of knowledge.

So the initiation process means to give the conditioned soul a chance. This chance can be available in this human form of life. The cats and dogs, they cannot take chance of entering into the spiritual kingdom, or they cannot... It is not possible they can take initiation for purifying the body. So everybody, every human being, should take advantage of this form of life, human form of life, and cultivate this Krsna consciousness. And it is very simple and easy also. For this age, Lord..., by the grace of Lord Caitanya, we have got very easy method: simply chanting Hare Krsna. This mantra also which we uttered just now, it is said, yah smaret pundarikaksam: "Anyone who remembers pundarikaksam, Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately he becomes purified." Suci. Suci. Suci means purified. Sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu. Three times. So the Krsna and Visnu is the same thing. Krsna is the original person of all visnu-tattva. So anyone who is keeping himself always in touch with the vibration of Krsna consciousness -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- that is the only, I mean to say, guaranteed platform where you can keep yourself purified without any material contamination. And in this purified state, if we can leave this body ultimately, then there is no doubt we enter into the supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita, and you read carefully. This initiation does not mean... Of course, this chanting will save you, only chanting. But if you read some literatures also, and the philosophy also, then it will be more and more convincing that you are making progress. And in the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita you will find that this is the process by which you can understand practically whether you are making actually progress in spiritual life. Pratyaksam avagamam dharmyam. This bhakti-yoga system is so nice that one can directly understand how he is making progress, and very quickly. That's a fact. All of our students who have taken to this process, within very short time, they are realizing that actually they are making some progress. Therefore they are sticking to the principles and going on.

So my request to you all who are going to be initiated, that you keep always yourself in contact with this chanting and that will make you, I mean to say, able to be always purified, suci. Material contamination cannot... And you avoid these four principles: illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication of all descriptions. Intoxication does not mean simply liquor. Intoxication means even tea-drinking. Tea is also intoxication, in slight degree. Tea, coffee, cigarettes -- everything should be avoided. In India they chew pan. So these things are to be give up, intoxication group, and meat-eating group. Then you make very quickly progress, and by the grace of Krsna, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. After leaving this body, one hasn't got to take another material body and suffer. So long we have got this material body, we have to suffer the material pangs. There cannot be any adjustment. So if anyone is serious for ending all troubles... Everyone wants to live peacefully and happily. That is natural, because spirit soul is anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12), by nature joyful. He wants to keep himself joyful, but he does not know how eternal joyful life can be attained. That is spiritual life. You cannot become joyful by material adjustment. No. You may be joyful for the time being by drinking or by intoxication, but how long? So long the intoxication influence is there, you may feel something. That is artificially. But that is not actually the state of joyfulness. Real state of joyfulness is to be situated in spiritual life, and when you (are) actually in the spiritual kingdom, then you become sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], eternal life, joyful life, blissful life, with full knowledge.

So on behalf of Krsna, we are trying to distribute this knowledge at least in this part of the world. Now, those who are fortunate, they will take it and be benefited. Our business is to distribute. Now it is up to you. Every individual soul is independent. He may accept or may not accept. That depends on him. But if he accepts, it is good for him. Otherwise, he may make his choice. Krsna never..., God never interferes with your independence. No. He will never do that. Then what is the meaning of living being? Dull matter, it has no independence. Even it is a big mountain or big thing, it has no independence. It will stand still. But a small ant, even a microbe, it has got independence because it is living creature. So God has made you or given you little independence. That independence does not mean that you shall misuse it. You shall use it properly. And what is that proper use? To be engaged in His loving service. Just like you citizens of this German state, what you are meant for? You are meant for rendering service to the state. Similarly, the whole... This is a small state. America is a small... Or this planet is a small state. But there is a huge state which is called the cosmic manifestation. That state belongs to Krsna, or God. So naturally, you have to render service to the supreme state, supreme will. Then it is all right. Your independence is there. So long you are rendering service to the state properly, your independence as citizen is there. But as soon as you rebel against the state, your independence is gone. Similarly, our, this conditional life is due to our rebellious condition towards God. As soon as we agree surrender and be one with Him by transcendental loving service, the whole thing becomes adjusted. So Krsna consciousness movement means to teach people and to give them practical suggestion and help to... (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Initiation Lecture -- Hamburg, August 27, 1969

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Krsna and We-Very Intimately Connected"

66/08/27 New York, Bhagavad-gita 5.7-14


Prabhupada:

yoga-yukto visuddhatma
vijitatma jitendriyah
sarva-bhutatma-bhutatma
kurvann api na lipyate

Detachment.

sannyasas tu maha-baho
duhkham aptum ayogatah
yoga-yukto munir brahma
na cirenadhigacchati

This verse we have been discussing, that sannyasa, renouncement. Renouncement of this world, not by artificial dress, but actually renouncement is described herein that yoga-yuktah. Yoga-yuktah. That means we have to stay in the Krsna consciousness. Then we can renounce. Otherwise it is not possible. Otherwise it is not possible. If I am to vacate this room, then I must have some other room to stay there; otherwise it is not possible for me to leave this room. That is the nature of living entities. They want some engagement. They want some engagement. Simple negative consideration, that "I want to detach," that will not make me happy. I must have some attachment also. I detach from this place by attach myself to that place. Because I am eternal. I am eternal living entity. My symptom is eternity. Not that I detach and end myself. No. I continue to exist. So without attachment we cannot actually be detached from this material world.

So sannyasas tu maha-baho. If artificially I detach myself, renounce this world, then Krsna says duhkham aptum ayogatah. If there is no engagement, good engagement, better engagement, then it is a cause of misery. It is a cause of misery. It is very difficult. Suppose a family man, he renounces the family connection, but if he has no better connection and better attachment, then he will feel, "Oh, I was better in my family life. I have done mistake." Krsna says, sannyasas tu maha-baho duhkham aptum ayogatah. Ayogatah means if we have no link with the Krsna consciousness, then simply detachment will be cause of misery. Duhkham aptum. It will be a cause of misery. Yoga-yukto munir brahma. But one who is in dovetail, one who is dovetailed with the Supreme, yoga-yukto munir brahma na cirenadhigacchati. Brahma. Yoga-yuktah. If I am dovetailed with Krsna consciousness, then acirena. Acirena means very soon I shall realize myself as Brahman. I am Brahman. It is simply question of realization. By misconception, by illusion, I am thinking that I am matter, but actually I am Brahman. The whole process is to realize that "I am Brahman, I am not this matter." This conception, Brahman conception, or realization, self-realization, is possible, yoga-yuktah, if I am always dovetailed with Krsna consciousness.

If I am always dovetailed with Krsna, doing something in connection with... Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. The other day I tried to explain this verse of Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami, he has stated in two ways the attachment and detachment. He says, anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. Visayan. The things of our enjoyment, that should be accepted, anasaktasya, without any attachment. I require this for maintenance of my body; therefore I accept this. This is called anasaktasya. So, in other words, just to make the better use of a bad bargain. I am now materially encaged. So I must make the best use of this body by dovetailing myself with Krsna. Krsna-sambandhe. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. And another, another verse, Rupa Gosvami states,

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate.

Prapancikataya buddhya. Just like there are some philosophers. They say that this material world is false and Brahman is real. Of course, that is all right, but according to Vaisnava philosophy, as we are, we say that material world is not false, but it is temporary. That's all. If you say temporary thing as false, that is not the right nomenclature. Temporary, one thing may be temporary, but that is not false. Just like we have come here, I have come from India. I am staying in this room for the last two months, or I may stay here for some days more. So my visit, I am a visitor. My visit is temporary. But this temporary visit is not false. Is it false? Oh, I am sitting here, I am talking with you, I am eating, and so many things. They are all false? No. They are not false. They are not false, but temporary. Therefore hari-sambandhi-vastunah. Everything has got connection with Krsna. That realization is required. Everything. Whatever we see here, they are only perverted reflection of the reality. That's all.

This perverted reflection I have tried to explain many times. Just like if there is a tree on the bank of a lake you'll find that tree is perverted, reflected, pervertedly reflected within the water. That means the top has gone to the down and the root has come up. And in the Fifteenth Chapter it is described in that way. So this world is a perverted reflection. And because it is reflection of the reality, therefore it appears so nicely that we take it as actual fact. That is called illusion. But if we understand that, "It is temporary, I should not be attached. It is temporary. My attachment should be to the reality not to the unreality,"... So reality is Krsna. This is also reality, but temporary. So we have to get ourself from the temporary to the reality. Therefore Rupa Gosvami says that prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah. Now in this material world, because this material world is manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Lord, therefore it has got a very intimate connection with the Supreme Lord. It has got connection. Because...

Just like the sunshine. The sunshine, although the sun is far away, but if the sunshine has got direct connection with sun... The sunshine is connecting me from this earth to the sun, ninety millions of miles away. Still, I have got connection with that. So similarly, this material world is the manifestation of the energy, energy of the Supreme Lord. Therefore it has got intimate relation with the Supreme Lord. That we have to understand. We should not take it, accept it as false and reject it. No. We cannot reject it because there is connection with Krsna. Now we have to utilize it properly. Because it has got connection with Krsna, and because it is the energy of Krsna. Therefore the whole thing is that this should be utilized for Krsna. That's all. It should be utilized for Krsna. If this material world is utilized for Krsna, then there is no trouble, there is no disturbance of peace. There is always peace and tranquility and happiness in this world, and at the same time happiness in the next world.

If we consider... When I am taking my food, if I think, "Oh, this nice foodstuff is sent by Krsna. He has kindly sent me this foodstuff." So I think of Krsna. So that taking of foodstuff in Krsna consciousness is yoga-yukta. That is called yoga-yukta. That is yoga. Always thinking in Krsna consciousness. That is called yoga-yukta. Yoga-yukto muni. Muni. Muni means one who is thoughtful, he's called muni. So one who is always thoughtful of Krsna, such person, yoga-yukta, yoga-yukto munir brahma na cirenadhigacchati. He, very soon, he becomes situated in his Brahman conception of life. And as soon as you are situated in Brahman conception of life, then immediately your effect will be brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. You'll be joyful. Your material moroseness will go at once. At once. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati. You'll be free from all anxiety. You'll be free from all... And there will be no demand for your sense satisfaction. You'll feel yourself full. "Oh, I am full. I have nothing to demand." Such stage will come.

So yoga-yukto munir brahma acirena. If we always dovetail ourself in Krsna consciousness and in that way we prosecute our duties... We don't take that this is false. We take it that because it has connection with Krsna, it should be utilized for Krsna. That's all. That yoga-yukto muni, he, at once, very nicely, very easily, he realizes Brahman. So many other processes, they're trying to realize Brahman for so many years by meditation, by penance, by going to the forest, Himalaya, and so many things. But if one is intelligent enough, always thinking that everything has got connection with Krsna and it should be utilized for Krsna, then I am yoga-yukta. And my brahma-bhutah, my Brahman realization is within my hand. It is such a nice thing. Yoga-yukto visuddhatma. And one who is dovetailed in such a way, he is visuddhatma. Visuddhatma. Atma means self and visuddha means pure. In pure self. This is... When we think that "I am the enjoyer," that is, my atma is covered with dirty things. "I am enjoyer," when I think. But when I think, when I am yoga-yukta, that "Krsna, everything belongs to Krsna," then I am visuddhatma. And that is a fact. I am not proprietor, I am not enjoyer. I am allowed to enjoy whatever is allotted to me.

Just like take, for example, foodstuff. You can take foodstuff as much as you require for your maintenance of the body. Now if you take more, then you'll be in trouble, and if you take less, then you'll be in trouble. You have to take exactly what is prescribed for you. Just like the elephant. Elephant is taking hundred pounds daily, twice. Once at a time he takes hundred pounds or more than that. And the ant takes only one grain. Now if the ant thinks that "I shall also take hundred pounds," oh, it is impossible for him. It is impossible. (chuckling) And if the elephant thinks, "All right, the ant is taking one grain. I shall take." No. That is not. The system is that in God's kingdom, in God's creation, for everybody, there is sufficient food. You take as much as you require. That is the natural way. In the nature's way you'll find, beginning from the ant to the elephant, they will not take more, they will not take less. If to the elephant you give two hundred pounds foodstuff, he'll take only a hundred pounds as he requires. Neither he'll take the foodstuff to his place to stock it for next day. No. You see these pigeons. You see. Whenever you give some foodstuff they take whatever they require, but they don't take anything for the next day. Next day. But we are thinking, "Oh, we have got so much foodstuff. All right, let me eat up to my throat, and then take something for next day." No.

The next day question should be stopped. We shall always depend. We shall always take as much as we require. That is called yoga-yukta. Yuktahara-viharasya yogo bhavati siddhih. One who is situated just exactly what he needs. Now, the whole world is situated in such a way, that every body, if he takes exactly what he needs and he does not stock, then there is no need. There is no poverty, there is no scarcity. But we do not do that. We stock for black market. No. That is creating... Because I am thinking that "This is my property." If I think that "Every thing, every eatable things, they are sent by Krsna or God for everyone, let me take whatever I want," then there is peace in the world. Of course, that is not possible because it is such a world (people yelling outside)... It is such a world that we are always anxious to stock, or you'll ask always to take more, then more, then more. Nobody is satisfied. Nobody is satisfied.

So yoga-yukto visuddhatma. One who is visuddhatma, one who is situated in his pure consciousness, then vijitatma jitendriyah. (aside:) Sit down. Don't disturb. Sit down. Vijitatma, and jitendriyah. Jitendriyah means that greedy, greediness. I want more. As soon as he becomes Krsna consciousness, his greediness goes away. "I don't want more. I don't want more." So if everybody thinks like that, that "I don't want more," then where is the trouble in this world? There is no trouble. Because by grace of God, there is enough food, enough sufficient stock. Simply it is the anomaly of distribution by the human society that is creating one starving and one... And that starvation is also due to his own work. There are so many. But for perfection, the perfection of the world situation, this is required. Yoga-yukto visuddhatma. When one is dovetailed with Krsna consciousness, he is pure soul.

Visuddhatma. And vijitatma means he has control over the body and jitendriyah. Jitendriyah means he has conquered over the senses. Jitendriyah. Sarva-bhutatma-bhutatma. And he has identified himself with all living entities. Sarva-bhutatma-bhutatma kurvann api na lipyate. If he works in that condition of life, then he is practically doing nothing. Because we are being entangled in this material world, and according to the reaction of my own work. So if I am situated in this Krsna consciousness and I am in my atma, I am in pure state of my atma and I am controlling my body and senses, and I identify with everybody, every living entity, then I have no entanglement, no reaction of my work. In this state, Krsna says, naiva kincit karomiti yukto manyeta tattva-vit. "I am not doing anything." That is the stage. A Krsna conscious person, he never thinks that "I am doing something." Even if you ask him that "Are you going to such and such place?" Suppose it is settled that he's going to such and such place. If you ask him, "When you are going?" He'll say that "I do not know when I shall go, but when Krsna will ask me or allow me to go, I shall go." I am saying this from my practical experience from my Guru Maharaja, from my spiritual master. He would never say that "I am going," "I am doing," no. "If Krsna desires, then I shall do it." "If Krsna desires, then I shall go." Like that. Always depending on Krsna. This is called visuddhatma.

Naiva kincit karomiti yukto manyeta tattva-vit. Tattva-vit. Tattva-vit means one who knows the truth. One who knows the truth. The truth is that unless Krsna allows me to go, oh, I may not go. There may be so many obstacles on my path. I have made my whole program. Just like last year, there was air crash on the Switzerland, one Indian aircraft. And there were all respectable gentleman, and there was... Perhaps you know it. There was one Indian chemist, Dr. Bhabha(?). He was going to attend some nuclear meeting in some European country, but there was a crash and all of them died in a second. So unless Krsna desires, unless He allows, we cannot do anything. We cannot do any... This is the fact. So tattva-vit... Tattva-vit means one who knows the truth. He thinks like that, that "I cannot do anything. I am always dependent on Krsna. I cannot..." Mahatma Gandhi he used to say that "Not a blade of grass moves without the sanction of God." It is a fact. It is a fact. Nothing can be done without His sanction.

Then you can ask, "Then why somebody is doing bad work and why somebody is doing good work? In both ways Krsna has sanctioned?" Yes, in both ways Krsna has sanctioned. Without sanction he cannot do it. But how both ways Krsna has sanctioned? Now Krsna has sanctioned in this way. He has given you liberty. He has given you independence. Not full independence, but... You cannot become full independent. But you have got independence. He does not touch on your independence. That is there. Because otherwise, if you, if you are bereft of your independence, if you are without independence, then you have no meaning as living entity. Every living entity has got his minute share of independence. So Krsna has given every one of you independence to make your choice. Now why you are...? Somebody is doing bad work or somebody is doing good work, and Krsna giving sanction? How is that? That sanction is like that, that when I want to do something and I desire, I pray, "Oh, this thing may be done." It may be bad or good, that is a different thing. It may be... I am very much anxious. So when he's bent upon doing so, Krsna gives him sanction, "Yes, you do it. You do it." He gives him facility. But one who has dovetailed himself into Krsna consciousness, Krsna gives him better consult, that "You do like this. Then you come to Me."

So sanction is always there. Sanction is always there. Without sanction, nothing can be done. So one who is in Krsna consciousness he knows. He's tattva-vit. Tattva-vit means one who knows the truth, that "I cannot do anything without Krsna's sanction." Therefore he does not do anything. Whatever is sanctioned by Krsna he does; otherwise not. So pasyan srnvan sprsan jighrann asnan gacchan svapan svasan. These are our activities. Pasyan, we act by seeing. We act by hearing. We act by touching. We act by smelling. We act by going. We act by dreaming. We act by breathing. So many our activities are... So in all these, going on. But a tattva-vit, one who is in the perfect knowledge and is Krsna consciousness, he, although he is doing all these things he knows, "I'm not doing." This is tattva-vit. Although he's doing all these things he knows that "I am not doing. Krsna is doing. I am simply instrumental. I am simply instrument." That is the perfection. So

pralapan visrjan grhnann
unmisan nimisann api
indriyanindriyarthesu
vartanta iti dharayan

Indriyanindriyarthesu. There are senses. They have got use. So even the tattva-vit who is in perfect knowledge, he is also using his senses, but he knows that Krsna is the proprietor of the senses, and he's instrumental only. "As He is directing, my senses for working." Or, in other words, when our senses work in that direction of Krsna consciousness, then we gradually make progress to back to Godhead, back to home, back to liberation.

brahmany adhaya karmani
sangam tyaktva karoti yah
lipyate na sa papena
padma-patram ivambhasa

There is a very good example here, that lotus, lotus flower and leaves of the lotus stem. So if you put some water, that water does not stick into the lotus leaf. By natural way. It will not touch. It will then never be moist. Similarly just like the lotus flower leaf does not moist, although it is in the water... Lotus flower is in the water, and the leaves are also in the water, but it has no connection with the water. Even a drop of water, if you put on it, it will at once fall down. Lotus flower. It is so made by nature. So here the same example is there, that although we may be in this material world, so because I am staying in Krsna consciousness and I'm acting under the direction of Krsna, therefore nothing will affect me. Nothing will affect me. Because due to this material affection, contamination, now I am in trouble. I am getting this body one after another just like changing dress. So myself, the pure spirit soul, so I am now in contamination because I am absorbed in the material consciousness. So as soon as I transfer myself into Krsna consciousness, then I become aloof from this material...

Just like the example is given here, the leaf of the lotus flower, although it is in the water, it has no connection with the water. Not a drop of water will stay there. Not a drop, even a drop, although it is in the huge mass of water. Waves are going over it and so many things. Water it is moving always, but that particular leaf of lotus flower, it has no connection with the water. Similarly with all upheavals of this material world, one who is Krsna conscious, he has nothing to do. Visvam purnam sukhayate. Visvam purnam sukhayate. Everyone is very much afflicted. They say, "Oh, it is very troublesome. It is very troublesome water, world. It is very troublesome." But a man who is in Krsna consciousness, he'll find, "Oh, everything is happy." There is no... So na lipyate na sa papena. And this contamination is... That is...

Krsna consciousness is the antiseptic measure. Suppose there is some epidemic in the city, and one has taken the antiseptic vaccine of measure. He's not affected. Similarly this Krsna consciousness is the antiseptic method to become free from the contamination of this material world. So lipyate na sa papena. He's not affected by the counteraction or contamination of this material world.

kayena manasa buddhya
kevalair indriyair api
yoginah karma kurvanti
sangam tyaktvatma-suddhaye

Atma-suddhaye yoginah. Those who are yogis. Yogi means those who are in connection with the Supreme. They are called yogis. So kayena. Kayena means by body. Manasa. Manasa means by mind. Buddhya. Buddhya means by intelligence. Kevalair indriyair api. And with the senses. Yoginah karma kurvanti. They work. It appears just like they are doing like ordinary man, but sangam tyaktva atma-suddhaye. Sangam tyaktvatma... He has no connection. He has no connection. Just like a bank cashier. He is sitting on the cash counter, and millions of dollars are coming to him, but he has no connection with it. Atma-suddhaye. Because he is yoga-yukta. He knows that "I am different from this money." He's all right. So by Krsna consciousness, one who is a yogi, yogi... Yoginah karma kurvanti sangam tyaktvatma-suddhaye. Atma-suddhaye. Karma. They work for atma-suddhi.

Just like we are working here. This is also work. We are reading. We are singing. This is also work, a sort of work. The same thing can be done in a club, in musical. But here the music is for atma-suddhaye, for purifying the soul. We are also eating, but for purifying the soul. So no work is different from the ordinary man, and the members of the society, they are also doing in the same way. They are also going to the store, purchasing things and preparing foodstuff, offering to Krsna and eating. It appears that they are also eating, they are also sleeping, they are also working. But here everything is for atma-suddhaye. It is under such a regulation that one is becoming purer and purer and purer and purer. So yoginah karma kurvanti sangam tyaktva. It has no connection with the material conception of life. Everything with Krsna concept of our life.

Therefore atma-suddhaye.

yuktah karma-phalam tyaktva
santim apnoti naisthikim
ayuktah kama-karena
phale sakto nibadhyate

The... Those who are in Krsna consciousness, he does not expect any result of his work. "Oh, I am doing this work. So I will enjoy this result." That never comes. That never comes in the mind of a person who is Krsna conscious. He doesn't mind. He doesn't think of any result. Yuktah karma-phalam tyaktva. And that is the source of peace. Santim apnoti naisthikim. Naisthikim. He's always confident that "I am engaged in Krsna's duty. So I am protected. So what is the result I do not mind. I do not mind." Ayukta. But one who is not connected in that Krsna consciousness, then kama-karena phale sakto nibadhyate. He, out of his lust, he becomes attached to the result, and therefore he becomes entangled in this material world. Ayuktah kama-karena phale sakto nibadhyate. Because he has got attachment for the result, therefore ultimately he becomes entangled with this material world.

sarva-karmani manasa
sannyasyaste sukham vasi
nava-dvare pure dehi
naiva kurvan na karayan

So sarva-karmani manasa sannyasyaste. Sarva-karmani. Whatever he does, he has decided, manasa, by the mind. Determination comes into the mind. Therefore his determination is manasa aste sukham vasi. He has decided to work only for Krsna consciousness; therefore his happiness is under his own control. Happiness is under his own control. He hasn't got to seek happiness externally. The happiness is controlled, controlled by him. Sukham vasi nava-dvare pure dehi naiva kurvan na karayan. So there are nine holes in our body. So that nine holes, they are acting. These two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, one naval, and the evacuating and the urinal, they are nine holes and we are taking work with these nine holes. Just like one, this room. This room has got four outlets. One there, one here, and two windows. Similarly we have got nine holes in our body. So we are acting with the help of these nine holes. Nava-dvare pure dehi. Dehi, it is just like a room having nine outlets. We are not this body. That we must know. Nava-dvare pure dehi. It is pure. Pure means a city or a room. I am sitting within this room. Nava-dvare pure dehi kurvan na karayan. He is doing in the room, from the... Just like a rich man, he is sitting in his room and everything is going on. Similarly, the soul who is in pure consciousness, Krsna consciousness, he is aloof from this body and everything is going on by Krsna consciousness.

Na kartrtvam na karmani lokasya srjati prabhuh. Now you can ask that "If Krsna is giving sanction, then He is responsible for my bad work also. Good work, of course, He is responsible. So bad work He is also responsible." Now, here the answer is na kartrtvam na karmani lokasya srjati prabhuh. Prabhu. Prabhu means the Lord. The Lord does not create work for you, neither He creates the result for you. Na karma-phala-samyogam svabhavas tu pravartate. Svabhavas tu pravartate. As you have acquired your characteristics, so you create your own work and you create your result of own work and you become entangled. It is not the creation of God. You create. "How I create? If it is sanctioned, if it is controlled by God, then how I create?" The question may be. Yes. The answer is very simple. You can understand that a person who is criminal, who is condemned. Now he's condemned to death or he is condemned to be imprisoned. Now he makes appeal that "Oh, excuse me, what was done(?)." But the judge puts him into the jail or condemns to life. So he thinks that "The judge has condemned me to death or the, he has put me into jail." But is the judge enemy of a particular person that he puts somebody into the jail and condemns to death? No. I have created. I have created my jail life before. The judge is simply giving me the direction. "Oh, you have done this. Now you have to go." He is not responsible. Similarly God is not responsible for my work, neither He creates my work. It is my nature, it is my characteristic, which, by which I create my work, I create the result and I suffer. God simply gives direction because He is the supreme director. Or the agent of God.

So He is not responsible. I am responsible. I am responsible. But if I become Krsna consciousness, if I act on His account and completely becoming dependent on Him then He is responsible for everything happening. That is the principle. Any question?

Hayagriva: Did you say self-realization is realizing our identity with Brahma?

Prabhupada: Oh yes.

Hayagriva: With Brahma. Brahma dies. Brahma is not eternal.

Prabhupada: Brahman is eternal. I am eternal. I am thinking.(?) Yes?

Devotee: He's saying Brahma instead of Brahman.

Prabhupada: Oh, Brahma you mean to say?

Hayagriva: Oh, you said Brahman.

Prabhupada: Brahma is a living creature just like us. A powerful living creature, he is called Brahma. He's the first creature. And Brahman, Brahman is the Supreme Absolute. [break] Pathans were ruling over Bengal in the 14th Century or 15th Century. 15th Century, yes. (tambura, kirtana) (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 5.7-14 -- New York, August 27, 1966

"You Are A Sample Of Krsna"

73/08/27 London, Bhagavad-gita 2.23-24



Prabhupada:

nainam chindanti sastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na cainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah
[Bg. 2.23]

"The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

So here is another puzzle for the rascal scientists -- because they are contemplating that except within this earth, in other planets, there is no life. Because the atmosphere is different, they cannot live there. Now, take for example the sun planet, fiery planet. So naturally, we shall imagine that no living entity can live there: it is fiery planet. But Krsna says that nainam dahati pavakah. The fire does not burn it. This is quite reasonable because the living entities are there, we can experience. Roughly we see that we are on the land and the aquatics, fishes, they are in the water. I cannot live within the water, neither the fish cannot live on the land, but from my experience, if we think that there is no living entities in water, is it not rascaldom? Similarly, these rascals are thinking from his own point of view. Because he cannot live within the fire or within the water, he's thinking there is no life within the fire. This is rascaldom. To refute these rascals, Krsna says, nainam dahati pavakah. Even within the fire there are living entities. Therefore Krsna says imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. "I spoke first of all this Bhagavad-gita system to the sun-god."

Now rascals will think that "How there is a god or there is a person in the sun planet?" They'll think like that. Everything from his own angle of vision. This is modern science. "I cannot think of such thing. Therefore, there cannot be any such thing." Just like everything should be within my experience. This is going on. They never admit that "What is your experience?" You are imperfect, your senses are imperfect, how you can be perfectly experienced? It is not possible. Acintya. There are so many inconceivable powers acting on behalf of Krsna. What are you? You may cheat some people that you have become God. That is another thing. But the inconceivable potency of Krsna, they are working differently. Srila Jiva Gosvami says that unless we accept this principle that Krsna or God has got inconceivable power, acintya-sakti, we cannot understand. If we put Krsna within the jurisdiction of my limited understanding, that is not understanding of Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. That inconceivable power is also within us. We do not know. So many things are happening. The example, as I gave many times, that the one nail was taken off. Still, it grew exactly to the size of the nail. In my personal body, in the nails. So the doctors cannot make exactly fitting nail, but it is growing exactly to the size. Even it is inconceivable to me how it is growing. Even my hair grows inconceivable, I do not know. I cut every week, and it still grows. There are so many little inconceivable power within me. I am part and parcel of God. Just imagine how much inconceivable power is there in Krsna. It is common sense.

We understand from the sastras that Krsna, as Garbhodakasayi Visnu, He created water within this universe and lie down, Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Now we cannot conceive that how a person can produce water from the body like the sea and ocean. But if you think over little soberly, that sometimes we perspire, we get perspiration. That is water. In India, we have got special experience during summer season. Sometimes a small pot can be filled up with the water produced from my body like this, put. Of course, one must be healthy man. Then he'll perspire and water will come out from the body. So I am limited. I am only a small particle of Krsna's body, part and parcel. If I have got this power of producing water, maybe one grain or two grain or one ounce; Krsna has got unlimited power, why not a sea? Where is the difficulty to understand? He can produce unlimited quantity of water which may be known as ocean and sea. Yato va imani bhutani jayante. Therefore, Vedas say that "From whom all these five elements have come into being?" And Krsna says,

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha
[Bg. 7.4]

"That is my energy." So everything is Krsna's energy. He can produce. Try to verify from the example. Because you are little sample of Krsna. You can study what you are doing, what you are feeling, what you are acting. The same thing in unlimited quantity, Krsna has got the power. That's all.

So here it is said, Arjuna might be thinking that "Krsna says this body is different from the soul. The soul is within. So now suppose when I place my sword on the body of my grandfather or my kinsmen, the body will cut, and, in the meantime, the soul is within the body. It may be cut because the soul is there. By accidentally, he may be cut." Therefore Krsna says very distinctly; nainam chindanti sastrani, that "Soul cannot be cut. Any weapon. It cannot be pierced by your arrows, it cannot be cut into pieces by your sword, or if you use firearms it will not burn." Nainam dahati pavakah. This is the position of soul. Immutable, indestructible. Another... This is the negative description of the soul. Nainam chindanti sastrani. Is there anything in this material world which cannot be cut into pieces? Have you got any experience? Take wood, stone, iron, or anything. It can be cut into pieces. Therefore, the..., when Krsna says nainam chindanti sastrani, that means it is nothing like anything material elements. It is different. It is different. Any material elements. There are earth, water, fire, air, and ether. You can prepare weapons from earth. Water, you cannot do now. But there can be a weapon from the water also. That was used in the Battle of Kuruksetra. Here, the atomic bomb is thrown, brahmastra. From the other side the watery astra is thrown so that the energy of the atomic bomb is immediately finished. So what the scientists know now? Although they have manufactured atomic bomb, but they are unable to manufacture another weapon counteraction of atomic bomb. That is not possible. But there is. Atomic bomb is fiery, and if you manufacture another bomb which is watery, then you can counteract. Because fight means I charge you with some kind of weapon. You have to protect yourself by the counteraction. That was going on. So nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavakah.

So it is quite natural to understand that if there is living entity within the earth, within the water, even in the air... That we experience. In the air there are so many living entities. In the water, unvisible, not seen by the naked eyes. By microscope, we can see so many germs are there in the water, in the air. So why not in the fire? Fire is also one of the material elements. Therefore, the sun planet, although it is fiery planet, there is inhabitation of different type of human being who may be called as demigods. But there are similar buildings, similar persons, cities, motorcars, everything. Everything is there. Otherwise, how Krsna could go there and says that imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1], unless it is exactly a planet like this where living entities, houses, roads, cars and everything is there? As Krsna advented Himself within this planet, He came here, Krsna can go anywhere. Krsna, when He was present, He was going anywhere. Sometimes within the waters, sometimes within the walls of the universe, sometimes in the spiritual world. He went to the spiritual world, taking Arjuna with Him. Arjuna also went with Him. And He saw the Karanodakasayi Visnu in the spiritual world. These things are there, described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. He could go anywhere. They were going to the heavenly planets. That is Krsna. Not Guruji. (laughs) That one slap, and he's blind. Not like that. Krsna could go, Krsna can do... All, this is called omnipotent, all-powerful. So unless we think of Krsna possessing unconceivable powers, we cannot understand Krsna.

Nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavakah. Another study from this verse is that the Mayavada philosophy, they say that spirit is one. The Supreme Spirit, impersonal. When the spirit is embodied, it becomes individual. This is their philosophy. Otherwise, they give the example... Just like there is water on the sea. It is also sustained on the earth. A big mass of water. And on that water, you can put one boat or ship full of water. And on that boat, you put another, a cup of water, and in the cup of water, you put another pot, a small cup or small utensil or even the skin of a grain, that will also contain. So their philosophy is that the water is one, but according to the pot or container, it becomes small and big. This is their philosophy. And when the container is broken, then the whole water becomes one. This is their philosophy. Now this nonsense philosophy is refuted in this verse. How? Now because spirit, either you take whole spirit or part spirit, nainam chindanti sastrani. You cannot divide it by cutting into pieces. That is not possible. So their philosophy is that the water has been put into different pots, therefore we see this small water, this smaller or bigger, this division. But they are all individual always. It is not that it has been divided. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. Sanatana. Sanatana means eternally they are divided. It is not that it has been divided by some means. Just like we keep water in big pot or small pot. That is not possible. They are big or small eternally. Visnu-tattva, jiva-tattva. The jiva-tattva, they are small fragments. They are eternal. Visnu-tattva. Visnu-tattva means the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Visnu-tattva is unlimitedly great eternally, sanatana. And the jiva-tattva, they are infinitesimally smaller eternally. Not that it has been cut into small and big. No.

So this Mayavadi theory cannot stand here if we accept the Bhagavad-gita's statement. Nainam chindanti sastrani. It is not divided by some means. No. It is already divided. It is already divided. Neither the small piece of soul or the big piece of soul you can divide.

nainam chindanti sastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na cainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah

Air... There are earth, water, fire, air. So none of these material things can act on the soul. It is not that because air dries up everything, anything... Big, big ocean is dried up by evaporation. Big, big river, big, big lakes are evaporated, but soul cannot be evaporated. Nainam sosayati marutah. This is the distinction. The air can evaporate a big ocean. Gradually, it is being done. As the days will go on, the sea water will be evaporated, and at the end there will be no water. These are the statements. Towards destruction, there will be no water. Just like now it is already begun. There is scarcity of water, no rainfall. So we see that the lakes and rivers and other water reservoirs, they are becoming dried up. Syamasundara, you were telling that river? What is that lake?

Syamasundara: Reservoir.

Prabhupada: Drying up. So there must be dry up and there must be supply. Nature's way. That is the way. But in the, with the advancement of Kali-yuga, there will be scarcity of supply, but the water will dry up gradually. The result will be there will be no water. As there will be no water, everything, all living entities, vegetation, living being, everything will finish, will die. For hundreds of years there will be no water, and then when everything is finished, dried up, burned into ashes due to and the sunshine, the glare of the sunshine will be twelve times increased and there will be no water. How one can live? So everything on this planet will be finished. And then, being warmer, warmer, there will be fire. In the fire, all planets of the universe will be burned into ashes. Then there will be rainfall. Another. For hundred years. So the whole universe will be filled up with water. Then it will be evaporated, and the whole universe, cosmic manifestation finished. This is called annihilation. So in Bhagavad-gita there is a statement that when everything is annihilated, the spiritual world is not annihilated. Na vinasyasi. So as the spiritual world does not annihilate, similarly the soul, the spirit, by any such disturbances, the soul is never annihilated. Avyayam indestructible, immutable. So Krsna is explaining in different ways the nature of the soul. We have to take it seriously, then we get perfect knowledge.

So, next verse you can...

acchedyo 'yam adahyo 'yam
akledyo 'sosya eva ca
nityah sarva-gatah sthanur
acalo 'yam sanatanah
[Bg. 2.24]

"This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same."

So this is another way, negative way. In the previous verse Krsna says: nainam chindanti sastrani. And now, negatively or passively, it is said that acchedyo 'yam. In every way, Krsna is suggesting the immortality of the soul. There are five elements: earth, water, fire, air. So none of these elements can act on the soul. You can prepare sword, cutting sword from earth, from metal, but it does not mean that you can cut anything material with your sword. But you cannot cut the spirit soul with your sword or with your other material weapons. Neither... Acchedyo 'yam adahyah. Neither you can burn with fire, neither you can moisten it with water, neither you can dry. In every respect Krsna explains how soul is immutable. Another significance is nityah sarva-gatah. Sarva-gatah means all-pervading, everywhere the soul is there. Even within the stone, even within the sands, there are. So how these people can say there is no existence of living entity in the moon planet? Sarva-gatah. We have seen sometimes that from the stone, I have marked it. There is one juma mastika(?) in Agra. On the top of the stone dome a plant has come out, on the top. Now who has gone to place that seed that a banyan tree, banyan plant has come out and it has cracked the stone? So nobody has gone there, but this means the soul is everywhere. As soon as it gets the opportunity, it accepts a material body immediately. As soon as there is opportunity. That is explained in the Seventh Chapter very nicely. [break]

...planetary system, say moon planet or other planet. They also again come down on this earthly planet. Ksine... [break] ... Just like you get visa for going to a foreign country. As soon as the visa period is over, the visa department immediately reminds you: "Sir, your visa is finished. Now you must go. You must go out." So the whole, the punya-loka, the higher planetary system, svarga-loka, you can go there by your pious activities, by performing big, big yajnas, punya, pious activities, go there. But ksine punye martya-lokam visanti [Bg. 9.21]. When your punya, it is also limited thing, when it is finished, you have to come back. It is said that when they come back on this planet they come through the water, showers, and they fall down on this earth. Again they begin their life as grass and something like that, evolution. Ksine punye martya-lokam visanti [Bg. 9.21]. Therefore this elevation to the higher planetary system, Krsna condemns them. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. "My dear Arjuna, even if you go to the higher planetary system, Brahmaloka, to live for many millions of years, still when your asset of pious activity will be finished, you'll have to come back here." But He again said, mad-dhama gatva punar janma na vidyate, that "If you try to come back to My place, then you'll not come back."

So the karmis, karma-kandiya, they are trying to be elevated to the heavenly planet, higher planetary system. That is not very good idea. You can go to the higher planetary system by your pious activities. First of all the modern age, the people are so much impious, sinful, that is not also possible. They may go down. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah. They are covered with ignorance. The ignorance is wine, women, and meat-eating. So they are going down. There is no possibility of going higher planetary system, not possible. Who will go to the higher planetary system? Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. Urdhvam means higher. Only those who are pious, they can be elevated. So even if you are pious, still you have to come back again. This is the process. So sarva-gatah. Sarva-gatah means a soul is free to go anywhere, anywhere. Full freedom, as he wants. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

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

As you like. It is up to you. Make your selection where you want to be. You have, somehow or other, you have come here. That's all right. But Krsna gives you chance to be elevated to any planetary system you like. Ultimately, if you want to go back to home, back to Godhead, that is also given, everything. Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. So if you want to go to the moon planet, there is no need of the sputnik. There is a process so that after this body you become elevated to the moon planet. Why should you make research for, and futile research, going to the moon? You just prepare yourself. There are different processes. If you want to go to the moon planet, you can go. If you want to go to the heavenly planet, you can go. Similarly, if you want to go to the planet where Krsna is, you can go. So sane man, intelligent man, should consider that "If I have to prepare myself for going, for being elevated to the higher planetary system, but we have to come back again, ksine punye martya-loka, why not endeavor for going back to Krsnaloka?" That is intelligence.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.23-24 -- London, August 27, 1973

"Nothing But Krsna"

4 Sept 69 , Hamburg

Prabhupada:

...avidya-karma-samjnanya
trtiya saktir isyate

This is a verse from Visnu Purana. It is stated there that visnu-saktih para, "The energy of the Supreme Lord is spiritual." Energy and the energetic, they are nondifferent. Just like the sunshine is the energy of the sun globe, but the quality of sunshine and the sun globe is the same. It is not different. The sunshine is bright, illuminating, hot. Similarly, we can understand the sun globe, the temperature may be very high, but the quality is the same. So visnu-saktih para prokta [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. God has got one energy. That energy is spiritual energy. And ksetrajnakhya tatha para: and the same energy is manifested in another form, which is called ksetrajna, or marginal energy, or the energy in which we living creatures are acting. Ksetrajnakhya tatha para. And avidya-karma-samjna, and trtiya saktir isyate. And besides these energies, there is another energy, which is avidya, ignorance. Karma-samjna: and it is based on fruitive activities. Anya means besides these two energies, spiritual energy and the marginal energy, living entities, there is another energy, which is called avidya. Avidya means ignorance. And karma-samjna: and in that energy, one has to enjoy his, the fruit of his own labor. This is the material world. This material world is also energy of Krsna, or God, but here ignorance prevails. Ignorance is prominent. Avidya, ignorance. Therefore one has to work. Practically one hasn't got to work, but because he is, one is in avidya, ignorance, therefore he has to work. Avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate.

So actually, there is one energy, spiritual energy. Krsna, or God, is the whole spirit, and the energies emanating from Him, that is also spiritual. Saktih saktimator abhinnah. In the Vedic language we understand that the saktiman, or the energetic, Krsna, and the energy, they are nondifferent. So this material energy is also nondifferent from Krsna. In other words of Vedic language it is said, sarvam khalv idam brahma: "Everything is Brahman." In the Bhagavad-gita also, Lord Krsna says that maya tatam idam sarvam. Sarvam means all; idam, this manifestation, this cosmic manifestation, whatever you are experiencing... Krsna says that "I am expanded as this cosmic manifestation." Maya tatam idam sarvam avyakta-murtina. This impersonal feature, avyakta, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani naham tesu avasthitah: [Bg. 9.4] "Everything is resting on Me, or everything is expansion of Myself." Naham tesu avasthitah: "But I am not there." This philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different, is our philosophy, inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although it is in the Vedanta-sutras. So everything is simultaneously one and different from the Supreme Lord. But there are two classes of philosophers. One class says that God and the living entities are different, and there is another philosopher, monist philosopher. They say God and the living entities are one. So this acintya-bhedabheda philosophy adjusts that "God and the living creatures, they are simultaneously one and different." They are one in quality, just like the energy and the energetic, the sun globe and the sunshine. In quality, in sunshine there is heat, there is illumination, light. In the sun globe also, there is heat, there is illumination. But the degrees are quite different. You can bear the heat and illumination of the sunshine, but you cannot go to the sun globe or you can bear the heat and temperature there. The scientist says that so many millions miles away, if somebody goes or some planet goes near the sun globe, it will immediately burn into ashes. Similarly, God and ourself, Krsna and living entities, they are qualitatively one, but quantitatively, we are very minute. Anu. We are smaller than the atom. Nowadays there is atomic theory. We can see the atoms within the holes of the windows when there is focus of sunlight. That is called prasarenu. Prasarenu means six atoms combined together, then it is visible. Otherwise, atom is also not visible with our naked eyes. There is atomic theory, paramanuvada, in Vedic literature also. And Bhagavata says that the scientists may be one day able to count how many atoms are there within this universe. This is not possible, of course, but it is theoretically. The Vedic, er, Srimad-Bhagavata says that "It may be possible one day by scientific research, one can count how many atoms are there within this cosmic manifestation. Still, it is not possible to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead by our ordinary sense perception." Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Krsna, or God, is not perceivable by your material senses. It is not possible. Atah, therefore, sri-krsna-namadi. Atah sri-krsna-namadi. Namadi. Namadi means "beginning from His name." Because we try to understand Krsna beginning by chanting His holy name, Hare Krsna. Then, after chanting Hare Krsna, when our heart is purified, then we can understand His form, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1].

So either His name or His form or His quality or His paraphernalia or His activities -- none of these can be understood by your material senses. It is not possible. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Indriyaih, the senses. Then how it is understood? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. When we take to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, then the Lord reveals Himself. We cannot understand. He reveals Himself. Therefore sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Jihva means tongue. The first business of is to engage the tongue in the service of the Lord. How you can engage the tongue in the service of the Lord? By chanting and glorifying His name, fame, quality, form, paraphernalia, pastimes. This is the business of the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When the tongue is engaged, gradually all other senses are also engaged in the service of the Lord. The tongue is the most important sense within our body; therefore for controlling our senses it is recommended that one should control first of all the tongue. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings in his song: ta'ra madhye jihva ati lobhamaya sudurmati. Our present conditional state is like this. Sarira avidya-jal, we are packed up in the network of this material body. It is just like a fish is caught within a net. Similarly, we are caught up by this network of this material body. Not only this body -- we are changing this net in various phases of life. There are 8,400,000's of holes of this network. This is a network of ignorance, avidya-jal. Avidya means ignorance. Sarira avidya-jal jadendriya tahe kal. And this network, my imprisonment within this network of ignorance, is being continued on account of these dangerous senses. Sense enjoyment. So out of these dangerous senses, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, the tongue is the most dangerous. Tongue is the most dangerous. The tongue... If we cannot control the tongue, then the tongue will oblige me to take different types of body, one after another. If I am very much fond of satisfying my tongue by flesh and blood, then nature, material nature, will give me facility to taste flesh and blood fresh and give me a body of the tiger. If I do not discriminate of eating, then material nature will give me a body just like a hog, when we have to accept as our food stool.

So we are so-called materially suffering and enjoying according to this body. Therefore this body, this human form of body, is a great opportunity, because God realization begins by engaging the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau [Brs. 1.2.234]. By engaging the tongue in the loving service of the Lord, one can make advance in Krsna consciousness, ultimate realization of God, the tongue. So this tongue in the human body can be engaged. In other body, in the cat's body, dog's body, tiger's body... Tiger may be a very powerful animal. No animal is powerful or better than human beings. That is accepted. So this human form of life is a great boon to the living entity who is traveling through the cycle of birth and death, perpetually changing different sorts of body. Here is the opportunity, human form of body. We can utilize the tongue properly and get out of these clutches. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. So seva, seva means service; jihva adau, beginning from the tongue. So if we can keep our tongue engaged, always chanting Hare Krsna mantra... Because "Krsna," this sound, is not different from Krsna. Krsna is absolute. Nothing is different from Him. Krsna and Krsna's name is not different. In the material sense, everything is different. I myself is different from this body. I am not this body. But Krsna is not like that. Krsna and Krsna's body is the same. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritah [Bg. 9.11]. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "Rascals and fools, they deride at Me because I appear as a human being. They are thinking just like I am ordinary human being." Param bhavam ajananto. "These rascals do not know what is My influence and what I am." Param bhavam. "What is My nature they do not know. Without knowing Me, they consider, 'Krsna is an ordinary human being.' " Avajananti mudha. This very particular word has been used, mudha. Mudha means rascals. So in spite of this warning, there are so many rascals passing as big scholars. They say like this. When there is order of Krsna that "You surrender unto Me," the rascals comment, "It is not to Krsna but the unborn spirit which is within Krsna." He does not know that Krsna is not different from His body, Krsna is not different from His name, Krsna is not different from His fame. Anything pertaining to Krsna is Krsna. They are monists, they are philosophizing that oneness, but as soon as they come to Krsna, immediately they divide: "Krsna is different from His body," or "Krsna's body is different from Krsna."

So atah sri-krsna-namadi. So Krsna's name and Krsna is not different. Therefore, as soon as my tongue touches the holy name of Krsna, that means immediately it associates with Krsna. So if you constantly keep yourself associated with Krsna by chanting this mantra, Hare Krsna, then just imagine how you are being easily purified simply by this process, chanting, jihvadau, engaging the tongue in chanting. And your tongue wants very palatable dishes to taste. So Krsna is very kind. He has given you hundreds and thousands of palatable dishes, remnants of foodstuff eaten by Him. You eat. In this way, if you simply make it a determination that "I shall not allow my tongue to taste anything which is not offered to Krsna, and I shall engage my tongue always chanting Hare Krsna," then all perfection is within your hold. All perfection. Two simple things: Don't eat anything which is not offered to Krsna. That's all. Our Krsna prasadam are so variegated, nice varieties... The variety is the mother of enjoyment. How much enjoyment you want with your tongue? You can have simply by eating Krsna prasadam. And the more your tongue is purified, the more you relish the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra. Relish. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. It is stated by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that it increases the ocean of bliss, transcendental bliss. Ocean does not increase. We have no experience within this material world. If ocean would have increased, then all the lands would have been swallowed up many long, long years ago. Ocean does not increase. But this ocean, transcendental bliss, is increasing. Some of you must have experienced, those who are actually relishing. The authorities like Rupa Gosvami, he says that "What I shall chant with one tongue? If I would have millions of tongues, then I could chant a little more. And what I shall hear with two ears?" So he's expecting, he's aspiring to have millions of ears and trillions of tongues to relish this chanting Hare Krsna. So that is another stage, of course, when this chanting will be so melodious that we shall try to have more ears and more tongues to utilize it. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. By our present senses, we cannot understand what is Krsna, or what is God, what is His name, what is His form, what is His quality. Therefore immediately, if we try to understand Krsna by His picture, "Oh, Krsna is embracing Radharani or the gopis," we shall mistake. Because unless our senses are purified, we shall accept Krsna and Radharani as ordinary young boy or girl and their dealings. But actually it is not. It is pure. Caitanya-caritamrta kar has distinguished that the loving affairs of the gopis with Krsna and the ordinary, these lustful dealings of human beings, there is a gulf of difference. He compares that the gopis' love with Krsna is gold, and our so-called love here is iron. As there is difference between gold and iron, similarly there is difference between the loving affairs of gopis with Krsna and these mundane, so-called lusty affairs between men and women or boys and girls. It is never equal. Therefore, atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved... [Brs. 1.2.234]. These present senses, these impure senses, contaminated senses, cannot understand Krsna; therefore we should follow this principle: sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. First of all, engage chanting Hare Krsna. There is Radha and Krsna. Hara is Radha, and Krsna, there is. But don't try to understand by the present senses, but simply chant their holy name, Hare Krsna. Then ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. When your, the dust on the mirror of your heart will be cleansed, and it will cleanse by simply chanting, ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam, and there will be no more any material condition...

That is the next stage. If you chant Hare Krsna mantra without any offense, then immediately the stage will be that you are freed from all material anxieties. That is the test. How I am advancing in chanting will be tested how far you are free from material anxieties. That's all. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Then real life begins. So long you are perturbed by material disturbances, you should know that your spiritual life has not begun. This is confirmed in everywhere. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Prasannatma. Bhagavad-gita says, "When one is Brahman realized..." Brahman realized means one who understands that "I am not this body. I am pure spirit soul, eternal servitor of Krsna." Simply understanding that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul," is not enough. That is not sufficient knowledge. Of course, that is good. That is just on the marginal step between matter and spirit. But you have to transcend completely this material existence and come to the platform of spiritual understanding. So for that purpose you have to go further after Brahman realization. Brahman, brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. If you are actually Brahman realized, the symptom will be that you are always joyful, no anxiety. Anxiety, why...? Everything is very nicely discussed in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad. When you forget Krsna, or God, and if we think there is something else than Krsna, then we are afraid. And those who are convinced and realized souls that there is nothing but Krsna, where is the cause of fearfulness? Therefore those who are pure devotees, they are not disturbed even in most distressed condition of life. What they think? They think, tat te 'nukampa...: "My Lord, it is Your great mercy that You have put me into this distressed condition." Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamanah [SB 10.14.8]. So in the distressed condition, the devotees take it an opportunity that "I have got a very nice opportunity to remember God constantly. Krsna, You are so kind that You have given me this distressed condition."

So this Krsna consciousness is very nice. If we try to make progress on this line, we'll feel even... Yasmin sthite gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate [Bg. 6.20-23]. Bhagavad-gita says if one is situated in Krsna consciousness, even in the terrible situation, fearful situation, he is not afraid. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. You see? Prahlada Maharaja, a five-years-old boy, his father tortured him like anything. But he was not afraid. He was not afraid. This is the Krsna consciousness state. The boy is not afraid. Even in such tortured condition, when his father challenged him, "Prahlada, with whose strength you are so powerful that you do not care for me?" he immediately answered, "My dear father, by whose power you are talking like that?" So Krsna consciousness is so nice that even one is put into the terrible condition of distress, he is not perturbed. Narayana-parah sarve... There are many verses like that. We can quote hundreds. Narayana-parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati [SB 6.17.28]. If one becomes Krsna conscious, he is not afraid, any condition of life. Na kutascana bibhyati. Svargapavarga-narakesv api. If he is put into the hell or in heaven or in the spiritual world or any world, he is happy. Tulyartha-darsinah. He thinks everything is all the same. "Either you put me in the hell or heaven or this or that, (it) is all the same." Because he is always with Krsna, chanting Hare Krsna. Krsna is always with him. So where is the cause of being afraid that "This place is not good; this place is very good"? No. Wherever Krsna is there is very good. That's all.

So we have to practice and train the tongue very nicely. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [Brs. 1.2.234]. And the more our tongue is engaged in the loving service of Krsna... It is very nice service. You simply chant and eat Krsna prasadam. Is it very difficult service? Everyone will accept, "Oh, yes." But unfortunately, everyone does not accept. (laughter) (chuckles) You see. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says, etadrs i tava krpa bhagavan mamapi: "My dear Lord, You are so kind that You have approached Me in..., by transcendental sound. Or You are always with Me." You can be. If I take, then Krsna is always with me. If I reject, then... That is the ignora... "Krsna is everywhere" means as soon as we accept, Krsna is immediately with us. And as soon as we reject, oh, He is far, far away. So Krsna can be with us very easily simply by this chanting or engaging the tongue in His service. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended this process, or He inaugurated this process in this age. Although it is not new system, but He especially introduced because His incarnation is to reclaim the fallen souls of this age. So He... [break] ...before advent of Krsna he's simply planning, "As soon as Krsna will take birth, I will kill him." This is the plan of the demons, to kill God. Atheism. "God is dead." That is also killing, one sort of killing. "There is no God. I am God." These are all different processes of trying to kill. But God is never killed. [break] Rather, they are killed. That is the whole history everywhere.

Guest: I don't follow. Is it...? Whose choice is it to be a demon? Is it the living entity's choice, complete choice, to be demonic, against God, or is it a part of Krsna's energy to put demons, or to have created him that way?

Prabhupada: No...

Guest: Is it completely each individual's choice to be demonic, or...?

Prabhupada: Yes. Demon means when he is forgotten, when has lost his sense, that is demon. When has lost his sense, that is demon. Demon means mayayapahrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.15]. Maya, by the influence of maya, the true aspect of knowledge is taken away. Anyone who is trying to establish it that "There is no God," he is demon. That's all. There are so many philosophers, so many atheists, so many scientists. Their only business is to deny God. They are demons. Yes.

Guest: Then is there individual complete choice?

Prabhupada: That is ignorance. Yes. Apahrta-jnanah means just like a madman. For the time being, his natural knowledge is taken away. Crazy. What do we mean by crazy? For the time being, his knowledge is taken away. Similarly, when a living entity is in that position, as somebody has taken away his knowledge, that is demonic condition. But he can be reestablished again in knowledge. Just like a crazy man is sent, mental disorder, to hospital for treatment; again he comes as a sane man. Similarly, the demons are just like crazy men. Even they are treated with Krsna consciousness, they can be reverted to their own position. So this is temporary. This demoniac nature is temporary due to the contact with maya. Therefore the whole business is how to get out of the clutches of maya. Then there is no more demonic nature. It is artificial. [break] ...superficial. It comes and goes. As it comes artificially, so it can go also. And the driving method is this Krsna consciousness.

Guest: So maya is temporary, and the only thing that is eternal is Krsna and the spiritual energies.

Prabhupada: Yes. Spiritual energy. That is eternal. That is eternal. So we are... Due to our ignorance, we have been very much serious with the temporary situation of maya and we have forgotten the eternal position. This is our present conditional life. Now this Krsna consciousness movement means His treatment to reclaim the living entity from the clutches of maya. Then he is situated in his natural position. [break]

...contaminated, impure. Impure condition. Apavitra. And pavitra means pure condition. Apavitrah pavitro va. One may be in impure condition and one may be in pure condition. Sarvavastham, in all conditions. Avastha means all conditions. Gato 'pi va, situated, in any condition situated; yah, anybody; smaret, remembers; pundarikaksam. Pundarikaksam means "the Lord whose eyes are like the lotus petal." Lotus eyes. Pundarikaksam. Sa, that person becomes; sa bahyabhyantaram. Bahya means externally and abhyantara means internally. Bahyabhyantaram sucih. Sucih means purified. Another suci means brahmana. A brahmana is called suci. A brahmana means a purified person. Not that by birth one becomes pure. No. The purificatory process. There are purificatory processes. Just like in infectious condition, those who are vaccinated, given injection, he is supposed to be purified. He cannot be attacked or infected by the disease. Similarly, in spiritual life also one has to remain purified. The whole process, this Krsna consciousness movement, is to purify the people in general from the contaminated condition of material existence. Purifying. It is purifying process. A living entity by nature is pure because he is part and parcel of the Supreme Pure, God. But due to his impure condition, he has forgotten his eternal relationship with God. So this initiation means that one is being accepted as student by the spiritual master to promote him gradually to the purified state, where he can realize himself and God. This is the whole process. In contaminated state we cannot approach. I have given this example many times. Just like if you want to enter into certain place, then you must be adjusted with the conditions. Just like people are going to the moon planet. There it is supposed to be it is very cold. So people go with a certain type of dress by adjusting. Similarly, if you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, the abode, the planet where Krsna lives, so you must be purified. Adjust yourself. Not only to the spiritual kingdom of Krsna -- any planet you want to enter, you must adjust yourself in that way. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

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

If you adjust yourself, then you can go to the higher planetary system. Deva-vrata devan. Devan means the planetary system or the different planets where demigods are living. Just like this moon planet. This moon planet is also another planet of the demigod Candra. I do not know the modern expedition of going to the moon planet, how far it will be successful. I think it cannot be successful. According to Vedic literature, it cannot be successful because people cannot adjust to enter that planet. One has to adjust, make the bodily condition in that way so that one can live there. In this planet also, there are different climates. In India the climate is different, and your Western country, the climate is different. So when one comes to the Western country, he also adjusts with different coats and shirts. In India we can remain naked body practically throughout the whole year, but you cannot live here. So there is adjustment. So this adjustment, the Bhagavad-gita says, mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25]. "Those who have adjusted themselves to come to Me, he can come." There is no obstruction. So this initiation process, this Krsna consciousness, means to adjust your condition so that after leaving this body, you can enter into the planet where Krsna lives. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: [Bg. 15.6] "That supreme abode, where entering, one does not come back again to this material world, that is My supreme abode." There is...

na yatra bhasayate suryo
na sasanko na pavakah
yad gatva na nivartante
tad dhama paramam mama
[Bg. 15.6]

These kind are explained. In that spiritual kingdom there is no need of sunshine, there is no need of moonshine, there is no need of electricity. And one who goes there, he does not come back. He lives there eternally, blissful life of knowledge.

So the initiation process means to give the conditioned soul a chance. This chance can be available in this human form of life. The cats and dogs, they cannot take chance of entering into the spiritual kingdom, or they cannot... It is not possible they can take initiation for purifying the body. So everybody, every human being, should take advantage of this form of life, human form of life, and cultivate this Krsna consciousness. And it is very simple and easy also. For this age, Lord..., by the grace of Lord Caitanya, we have got very easy method: simply chanting Hare Krsna. This mantra also which we uttered just now, it is said, yah smaret pundarikaksam: "Anyone who remembers pundarikaksam, Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately he becomes purified." Suci. Suci. Suci means purified. Sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu. Three times. So the Krsna and Visnu is the same thing. Krsna is the original person of all visnu-tattva. So anyone who is keeping himself always in touch with the vibration of Krsna consciousness -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- that is the only, I mean to say, guaranteed platform where you can keep yourself purified without any material contamination. And in this purified state, if we can leave this body ultimately, then there is no doubt we enter into the supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead. These things are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita, and you read carefully. This initiation does not mean... Of course, this chanting will save you, only chanting. But if you read some literatures also, and the philosophy also, then it will be more and more convincing that you are making progress. And in the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita you will find that this is the process by which you can understand practically whether you are making actually progress in spiritual life. Pratyaksam avagamam dharmyam. This bhakti-yoga system is so nice that one can directly understand how he is making progress, and very quickly. That's a fact. All of our students who have taken to this process, within very short time, they are realizing that actually they are making some progress. Therefore they are sticking to the principles and going on.

So my request to you all who are going to be initiated, that you keep always yourself in contact with this chanting and that will make you, I mean to say, able to be always purified, suci. Material contamination cannot... And you avoid these four principles: illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication of all descriptions. Intoxication does not mean simply liquor. Intoxication means even tea-drinking. Tea is also intoxication, in slight degree. Tea, coffee, cigarettes -- everything should be avoided. In India they chew pan. So these things are to be give up, intoxication group, and meat-eating group. Then you make very quickly progress, and by the grace of Krsna, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. After leaving this body, one hasn't got to take another material body and suffer. So long we have got this material body, we have to suffer the material pangs. There cannot be any adjustment. So if anyone is serious for ending all troubles... Everyone wants to live peacefully and happily. That is natural, because spirit soul is anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12), by nature joyful. He wants to keep himself joyful, but he does not know how eternal joyful life can be attained. That is spiritual life. You cannot become joyful by material adjustment. No. You may be joyful for the time being by drinking or by intoxication, but how long? So long the intoxication influence is there, you may feel something. That is artificially. But that is not actually the state of joyfulness. Real state of joyfulness is to be situated in spiritual life, and when you (are) actually in the spiritual kingdom, then you become sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], eternal life, joyful life, blissful life, with full knowledge.

So on behalf of Krsna, we are trying to distribute this knowledge at least in this part of the world. Now, those who are fortunate, they will take it and be benefited. Our business is to distribute. Now it is up to you. Every individual soul is independent. He may accept or may not accept. That depends on him. But if he accepts, it is good for him. Otherwise, he may make his choice. Krsna never..., God never interferes with your independence. No. He will never do that. Then what is the meaning of living being? Dull matter, it has no independence. Even it is a big mountain or big thing, it has no independence. It will stand still. But a small ant, even a microbe, it has got independence because it is living creature. So God has made you or given you little independence. That independence does not mean that you shall misuse it. You shall use it properly. And what is that proper use? To be engaged in His loving service. Just like you citizens of this German state, what you are meant for? You are meant for rendering service to the state. Similarly, the whole... This is a small state. America is a small... Or this planet is a small state. But there is a huge state which is called the cosmic manifestation. That state belongs to Krsna, or God. So naturally, you have to render service to the supreme state, supreme will. Then it is all right. Your independence is there. So long you are rendering service to the state properly, your independence as citizen is there. But as soon as you rebel against the state, your independence is gone. Similarly, our, this conditional life is due to our rebellious condition towards God. As soon as we agree surrender and be one with Him by transcendental loving service, the whole thing becomes adjusted. So Krsna consciousness movement means to teach people and to give them practical suggestion and help to... (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Initiation Lecture -- Hamburg, August 27, 1969