"BG As It Is - Not As We Are"

70/03/12 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 7.1



Devotee: "Now hear, O son of Prtha (Arjuna), how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt." Purport.

Prabhupada: Arjuna's mother was known as Prtha. Prtha. Her father's name was Maharaja Prthu. Therefore Arjuna is known as Partha. Sometimes Arjuna is addressed as Partha. It comes from the meaning, root meaning of Arjuna's mother's father, grandfather. Go on.

Devotee: Purport: "In the first six chapters of the Bhagavad-gita, the living entity has been described as nonmaterial spirit soul who is capable of elevating himself to self-realization by different types of yogas. At the end of the Sixth Chapter it has been clearly stated that the steady concentration of the mind upon Krsna, or in other words, Krsna consciousness, is the highest form of all yoga. By concentrating one's mind upon Krsna one is able to know the Absolute Truth completely, but not otherwise. The impersonal brahmajyoti or localized Paramatma is not perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth, because it is partial."

Prabhupada: Yes. Impersonal... Just like sunshine and the sun disc and the inhabitants of the sun globe. In one sense, they are one unit. You cannot separate sunshine from the sun disc or the sun disc from the inhabitants or the predominating deity of sun planet. They are all in light, but still there is difference. Sunshine is coming within your room. Although the sun disc and the sunshine is not different, still, when you realize what is sunshine, that does not mean you realize what is the sun disc. This is very practical. To understand what is sunshine does not mean to understand what is sun disc. You can have some idea: "The sun disc is also light, and it has got heat. It is illuminating." These ideas you can get, but not exactly what is the temperature of that sun disc, how you can live there. There are so many things to learn. Therefore, impersonal Brahman, understanding of impersonal Brahman, is not perfect knowledge.

Exactly... Knowledge of sunshine is not perfect knowledge of sun. That you can understand very easily. Suppose daily you are having sunshine within your room. Does it mean you know what is sun disc or what is the inhabitants of the sun globe? No. Nobody knows. Similarly, impersonal knowledge of the Absolute Truth is like that. That is not complete knowledge. Although it is light, sunshine is also light, sun disc is also light and the inhabitants there, they also must be light. Otherwise, how can they live? They also must be fiery. Because the inhabitants there, they are also fiery, without being fire how you can live in fire? Sun is fire; everyone knows it. The temperature is very high. So one, without having a body suitable to that temperature, how they can live there? But there are living entities. That we have got. Because you cannot live in the water, that does not mean there is no living entity in the water. This is nonsense. So if we similarly conclude, "Because we cannot live in the fire, therefore there is no living entity in the fire," that is nonsense. The exact knowledge is at least to accept this reasoning, that I cannot live in the water, but if you count the number of living entities within the water, oh, it is far more than living entities on the land, because the water is three-fourths of the globe. So how many living entities can live on the one-fourth? Naturally the number of living entities is far greater. But if you conclude, "Oh, I cannot... If I put into the water I shall die, so there is no living entity within the water," this is nonsense. You don't compare with your situation with others.

That is the mistake of civilization. We think everything in our own standard. Atmavat manyate jagat. That is the nature, that atmavat, what he is thinking of himself, therefore, others must be like that. No. Others may be different from you. So, similarly, you will find so many differences in so many planets. Their habits, their mode of living, civilization, standard of living is completely different. Even in this planet, if we find, the standard of living in America is different from the standard of living in South America or Africa or India, so why not in other planets?

So everything... In the Brahma-samhita, we understand, every planet has a different situation, not that everything of this nature. So it is... It is not complete idea. "Because you can know what is sunshine, therefore you can know what is sun-god or sun disc" -- no, that can (not) be done. Similarly, because you have some spiritual light, impersonal light... What is that impersonal light? The whole Buddha philosophy, impersonal philosophy, is looking to that impersonal. What is that? That "Because here in this material world I have got bad experience of this personal existence, therefore I conclude that there must be something impersonal. That is nice." That is thinking in the opposite way. But that is not actual fact. Just like a diseased person. Lying in one side, he is getting pain. He thinks, "If I lie down on the other side I will be relieved." That he is thinking, but so long he is diseased, there is no question of relief. He is thinking like that, this way or that way. Just like in the materialistic way they are... Their last point of happiness is sex life. That's all. So they have enjoyed sex life in this way; now they are trying to enjoy sex life in that way. But the enjoyment is the same. There is no more enjoyment. That is finished. You can eschew in so many ways, but the result is the same. Similarly, unless you have got perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth, if you think of the Absolute Truth as something opposite of your present status, that is not perfect knowledge. The impersonal knowledge is like that, something opposite of this material world. Go on.

Devotee: "Full in scientific knowledge is Krsna, and everything is revealed to the person in Krsna consciousness. In complete Krsna consciousness, one knows that Krsna is the ultimate knowledge, beyond any doubts."

Prabhupada: Now, here somebody may say that "This is too much sectarian, that knowing simply Krsna, everything is known." Somebody may say like that. But actually this is the fact. The Vedic statement says like that. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. If you can understand the origin, person, the original person... The Upanisad does not say directly, "The original person is Krsna," simply because there are so many impersonalists. But the Upanisad gives hint that if you can understand the original person, kasmin... This is person. Kasmin vijnate: "If one is able to understand the Supreme Person," sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati, "then everything becomes known." How? Suppose you want to know... Say I am a foreigner. If I want to know how this American government is going on, oh, I will have to study so many things. But somehow or other, if I made friendship with Mr. Nixon, the president, and if I sit down with him a few days, oh, everything is known. Is it not? Yes. He will disclose everything, that "My government is going on like this." You know. So this is a fact. If you try to understand or if you some way or other understand the original person, Krsna, then you understand everything. That will be explained here. Simply by knowing Krsna you will understand everything. This wonderful thing is in Krsna consciousness. Simply try to understand what is Krsna and you will gradually understand everything. This is the secret of Krsna consciousness. And that's a fact. Go on.

Devotee: "Different types of yogas are only stepping stones on the path of Krsna consciousness. One who takes directly to Krsna consciousness automatically knows about brahmajyoti and Paramatma in full."

Prabhupada: Yes. Suppose... The same example. If you can understand the sun disc, then automatically you understand what is sunshine. But understanding sunshine, you cannot understand the sun disc. That is not possible. Therefore the origin should be understood. Root should be understood. Then everything will be under... That is knowledge. That will be explained in this chapter. Go on.

Devotee: "By practice of Krsna consciousness yoga one can know everything in full, namely the Absolute Truth, the living entities, the material nature, and their manifestations with paraphernalia."

Prabhupada: What you have to learn? What is knowledge? Five things you have to learn. What is your experience within this world? You have experience, this material nature. You are seeing this. That's a fact. And you are seeing also... (aside:) Thank you. Come on. You are experiencing also the living entities, so many living entities. That's a fact. So material nature is a fact, the living entities, they are also fact, and there is some controller of this material nature and the living entities. That is also fact. You cannot say that you are the controller or material nature is controller. There is a supreme controller. That is God. That is also another fact. And time. The... Everything is done within time. Time is also a different, relative measure according to the... Your time is different from the time of another animal or another living entity. Just like Brahma's time. You cannot calculate one day of Brahma because your time and his time is different. Similarly, a small microbic animal, his time and your time is different. So he cannot calculate your time. So time is relative.

So time, living entity, this material world, and the supreme controller, and activities. Every living entities are engaged in some activities. So you have to understand these five things which you are experiencing daily. So if you understand Krsna, these five things will be automatically understood, and you will understand everything. By understanding one, Krsna, you understand these five items. And by understanding these five items, you understand the whole thing. That's all. That means you have complete knowledge. So Bhagavad-gita explains like that. Kasmin vijnate sarvam vijnatam bhavati. Everything becomes known by understanding the Supreme. That is our program. Go on.

Devotee: "One should therefore begin yoga practice as directed in the last verse of the sixth chapter. Concentration of the mind upon Krsna, the Supreme, is made possible by prescribed devotional service in nine different forms."

Prabhupada: Yes. The instruction is that "How by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me" -- this is Krsna consciousness -- "with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full." And if you know Krsna in full, you know everything. And you can know Krsna simply by our concentrating mind upon Krsna. And as soon as you know Krsna, you know everything. Therefore your knowledge is perfect. Is that argument fallacious? You can understand Krsna simply by concentrating upon Him. That you can do. Everyone can do that. And as soon as you understand Krsna you know everything. So why not take this path? Simple. That is full knowledge. That means eternity.

Here it is said, the exact word in Sanskrit is mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. Mayy asakta: "If you simply become attached to Me," mayy asakta-manah... "Your mind should be so trained that you become attached to Me." This is yoga, because yoga means training the mind. To concentrate the mental focus on Visnu or Krsna, that is the yoga practice. The pressing of nose or making your head down and legs up, these are means to come to the point of samadhi, Krsna consciousness. But they are not yoga itself or end. They are means to the end. But here is the end. If you can concentrate your mind on Krsna, then you come to the ultimate point. Therefore Krsna said, "Simply by concentrating your mind on Me, you will understand Me perfectly. And as soon as you understand Me perfectly..." Of course, we cannot understand God perfectly. That is not possible. He is unlimited. We are not... Still, so far our capacity is concerned, if we can understand Krsna, then everything is known to us.

janma karma me divyam
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]

In the Fourth Chapter it is said that "My appearance, disappearance, and activities are all transcendental. Anyone who can understand this transcendental nature of My activities, appearance, disappearance, the result is," tyaktva deham, "after leaving this body," punar janma naiti, "he does not take birth again in this material world." That is stated in the Fourth Chapter. That means immediately liberation achieved. This is a fact. This is Bhagavad-gita study, not that to interpret in your own way. Bhagavad-gita says like that. Therefore we present Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any nonsense interpretation. There cannot be any chance of nonsense interpretation. You have to take fact as it is; then you study. But they are not inclined to study Bhagavad-gita as it is. They want to study Bhagavad-gita as they are. So how you can study Bhagavad-gita? Your mentality, your situation, is completely different.

So according to his own nature... That is also explained, that everyone creates his God, religion, according to his own nature. There are three kinds of men: goodness, passion, and ignorance. So those who are in the modes of ignorance, they create their own religion of ignorance; those who are in the passion, they create a kind of religion of passion; and those who are in the modes of goodness, they create their own. But this system, Krsna consciousness, is transcendental. It is above ignorance, passion or goodness. Goodness is also material. A material good man does not mean he will be Krsna conscious. No. A man may be very pious, moralist, but that does not mean he will be able to become Krsna conscious. Krsna conscious person is above goodness. Yesam anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. But goodness is a qualification to get promoted on the platform of Krsna consciousness. But goodness is not a means to become Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness, to become Krsna conscious, the means is Krsna only. That's all, nothing else. To become Krsna conscious means we have to adopt the Krsna means, no other means. The Krsna means is being instructed in this chapter, that "How by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me..." That is Krsna con... The means and the end, the same. If you want to come to the end of Krsna consciousness, then you have to become Krsna conscious.

The first stage is Krsna consciousness, and the last stage is also Krsna consciousness. The difference is one stage is immature, and the other stage is mature. When it is mature, then you taste it nicely. Just like mango. In the unripe stage it is mango, and the ripe stage, it is mango. But in the ripe stage you taste nicely. In the unripe stage the taste is different. But if you give time for ripening, then you will taste. So Krsna consciousness is the means of Krsna consciousness. No other means can be adopted for Krsna consciousness. We should know. Therefore it is being taught here that "How by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me..." You have to think of Krsna always.

So therefore our process is how one can think of Krsna always. We have so many departments. The idea is how to think of Krsna. That's all. That is the yoga. Even in taking prasadam, you are thinking of Krsna, "Oh, it is very nice. Krsna has tasted. It is very nice." That is Krsna consciousness. That is yoga. Is there any yoga system in the world that you can become a yogi simply by eating? Is there any yoga system? Just try to understand. Is there any yoga system simply by digging earth for gardening one can become a yogi? Is there any yoga system? Here the boys, when they dig earth for planting rose flower for Krsna, he is thinking, "Oh, the flower will be nice. It will be offered to Krsna." There is immediately yoga. Just try to understand how nice it is. Whatever you do, if it is done for Krsna, then you are in the highest perfectional stage of yoga. And anyone can do it. If Mr. Darwin or Chandramukhi is asked, "All right, you also dig," oh, she will imitate and become yogi immediately. Immediately yogi. Just try to understand. Is there any process of yoga system which can teach even a small child to practice and become yogi? No. If you ask a child or even the father does, "You sit down like me. Meditate. Press your nose," or this, that, oh, she'll be not, cannot do. Unable. Is there any... If I say a child, "Oh, my dear girl, my dear boy, please do like this. Chant Hare Krsna," he immediately does. You see?

So this simple method and the highest method... Not that we are advertising our Krsna consciousness movement. Here the authority, the supreme authority, Krsna, says, "Practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me." But if you make your own manufactured meaning of these words and cheat public, that is your business. Our business is not to cheat. We have to say frankly, "This is the fact," that's all. But you can cheat: "Oh, it is not Krsna. It is this and that, so many things. This ‘me' means I. ‘I' means you are also I. I am also I." They explain in that way. "The ‘me,' the word is me. So ‘me' is coming from ‘I.' So you are ‘I,' I am ‘I.' Therefore it is meant, ‘me' means you think of yourself; I think of myself. Then you become yogi." That's all. And rascal persons will catch this very..., "Oh, then I am always thinking of me. That's all right. I am a yogi." That's all. Because the demons and the rascals, they are simply trying to avoid God. So if somebody teaches, "Oh, why you are thinking of Krsna? This ‘me' means you, I, I, you. That's all," "Oh, that's nice, very nice."

The demonic nature is that. "I am God. I am everything." So we have to become very cautious, you see, because my material existence means I have got the tinge of demonic nature. And as soon as I get some impetus from another demon, I become again demon. Again I become demon. And then out of Krsna consciousness. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has distinctly forbidden: mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa: "If you hear the commentary of the impersonalist demons, then your whole thing is spoiled. Your life is spoiled." Go on. Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Sarva-nasa means you lose everything. And because we do not explain demonic explanation, that "I am God, you are God," people do not like. Just like the other day the question was... They explained in different... They like that explanation because demonic. People are generally demonic, more or less. One may be fifty percent demon, another may be eighty percent demon, but everyone in this material world is a demon.

Materialistic means demon. Don't you see the example of Hiranyakasipu? What was his fault? He is called a demon. Why? What was his fault? His fault was to..., not to accept God. His small child was a devotee. He was thinking of God, and the father was angry: "Why you are thinking of God? Why you are thinking of Krsna?" Just see. But materially the father was so powerful that he conquered all over other planets. He was so powerful. So any materialistic person, if he has got more money, wealth, strength, he is worshiped. So this is demon worship. Demons are generally very powerful. They are so-called educated. They are so-called... So many things they have got. But the test is: if he has no Krsna consciousness or God consciousness, he is demon. That's all. That is the study of demon. Yes. Go on.

Devotee: "...devotional service in nine different forms, of which sravanam, hearing, is the first and most important."

Prabhupada: Yes. There are nine different forms of devotional service:

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
[SB 7.5.23]

These nine. So the first principle is sravanam, it is said. Sravanam means hearing, that's all. The first principle of practicing this yoga, bhakti-yoga, beginning, "practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me." This yoga practice begins simply by hearing. You have got these ears. You simply just lend your ears and you become yogi. And as soon as you become experienced in hearing, you become a preacher -- kirtanam. Immediately. One who has heard nicely, he will try to become a kirtaniya, or preacher. That is natural. That is natural. Sravanam kirtanam. And sravanam means hearing, and kirtanam means preaching or chanting. Then sravanam kirtanam. "Oh, I... People are hearing so many things daily. They are going to the college, schools, and meetings and assembly and association. They are all hearing, sravanam. They are practicing yoga?" No. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh: you have to hear and preach and chant of Krsna, nothing more. Not that simply by hearing any nonsense things you become yogi.

Here it is said, "Practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, Krsna." So you have to hear of Krsna; you have to speak of Krsna. Then your yoga practice is nice. It clearly says, sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. Not any other way. There are so many rascals, they say, "You can hear of any demigod, any man. That's all right." No. Any man, any demigod, is not Krsna. That is are misunderstanding. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajante anya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. If any person goes to worship any other demigod, he is persuaded by lust. But those who are worshiper of Krsna, they are not persuaded by lust. They are persuaded by love. That is the difference. Therefore those who have got lust within their mind, they can worship many other demigods. But those who are freed from all lusty desires, simply wants to love Krsna, they can attain this sravanam kirtanam, chanting and hearing.

Sravanam, hearing. Then? Sravanam is the first important part. That is the... If one simply hears, simply by hearing sincerely, seriously, he becomes perfect. It is so nice. If simply people come here and simply hear Bhagavad-gita and try to understand it, he becomes perfect. But they will not come. As soon as they will hear, "Oh, Swamiji is preaching that I am not God. God is different," "Oh, don't come here." Finish. I have to flatter him that "You are God." Then he will come. His hearing is disturbed because there is no flattering words. But if he sticks to hearing only, he becomes perfect. But maya will not allow him to hear: "Oh, please vacate out. Don't come here." Even our students. They remain here for some time, go away. Maya dictates, "Oh, why you are spoiling your time?" But the process is very simple, hearing. But maya will not allow him to accept this simple process.

So one has to become very strong. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. One who determines, "Yes, I will hear of Krsna, nothing," then maya cannot do anything. Man has defeated. If simply one decides that "I simply hearing..., simply I will hear of Krsna and nothing more," then he defeats the maya, simply by determination, that's all. Yes. Next.

Devotee: "The Lord therefore says to Arjuna, tac chrnu, or ‘Hear from Me.' "

Prabhupada: Yes. "Hear from Me." And hearing from whom? From a loafer? No. From Krsna or Krsna's representative. That will effect. Hearing, there must be hearing process also from the authorized person. Just like if you take electricity. You should take electricity where the electric point is there. Electric is everywhere; that's nice. Everyone accepts there is electricity. But you have to take electricity from the plug where the electricity current is going on. Then you get electricity. Therefore sravanam, hearing, from whom? From Krsna or His representative. Then it is perfect. Not from Dr. Radhakrishnan and any other nonsense, because they are not devotee. They are not representative of Krsna. What you will derive? You cannot derive any benefit because there is no electricity. It is simply plug, looking like plug. If you take some white lime water, lime, just like whitewash, it looks like milk. Is that milk because it is white? "All is not gold that glitters."

Therefore you have to seek person, from where you have to hear. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Therefore you have to select person, from where to hear. That is the... Either you search or by Krsna's grace you get a person who is authorized. Then your life is successful. Some way or other, you have to come. Just like Maharaja Pariksit. He was devotee of Krsna from the beginning of his life. Krsna sent him, Pariksit..., Sukadeva Gosvami. "Now Maharaja Pariksit is going to die within seven days. He is very anxious what to do. Please go there." Because Krsna is sitting within yourself. As soon as Krsna finds that you are very sincere, seeking Krsna, Krsna will immediately give you chance: "Here is chance. Here is chance."

So we have to utilize in that way. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. "Hear from Me." Nobody... Either you hear from Krsna or from Krsna's representative. Just like Arjuna is hearing from Krsna, and you hear from Arjuna. Then you get the perfect instruction. If you say, "Where is Arjuna? Where is Krsna?" but Arjuna's words are there in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna's words are there. So if you take the words as it is, then you hear Bhagavad-gita. If you change, then you don't hear Bhagavad-gita. You hear something nonsense. These are very simple things. So hearing is very important. So "Hear from Me." Nobody can be a great authority than Krsna. And therefore, by hearing from Him, one receives the greatest opportunity for progress in Krsna consciousness. You hear from Krsna as He is speaking. He says that "Practice yoga in full consciousness of Me." If you do that, then you hear Him. But if you do something nonsense, that is not hearing. That is not hearing. But they will do something nonsense which is not approved by Krsna or His representative. That is their disease. Yes.

Devotee: "One has therefore to learn from Krsna directly or from a pure devotee of Krsna and not from a nondevotee upstart, puffed up with academic education."

Prabhupada: Yes. If somebody says, "Oh, I am very good scholar in Sanskrit and English and this language, that language. I can explain. I have read so many books, and I can comment. I can give footnote and waste your time," then "Oh, he is very nice." Simply for wasting time and energy, everyone is ready. And as soon as the right thing is given... Right thing... If you say, "Oh, you haven't got to go through so many, I mean to say, process. You simply chant Hare Krsna," "Oh," they'll say, "this is all nonsense. Simply by chanting?" They will not accept. You see? There are many stories in this connection, how people are not accustomed to take things very simply. They want something bombastic. Yes. You see? Go on.

Devotee: "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this process of understanding Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, is described in the third chapter of the First Canto as follows: ‘To hear about Krsna from the Vedic literature or to hear from Him directly through the Bhagavad-gita is itself righteous activity. And for one who hears about Krsna, Lord Krsna, who is dwelling in everyone's heart, acts as a well-wishing friend and purifies the devotee.' "

Prabhupada: This is very important. The Bhagavata statement is there. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. If somebody even does not understand the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita -- simply he sticks to the hearing process -- then there is the result. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah. Bhagavata says, "One who is..." Just like these children. Our... We have got so many children, devotees here. It is not possible that they are understanding the subtle philosophical statements of Bhagavad-gita, but because they are sitting and hearing, they are writing. You see? But whatever he writes, it is right. Just take by a practical example.

So this is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Simply if one sticks to hearing, he may be a child, he may be a boy, he may be a woman or he may be some illiterate man, or anything, less intelligent -- it doesn't matter, simply if he hears. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah. And Krsna is there within your heart. As soon as Krsna sees, "Oh, this, this is very nice. He is hearing about Me," He will help you. He will cleanse your heart. [break] Because... Therefore to hear of krsna-kirtana is also another pious activity. So these boys, when they are going in the street chanting Hare Krsna, automatically they are giving chance to the people to become pious. Hearing is so important. They are becoming pious. They are purchasing one copy, Back to Godhead. They are nodding: "Yes, these boys are very nice." They are accumulating something spiritual. It is so nice. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. Simply by hearing, chanting, it is pious activities.

So one who is engaged in this pious activity, hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani... (child crying) That one who hears that... Krsna, understanding that this person is hearing, He cleanses. The chanting process we have many times discussed. It is the cleansing process. And as soon as the heart is cleansed, one can understand Krsna immediately. It is a cleansing process, this hearing process. Hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani suhrt satam. He is friend... Krsna is friend of everyone, but He is a special friend of the devotees. Suhrt satam. Satam means devotee, and suhrt means friend. Krsna is friend. Just like the same example. Government is taking care of all citizens, but he is taking more care of the civil citizens than the criminal. The criminal citizens, they are also under the care of the government, but they are not taken so much care as the civil citizens. Similarly, God is taking care of everyone -- that's a fact -- maybe he is sinful or not sinful. But He takes special care of the devotee. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Yes?

Devotee: "In this way, a devotee naturally develops his dormant transcendental knowledge. As he hears more about Krsna from the Bhagavatam and from the devotees, he becomes fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. By development of devotional service, one becomes freed from the modes of ignorance and passion, and thus material lust and avarice are diminished."

Prabhupada: Yes. This will be the result. Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye [SB 1.2.19]. They become diminished. The whole entanglement of our material life is due to our embarrassement by the qualities of ignorance and passion. So by hearing, these modes of ignorance and passion will be diminished. Then we come to the platform of goodness, and then we come to the platform of transcendental understanding. Yes.

Devotee: "When these impurities are wiped away, the candidate remains steady in his position of pure goodness and becomes enlivened by devotional service and understands the science of God perfectly. Thus bhakti-yoga severs the hard knot of material affection and one at once comes to the stage of asamsayam samagram, understanding of the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead."

Prabhupada: Asamsayam samagram. By bhakti-yoga you can understand the Absolute Truth as He is and samagram, in full. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. These words are used in... Asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu: [Bg. 7.1] "You will understand Me in full and without any doubt." So one who is in Krsna consciousness, he knows God in full and without any doubt. Then the... "Therefore only by hearing from Krsna or from His devotees in Krsna consciousness can one understand the science of Krsna."

That's all. Thank you.

Devotees: Hare Krsna.

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada? You mentioned that we must know..., if we know Krsna, then we will know these other five things. And if we know those five things, then our lives will become perfect. Can you explain to us what time is?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Tamala Krsna: Explain time?

Prabhupada: That I have already explained. Time is relative. [break] Time is eternal. Eternal. But it is... Just like Brahma's duration of time. That is... According to our calculation, that is eternal, many, many millions of years. But Brahma is also subjected to birth and death. Although time is eternal, but within this material world we are not eternal on account of material contamination. But time is eternal. Time is eternal; God is eternal; you are also eternal, living entity. Simply our work is not eternal. That can be changed. That we are... Changing our work... Suppose in this life you are American. Your work is different from the China. But next time, when you change your body to something else, your work changes. In this body you are human being. Next time, if you become a dog or a demigod, then your work changes. So we are changing our work according to the change of the body. Therefore work is not eternal. So our whole material existence is due to different kinds of work. So if we make the work also eternal, that is Krsna consciousness activities. Then we come to the eternal. But in the material existence our work is not eternal. We have understood that "I am not this body." Theoretically. If not practically, theoretically because we have heard from Bhagavad-gita that dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara: [Bg. 2.13] "As the soul is changing the body every moment..." And I am not this body. The body is changing.

So body is not eternal, but actually every materialistic person is engaged in the bodily activities. He is acting as American. Why? Because his body is American. He is acting as Indian. Why? Because his body is Indian. He is acting as husband because his body is male. He is acting as wife because the body is female. You take all activities -- it is due to this body. But if the soul is eternal, then one should seek: "Then what is my eternal activities? The body is not eternal, therefore these activities also not eternal. Then what is my real activity, eternal activity?" That is Krsna consciousness, bhakti.

So this work is not eternal, but if you take to Krsna consciousness, Krsna conscious activity is eternal. Therefore there is no loss. Even if you cannot complete Krsna consciousness activity -- that we have already discussed in the last chapter -- still, you are not in loss. Whatever you do... Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even it is little done, you get some asset. That will never be lost. Therefore you have to stick to this activity, Krsna consciousness activity. Whatever you do, if we can complete, it is very nice. If not, whatever we do, that is not lost. That is eternal. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 7.1 -- Los Angeles, March 12, 1970

"Pros And Cons Of Material World"

68/12/02 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 7.1



Prabhupada: (sings) Cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu... govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.29]. (devotees respond) So we are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda. That is our business. What is the effect of worshiping Govinda? Just like people are trying to go to the moon planet, very tiny effort. Even they go to the moon planet, they'll be not very much benefited, because the scientists say the moon planet is below 200 degrees zero point. So we cannot tolerate the cold climate of this planet, how we shall be benefited even we go to the moon planet? And moon planet is the nearest planet. There are millions of other planets also, and the scientists say that to reach the highest, topmost planet, it will take forty thousands of years. And who is going to live for forty thousand years to go and come back?

These are practical difficulties, and therefore we are called conditioned souls. Our activities are conditioned, not free. But you can attain a life of freedom, life of unlimited energy, unlimited happiness, unlimited bliss. There is possibility. This is not story or fiction. We see so many planets within this universe. We have got so many flying vehicles, but we cannot approach even to the nearest. We are so much limited. But if we worship Govinda, then it is possible. You can go anywhere. We have written these statements in our small booklet, Easy Journey to Other Planets. This is possible. Don't think that this planet is all and all. There are many, many millions of other very nice planets. There the standard of happiness, standard of enjoyment is many more times greater than what we are enjoying here. So how this is possible?

I shall read the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, which is spoken by Govinda Himself. Bhagavad-gita, Seventh Chapter. Lord Krsna says,

mayy asakta-manah partha
yogam yunjan mad-asrayah
asamsayam samagram mam
yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu
[Bg. 7.1]

Now, here the word yogam is also explained. What sort of yoga Krsna is recommending? Mayy asakta-manah. Keeping the mind always attached to Krsna, this yoga system. This Krsna consciousness is yoga system. At the present day, they are concentrating their mind on something void, impersonal, according to their own prescription. The real process is to concentrate the mind on something. But that something, if we make it void, it is very difficult to concentrate our mind in that way. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita in the Twelfth Chapter: kleso 'dhikataras tesam avyaktasakta-cetasam [Bg. 12.5]. Those who are trying to meditate on something impersonal and void, their trouble is greater than those who are meditating on the Supreme Person. This is explained. Why? Avyakta hi gatir duhkham dehavadbhir avapyate. We cannot concentrate our mind (on) something impersonal. If you think of your friend, if you think of your father, mother, or somebody whom you love, you can continue such thinking for hours together. But if you have no objective to fix up your mind, then it is very difficult. But people are being taught to concentrate on something void and impersonal.

So in reply to that mode of yoga, Krsna is directly speaking here: mayy asakta-manah. If you try to concentrate your mind on the form of Krsna, so beautiful... He's enjoying with Radharani and His associates. Then, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam, if you practice this yoga, mad-asrayah, yunjan mad-asrayah... You have to practice this yoga, at the same time, you have to take shelter of Krsna. Mad-asrayah. Asrayah means "under My protection." This is called surrender. If you go to a friend in a difficult position and you surrender to your friend, "My dear friend, you are so great, so powerful, so influential. I am in this great danger. So I surrender unto you. You please give me protection..." So you can do that to Krsna. Here in the material world, if you surrender to a person, however very big he may be, he may refuse. He may say, "Well, I am unable to give you protection." That is the natural reply. If you are in danger and if you go even to your intimate friend, "Please give me protection," he will hesitate, because his power is very limited. He'll first of all think that "If I give protection to this person, whether my interest will not be jeopardized?" He'll think like that, because his potency is limited. But Krsna is so nice that He's so powerful, He's so opulent... He declares in the Bhagavad-gita, everyone, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You leave aside everything. You simply surrender unto Me." And what is the result? The result is aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: "I shall get you released from all kinds of reaction of your sinful life."

This material world, our activities are all sinful activities. There is action and reaction. Whatever you are doing, there is action and reaction. Even there is good reaction, still it is sinful. Still it is sinful. Just like according to Vedic literature, pious activities, the result of pious activities... Janmaisvarya-sruta-sribhih. Suppose you are not acting anything sinful in this life, you are very pious in every respect. You are charitable, you are benevolent, everything is all right. But Bhagavad-gita says that it is karma-bandhana. If you give in charity somebody, say, some amount of money, you'll get that money back four times, five times, or ten times more in your next life. That is a fact. So Vaisnava philosophy says that this is also sinful. Why sinful? Because you have to take your birth to receive that compound interest. That is sinful. Now suppose you are born in a very rich family. The trouble of being in the womb of the mother, that is the same. Either you are pious man or the impious man, when you are in the womb of your mother the difficulties and the pains perceived within the womb of the mother is the same, either you are black or white, either you are Indian or American or cat or dog or anyone. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam. The troubles of birth, the troubles of death, and the troubles of disease, and the troubles of old age are everywhere the same. It is not that because you are born in a very rich family, you'll be immune from diseases. It is not that you'll not become old. It is not that you'll be saved from the troubles of birth or you'll be saved from the troubles of death.

So these things are to be understood very clearly. But people have become so unintelligent, they do not care for... "Oh, death, all right. Death. Let it come." Birth... Now especially in these days, a child is in the womb of the mother, so many killing processes are there. So many. So why? Because people are becoming so much entangled that such person even do not get birth in the womb of the mother. He's placed and he's killed, again he's placed in another womb of mother, again he is killed. In this way, he does not see even the light. You see. So to become in the womb of the mother and to again accept death, to accept old age, accept disease, is not a very good business. If you are rich man, you have to accept all these troubles of material existence, or if you are poor man... It doesn't matter. Anyone who comes into this material world in this material body, he has to take all these troubles. It may be that you are American, the richest nation in the world. That does not mean there is no disease, there is no old age, there is no birth and there is no death. So the intelligent person is he who can make a solution of these problems. He's intelligent. Others who are making patchwork, patching, trying to make a solution of the problems of material life, although they are unable... It is not possible.

If you want to make a solution of material existence by the material way, it is not possible. That is also clearly stated. In the Bhagavad-gita you'll find, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. This material nature which is accepted, claimed by Krsna as "My energy," mama maya... This is also another energy of Krsna. Everything will be explained in the Seventh Chapter. So it is very difficult to get out of this energy. Practically we are seeing what we are. Our efforts are very tiny to conquer over the laws of the material nature. It is simply waste of time. You cannot become happy by conquering over the material nature. Now science have discovered so many things. Just (as) the airplane from India. It would have taken months together to reach your country, but by airplane we can come here overnight. These advantage are there. But along with these advantages, there are so many disadvantages. When you are on the plane on the sky, you know you are in the midst of desert..., of danger. At any moment there can be crash. You may fall down on the sea, you may fall down anywhere. So it is not very safe. So similarly, any method we manufacture, we discover, to conquer over the laws of material nature, it is backed by another set of dangerous things. That is the law of nature. That is not the way to get out of this material pangs of life.

The real way is to stop these four functions of my conditional life. The four functions of conditional life means birth, death, old age, and disease. Actually, I am a spirit soul. That is explained in the beginning of Bhagavad-gita, that the spirit soul is never born or is never dead. He continues his life even after the destruction of this particular type of body. This body is only a flash, for some years only. But it will be finished. It is being finished by degrees. Just like I'm an old man of seventy-three years old. Suppose if I live eighty years or a hundred years, these seventy-three years I have already died. That is finished. Now a few years I may remain. So we are dying from the date of our birth. That is a fact. So Bhagavad-gita gives you the solution of these four problems. And Krsna here is suggesting, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. If you take shelter of Krsna and if you think of Krsna always, your consciousness becomes always overwhelmed with Krsna thoughts, then Krsna says the result will be asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu [Bg. 7.1]. "Then you will understand Me perfectly, without any doubt."

Everyone is hankering after what is God, what is the nature of God. Somebody says there is no God, somebody says God is dead. These are all doubts. But here Krsna says, asamsaya. You'll be doubtless. You'll feel, you'll know perfectly well that God is there, Krsna is there. And He is the source of all energies. He is the primeval Lord. These things you will learn without any doubt. The first thing is we do not make progress in transcendental knowledge on account of doubts, samsayah. These doubts can be removed by culture of real knowledge, by real association, by following the real methods, the doubts can be removed. So Krsna consciousness persons, they are not after will-o'-the-wisp, phantasmagoria. No. They're actually making progress to the concrete Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As it is stated in the Brahma-samhita, cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. There is a planet which is called cintamani-dhama, Goloka Vrndavana. So in that dhama... As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mad dhama. Dhama means His abode. Krsna says, "I have got an abode, particular." How we can deny? How is that abode? That is also described in Bhagavad-gita and in many other Vedic literatures. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. Here, any dhama, any planet you go... Just like we have got in this planet. But we have to go back from this planet. You'll not be allowed to stay here. You are Americans, that's all right; but how long you shall remain American? These people, they do not understand it. You'll have to go back in some other planet, in some other place. You cannot say, "No, I shall remain here. I have got my visa or my permanent citizenship." No. This will not allow you. One day death will come, "Please exit." "No, sir, I have got so much business." "No. Damn your business. Come on." You see? But if you go to Krsnaloka, Krsna says, yad gatva na nivartante, you haven't got to come back again. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6].

This is also Krsna's dhama, because everything belongs to God, Krsna. Nobody's proprietor. This claim that "This land, America, belongs to us, United States," this is false claim. It does not belong to you, nobody else. Just like some years ago, four hundred years ago, it belonged to the Indians, Red Indians, and someway or other, you have now occupied. Who can say that others will not come here and occupy? So this is all false claim. Actually, everything belongs to Krsna. Krsna says that sarva-loka-mahesvaram: "I am the supreme proprietor, controller, of all planets." So everything belongs to Him. But Krsna says everything belongs to Him. So everything is His dhama, His place, His abode. So why should we change here? But He says yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam [Bg. 15.6]. Paramam means the supreme. In this dhama also, they are Krsna's dhama, Krsna's planets, but here it is not parama, the supreme. There are troubles. Just like this birth, death, disease, and old age. But if you return to Krsna's personal abode, Goloka Vrndavana, cintamani-dhama, then you get eternal life, blissful life, full of knowledge.

And how that can be attained? Here it is, beginning... Krsna says that mayy asakta-manah: simply you increase your attachment for Krsna. Simply this method. These, all these, we are chanting, we are hearing, we are dancing, we're enjoying. Why? Just to detach our life from all nonsense things and attach to Krsna. This is the process. This is Krsna consciousness. You have to make your mind attached to something. But if you make your mind attached to something nonsense, then the same thing, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, birth, death, old age, disease. You have to suffer. You have to suffer. Your science, your material science, or nothing... No. Nobody can make any solution of these sufferings. But if you want real solution, permanent solution, permanent life, then you become attached to Krsna. Simple method. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan. That is the perfect form of yoga. All other yogas, they may help you to come to this platform of Krsna consciousness, but if you fail to come to this platform of Krsna consciousness, then all those troubles will be useless labor. That is not possible. If you take that slow process of yoga, it is not possible in this age. Not only in this age, five thousand years ago also. This is not possible. You may do your gymnastic feats, but it will never be successful. This yoga process, as it is confirmed by Krsna in the last chapter... This is Seventh Chapter. In the Sixth Chapter also, He has said the very thing, that yoginam api sarvesam: [Bg. 6.47] "The first-class yogi is he whose mind is always attached to Me, Krsna."

So this is Krsna consciousness. Try to understand Krsna consciousness. Simply by practicing this, some way or other, you become attached to Krsna. Some way. Yena tena prakarena, any way. Just like if you love somebody, any way, you try to get it... It is not very difficult. We know the tactics. Even an animal, an animal, he knows how to get his things tactfully. The struggle for existence means that everyone is trying to get his objective. So many tactfully. So you also try, instead of after this material will-o'-the-wisp, you some way tactfully try to capture Krsna. That will make your life successful. Some way. Mayy as...

yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet
sarve vidhi-nisedhah syur etayor eva kinkarah

Now, there are so many in Krsna consciousness..., this process, there are so many. I am just introducing one after another, little by little, but those who are practicing this Krsna consciousness in India, there are so many rules and regulations. Somebody says that "Swamiji is very conservative. He has got so many rules and regulations," but I have not introduced one percent. One percent. Because it is not possible to introduce all those rules and regulations in your country. My policy is following the footstep of Rupa Gosvami. He says that somehow or other, let them become first of all attached to Krsna. So this is the yoga. Krsna is explaining, mayy asakta-manah partha. So try to be attached to Krsna. And why you shall not be attached to Krsna? So many nice things in Krsna consciousness? We have got arts, we have painting, we have got dancing, we have got music, we have got first-class food, we have got first-class dress, first-class health, everything first class. It is only the foolish rascal that he'll not be attached to these first-class things. Everything. And it is easy at the same time. What is the reason that one should not be attached to this process? The reason is that he's a first-class rascal. That's all. I tell you frankly. Let anyone come, argue with me whether he's not a first-class rascal by not accepting Krsna consciousness. I'll prove it.

So don't be first-class rascal. Become first-class intelligent man. As Caitanya-caritamrta author says, krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura. Anyone who has taken to Krsna consciousness, he's first-class intelligent man. So don't be first-class fool, but become first-class intelligent man. That is my request.

Thank you very much. (obeisances) Any question? The other day so many students came, now nobody. Because they want to remain the first-class rascal, that's all. That is... It is a fact. So unless one is very intelligent, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness. They want to be bluffed, cheated, in this way or that way. That's all. Plain thing, simple thing. And result is very great, they'll not agree to accept. Yes.

Visnujana: There are so many stories of Lord Caitanya converting so many rascals. By just His presence, they would chant Hare Krsna. How can we get His mercy so that we can help the people around us to chant Hare Krsna?

Prabhupada: If you chant sincerely this mantra, everything will be clear. It is the clearing process. Even if you have got some rascal ideas, rascal association, it doesn't matter. Simply if you chant... You know practically, everyone, that this chanting process is the only method that will make people advanced. So this is the method, chanting and hearing. Hear the lectures from Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, try to understand, and chant, and follow the rules and regulation. So rules and regulation later on. First of all, you try to hear and chant. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. Punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. Anyone who hears Hare Krsna, he becomes pious simply by hearing. He becomes purified. So at a stage, he will accept. But people think that "What is this Hare Krsna chanting?" You see? If you give them some bluff, kundalini-yoga and all these humbugs, they'll be very much pleased. You see? So they want to be cheated. And some cheaters come, "Yes, you take this mantra, give me thirty-five dollars, and within six months you'll become God, you'll have four hands." (laughter)

So we want to be cheated. That is, cheating process is one of the items of conditional life. There are four defects of conditional life. One defect is that we commit mistake, and another defect is that we accept something which is not that. Just like commit mistake, that is not to be very difficult to understand. Every one of us know how we commit mistake, blunder. Even great men, they also commit blunder, you see. Just like there are so many instances amongst the politicians, a little mistake or a blunder, great blunder... So mistake, "To err is human," mistake is there. Similarly, accepting something as fact which is not fact. How it is? Just like everyone in the conditioned life, they think that "This body is my self." But I'm not this. I'm not this body. So this is called illusion, pramada. The best example is to accept a rope as a snake. Suppose in the darkness there is a rope like this, and you are..., "Oh, here is a snake." This is the best example of illusion. Accepting something which is not that.

So this defect is there in conditioned life. And to make error and mistake, that defect is there. And the third defect is that we want to cheat and we want to be cheated. We are also very expert. We are always thinking how I shall cheat somebody. And naturally, he's also thinking to cheat me. So the whole conditional life is the association of cheaters and cheated, that's all. So this is another defect. And the fourth defect is that our senses are imperfect. Therefore all knowledge that we receive, that is imperfect knowledge. A man may speculate, but he may speculate with his mind. That's all. But his mind is imperfect. However he may speculate, he'll produce something nonsense, that's all. Because his mind is imperfect. It doesn't matter that if you add thousands of zeros, it makes one. No. It is still zero. So this speculation process, to understand the Supreme, is nothing but zero. Therefore with all these defects of our conditional life, it is not possible to come to the real life. Therefore we have to take it from personalities like Krsna and His bona fide representative. That is real knowledge. Then you'll get perfection.

Madhudvisa: Prabhupada, what is the difference between an incarnation and an avatara?

Prabhupada: Avatara is incarnation. Avatara means incarnation. Incarnation, in your dictionary, is "accepting some body"? Is that...? But avatara... Of course, there are different grades of avatara. Avatara means one who comes... The real world is avatarana descending. Avatara means who comes from a higher sphere, higher planet. They are not living entities of this world, this material world. They come from spiritual world. They are called avatara. So these avatara grades are different. There are saktyavesavatara, gunavatara, lilavatara, yugavatara, so many. So avatara means one who comes directly from the spiritual world. And incarnation, of course, this avatara is translated with the word incarnation, but I think real meaning of incarnation means "who accepts a body." Is it not? So that incarnation, everyone accepts a material body. But avatara, there are avatara of Visnu and avatara of devotees also. There are different grades of avatara. You'll read it in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, which is coming out. Yes.

Jaya-gopala: In Chapter Four in Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it is said that Arjuna was present at the speaking of Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god so many years ago. What position did he have there?

Prabhupada: He was also present, but he has forgotten.

Jaya-gopala: Which position did he have, if it wasn't spoken at the Battle of Kuruksetra? Which position?

Prabhupada: Arjuna was put into that position by the supreme will of the Lord. Unless... Just like in the theatrical stage, both the father and the son, they are playing some part. The father is playing a king, and the son is playing another king. Both are inimical. But actually they are playing as such. Similarly, Arjuna is eternal friend of Krsna. He cannot be in delusion. How he can be delusioned if Krsna is his constant friend? But he was supposed to be in delusion so that he played the part of a conditioned soul and Krsna explained the whole thing. He played that ordinary person; therefore all his questions were just like ordinary man. Unless... Because the teachings of Gita was lost. That is explained. So Krsna wanted to deliver again the yoga system of Gita. So somebody must ask. Just like you are asking, I'm answering. Similarly Arjuna, although he was not to be supposed in illusion, he placed himself as representative of this conditioned soul and he inquired so many things, the answers were given by Lord.

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada, when I'm serving you sometimes I feel very nice, but then when I think of how bad and imperfect this service is, I feel terrible. Which is right to feel?

Prabhupada: (chuckles) You feel terrible?

Tamala Krsna: Yes.

Prabhupada: Why? When you feel terrible?

Tamala Krsna: When I see all the blunders I make, all the mistakes.

Prabhupada: Sometimes... This is nice. To accept the blunders... Even there is no blunder. This is the symptom of sincere service. Just like a father is very beloved to his son or the son is very beloved to the father. A little ailments of the son, the father is thinking, "Oh, my son my die. I may be separated." It is the sign of intense love. Not always that the son is dying immediately, you see, but he's thinking like that. Separation. You see? So that is a good sign. We should not think that we are doing very nicely. We should always think that "I am unable." This is not bad. We should never think that "I am perfect." Because the maya is so strong, as soon as you are a little confident, immediately there is attack. You see? In a diseased condition... Just like one who takes very precautionary method, there is little chance of relapse. So this is not bad. We should always think like that, that "Maybe I am not doing nicely." But as far as it is in our power, let us execute our business nicely, but we should never think that it is very perfect. That is nice.

Tamala Krsna: If maya takes a hold on one, what is the quickest way to go back to Krsna?

Prabhupada: Oh, that Krsna, Krsna... Simply whenever there is maya's attraction, just pray to Krsna, "Please save me. Please save me." This is the only way. And He'll save you. We are in maya's kingdom, so maya is strong very here, but if we catch Krsna very strongly, maya cannot do anything. Yes. That we should be fixed up in catching Krsna very tightly. Then there is no falldown. Yes.

Madhudvisa: Prabhupada, when we're out on sankirtana, chanting, what would be the best way for us to engage the crowd to become participants in the chant with us? What would be the best of...

Prabhupada: Best way you go on chanting. Your business is not to, I mean to say, satisfy the crowd. Your business is satisfy Krsna, and then crowd will be automatically satisfied. We are not going to please the crowd. We are going to give them something, Krsna. So you should be very much careful whether you are delivering Krsna in the right way. Then they'll be satisfied. Your only business should be to satisfy Krsna. Then everything will be satisfied. Tasmin tuste jagat tusta. If Krsna is satisfied, then whole world is satisfied. If you pour water on the root, then it is automatically distributed in every parts of the tree. So Krsna is the big tree, root of the big tree, and you take to watering Krsna, chant Hare Krsna and follow the rules and regulation, everything will be all right. Now, yes, any questions?

Jaya-gopala: Is taking prasadam one of the exchanges of love, where we accept food from a lover?

Prabhupada: Yes. You offer and you take. Dadati pratigrhnati bhunkte bhojayate guhyam akhyati prcchati ca. You disclose your mind to Krsna and Krsna will give you direction also. You see. You offer Krsna, that "Krsna, You have given us so many nice things. So You first of all taste. Then we shall take." Krsna will be pleased. Yes, that's all. Krsna eats, and Krsna puts again in the same way. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. We are offering Krsna, that does not mean that Krsna... Krsna is eating, but Krsna is so full, complete, that He's leaving the whole thing complete. So people do not even understand these things that we are not loser by offering Krsna. We become gainer only. Gainer only. You decorate Krsna nicely, you see. Then your desire for seeing beautiful thing will be satisfied. You no more will be attracted by the so-called beauties of the world. You keep Krsna in comfortable state, You offer Krsna nice foodstuff, you'll eat it. So just like if I decorate my face, I cannot see how it is beautiful, but if I bring one mirror before me, the reflection of my face is beautiful. Similarly, you are reflection of Krsna. Man is made after God. So if you make happy Krsna, then you'll see that your reflection, you are happy. Krsna does not require your service to become happy. He is complete in Himself. But if you try to supply, make happy Krsna, then you'll be happy. This is the Krsna consciousness movement. So try to decorate nicely Krsna, try to give all foodstuff to Krsna, try to keep Krsna in all comfortable position. In this way you will reciprocate all the things that you offer to Him. This is Krsna consciousness.

All right. Chant. (pause) The disease is that... Material disease is just like the tail of the dog. You see. The dog's tail is like this. And however oil it and try to make it straight, it comes like this. (laughter) You see. So these people, they want material enjoyment. "If Swamiji can offer us material enjoyment cheaply by some mantra," they'll come. You see. "When Swamiji says ‘This is all rascaldom; come to Krsna,' this is not good. This is not good." Because he wants to keep the tail like this. However apply ointment, it comes like this. (laughter) This is the disease. They want material things. That's all. "If by mantra, if by some tricks, we can enhance our material enjoyment, oh, it is very nice. Let us take some drug and become in the fools' paradise and think, ‘Oh, I am in the spiritual world.' " They want like this. They want to remain in fools' paradise. But when we offer real paradise, they reject.

All right. Chant. (kirtana -- prema-dhvani)

Girl: Prabhupada? That rose grew out on one of our rose bushes outside.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Girl: That grew on a bush outside in our yard.

Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. Very nice. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 7.1 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1968