Krsna's Spiritual & Material

Krsna's Spiritual & Material

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.254-281
New York, December 17, 1966

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Prabhupada:

kriya-sakti-pradhana sankarsana balarama
prakrtaprakrta-srsti karena nirmana

So out of three transcendental propensities of the Supreme Lord, iccha-sakti, jnana-sakti and kriya-sakti, the kriya-sakti, that is represented by, or the controller of the kriya-sakti is, Sankarsana, Balarama. And with that potency, kriya-sakti potency, the creation, both material creation and spiritual creation, are effected.

ahankarera adhisthata krsnera icchaya
goloka, vaikuntha srje cic-chakti-dvaraya

Cic-chakti-dvaraya. The spiritual potency is manifested in the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana and spiritual planets.

yadyapi asrjya nitya cic-chakti-vilasa
tathapi sankarsana-icchaya tahara prakasa

Actually, there is no creation in the spiritual world. The creation means it begins at a certain time and ends at a certain time, but in the spiritual world there is no such beginning. But because we find the creation of this material world by the kriya-sakti potency of Lord, therefore it is understood that the spiritual world is also manifested by the same potency with the help of His spiritual energy.

sahasra-patram kamalam
gokulakhyam mahat-padam
tat-karnikaram tad-dhama
tad anantamsa-sambhavam
[Bs. 5.2]

That original planet, Goloka Vrndavana, is described here in the Brahma-samhita, "just like a lotus flower."

maya-dvare srje tenho brahmandera gana
jada-rupa prakrti nahe brahmanda-karana

Now, so far this material creation is concerned, it is said here that "By His material potency, He manifests this material world and unlimited universes within the material world." So nobody should think that the material world has come out of nothing, out of void. No. This is confirmed in all Vedic literature and especially in the Brahma-samhita, and in the Bhagavad-gita also it is stated, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. So material nature is not independent. It is a misunderstanding, a wrong conception, that matter is working out of its own accord. Matter has no power to work. It is a jada-rupa. Jada-rupa means it has no moving capacity or, what is called, initiative. Matter has no initiative. Therefore matter cannot manifest in such a way without the direction of the Supreme Lord. Maya-dvare srje tenho brahmandera gana. Actually, it is His direction, but material potency is help only. That's all.

jada haite srsti nahe isvara-sakti vine
tahatei sankarsana kare saktira adhane

Jada haite, from matter there is no possibility of any creation. The Sankarsana, He is manifestation of Sankarsana, Balarama. He is the director of this material creation.

isvarera saktye srsti karaye prakrti
lauha yena agni-saktye paya daha-sakti

"Just like it is, in contact with the fire the iron becomes red hot and it become fire, similarly, in contact with Sankarsana, this material energy gets potency, and thereby the material manifestation is there."

etau hi visvasya ca bija-yoni
ramo mukundah purusah pradhanam
anviya bhutesu vilaksanasya
jnanasya cesata imau puranau

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, in the Tenth Canto, it is stated that "This Rama and Krsna" -- Rama means Balarama, and Krsna -- "They are the root of this material creation. And both of Them enters into each and every universe and maintains that." Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham [Bs. 5.35]. This is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam:

srsti-hetu yei murti prapance avatare
sei isvara-murti 'avatara' nama dhare

"For material creation, the expansion of the Supreme Lord for the purpose of material creation is called incarnation. That is called avatara."

mayatita paravyome sabara avasthana
visve avatari' dhare 'avatara' nama

"So all Visnu expansions, they are in the spiritual world, and they all of them reside there. But when they come into this material world, it is called incarnation." Actually, avatara... This Sanskrit name is avatara. Avatara means who comes down from the spiritual world. Avatari. Avatari means descends. Descends. They are not born of this material energy. They descend from the spiritual world.

sei maya avalokite sri-sankarsana
purusa-rupe avatirna ha-ila prathama

Now, purusa-rupe, the first incarnation for this material creation, the Maha-Visnu, sa aiksata. Simply by His glance, this material world begins its activity.

sei maya avalokite sri-sankarsana
purusa-rupa avatirna ha-ila prathama

jagrhe paurusam rupam
bhagavan mahad-adibhih
sambhutam sodasa-kalam
adau loka-sisrksaya

Adau loka-sisrksaya: "Just before the creation the Maha-Visnu, He takes His incarnation, and He puts His glance on the material energy, and the creation begins."

adyo 'vatarah purusah parasya
kalah svabhavah sad-asan-manas ca
dravyam vikaro guna indriyani
virat svarat sthasnu carisnu bhumnah

So adyo avatara, the first purusavatara, Maha-Visnu, is very vast. Just imagine how much great He is, His body is, that from His breathing all these universes are generating.

sei purusa virajate karena sayana
'karanabdhisayi' nama jagat-karana

"That purusavatara, the first incarnation of purusa, He lies down in the water of Causal Ocean, and His name is Karanabdhisayi Visnu."

karanabdhi-pare mayara nitya avasthiti
virajara pare paravyome nahi gati

Karanabdhi-pare. Just on the other side of the ocean, Causal Ocean, this material energy is situated. Virajara pare paravyome nahi gati. And this material energy has no entrance in the spiritual kingdom.

pravartate tatra rajas tamas tayoh
sattvam ca misram na ca kala-vikramah
na yatra maya kim utapare harer
anuvrata yatra surasurarcitah

Now, the description of the spiritual world is that there is no rajas-tamah. These modes of passion and modes of ignorance is not there. Suddha-sattva. Suddha-sattva means simply goodness, pure goodness, without any tinge of passion and ignorance. So pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoh sattvam ca misram na ca kala-vikramah. There is no mixed goodness; simply goodness. And na ca kala-vikramah: "And there is no influence of time." This is the description of the spiritual world: "There is no modes of passion, and there is no modes of ignorance, and there is no influence of time." That means there is simply pure goodness. And in pure goodness we can understand our constitutional position: we can understand what is God, what is creation, everything. These are... Goodness means prakasa. Prakasa means knowledge comes out. And so long we are in ignorance and passion, there is no knowledge. In ignorance there is no knowledge at all, in passion there is some glimpse of knowledge, and in goodness there is full knowledge. So the living entities there, they are full of knowledge. Therefore they do not come into this material world. And na yatra kala-vikramah: and because there is no influence of time, therefore there is no past, present and future. In this material world there is influence of time. Therefore we have got this past, present and future.

So these things, of course theoretically we have to understand. But these are authentic explanation from scriptures, Vedic literatures. At least we have to accept them theoretically. The spiritual world means that there is no ignorance, there is no passion and there is no influence of time. Na yatra maya kim utapare: "And this maya, this illusion, is also absent." Kim utapare harer anuvrata yatra surasurarcitah: "And there, in the spiritual planets, all the living entities, they are all surrendered souls, or followers of the Supreme Lord." There is no misconception that "I am Lord; I am God." There is no such misconception. They are all clear of this nonsense ignorance. Anuvrata: they are always following. Therefore there is unity, oneness. There is oneness. God is one, and the living entities there, they are all followers, obedient of God. There is no influence of time, no influence of ignorance, no influence of passion. So that is perfect. That is spiritual kingdom, the description of spiritual world. This is from Bhagavatam. And there are other verses in this chapter where this verse appears that, I have read it, that there are aeroplanes also. And the devotees, and the woman, they are just like lightning. So it appears there are men, there are women, there are airplane. Everything is there. Simply difference is that there is no influence of time. Influence of time there is no -- that means there is no past, future and present, and there is no death. Death is the influence of time. An old man like me is going to die. Death means the influence of time is being acted on this body. So after a few days or few years, this must vanquish. So there is no influence of time.

So there is no death, there is no birth, there is no ignorance, and everyone is obedient, everyone is happy. And their features of body is also exactly like God. In the spiritual planets, all of a sudden if you go, you cannot distinguish who is God and who is not. Yes. Just like here also, when Krsna comes, He appears just like one of us. So man is made after God. So so far features are concerned, there is no difference between God and man. But the difference is only that God has no material body; we have got this material body subjected to the influence of time. When Krsna comes, He does not become old. He remains just like a boy even when He is great grandfather because on His body there is no influence of time. Because His body is spiritual, therefore there is no influence of time.

mayara ye dui vrtti-'maya' ara 'pradhana'
'maya' nimitta-hetu, visvera upadana 'pradhana'

This material energy is divided into two: pradhana and upadana. Pradhana and upadana. The whole, total material energy is called pradhana, and the material elements are called ingredients, upadana.

sei purusa maya-pane kare avadhana
prakrti ksobhita kari' kare viryera adhana

Now, in the Bhagavad-gita you have read that mahad-yonir mahad-brahma tasam... It is stated there that aham bija-pradah pita: [Bg. 14.4] "I implement the seeds of living entities into the matter." So in the matter the living, the seeds of living entities, as we are, they are impregnated. As the father impregnates the mother, similarly, this material nature is just like mother, and therefore material nature is worshiped as mother, goddess, mother goddess, Durga, Kali. Yes. And this worship of the country, nationalism, that is also the same matter -- worship. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. So, so long we are not enlightened, we are worshiper of this matter, energy. And when we are advanced in knowledge, then we are worshiper of the Supreme. So Krsna consciousness means advanced stage of knowledge. It is not in the material platform. Therefore anyone who is in Krsna consciousness appropriately and thoroughly, he is liberated from material consciousness.

svanga-visesabhasa-rupe prakrti-sparsana
jiva-rupa 'bija' tate kaila samarpana

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is this evidence:

daivat ksubhita-dharminyam
svasyam yonau parah puman
adhatta viryam sa 'suta
mahat-tattvam hiranmayam

So from this version of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that the living entities as seeds they are coming from the spiritual world... They are not product of the matter. Therefore it is not possible to produce living entity with material chemicals and material elements. It is not possible. As some of the modern scientists, they claim that "We shall now give life," or they advertise in that way, so from this verse we can understand that it is not possible, because these living entities, they are just like seeds, and they are coming from the spiritual world, from the body of the Supreme. Those spiritual living entities are desirous of enjoying sense gratification, they are allowed to this material world, and others, they are in the spiritual world.

kala-vrttya tu mayayam
gunamayyam adhoksajah
purusenatma-bhutena
viryam adhatta viryavan

So there is another verse, that how the seeds are given within this material world:

tabe mahat-tattva haite trividha ahankara
yaha haite devatendriya-bhutera pracara

Now, here is a short description of the creation. First, material energy; then the seeds of the living entities are impregnated into that material energy; and then mahat-tattva, from the material energy, the ego, false ego, comes out. First manifestation of this material world is this false ego, mahat-tattva. Trividha ahankara. Yaha haite devatendriya-bhutera pracara: "And from this ego, all these human beings or demigods or other living entities, they are coming out."

sarva tattva mili' srjila brahmandera gana
ananta brahmanda, tara nahika ganana

"In this way the Lord created unlimited number of universes." This one universe which you have seen, that is one only; but there are innumerable universes. That is created.

inho mahat-srasta purusa-'maha-visnu' nama
ananta brahmanda tanra loma-kupe dhama

"Now, the expansion of Krsna who is doing all this material expansion, He is known as Maha-Visnu, Maha-Visnu."

gavakse udiya yaiche renu ase yaya
purusa-nisvasa-saha brahmanda bahiraya

Now here is a nice example. You have seen the sunshine entering your room through a hole of your window, and you will find so many atomic demonstration. So these brahmandas, the so many universes, they are emanating from the breathing of Maha-Visnu in that way.

punarapi nisvasa-saha yaya abhyantara
ananta aisvarya tanra, saba-maya-para

In this way all the universes, they enter into the body of Maha-Visnu after the creation is over and again comes out. In this way it is coming and going, coming... Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that they are coming and going within. This is the way of material nature. And here is another evidence from Brahma-samhita:

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.48]

Now, such a vast, gigantic Maha-Visnu, of whose breathing producing these universes and whose inhaling, annihilating all the universes -- such vast Maha-Visnu is only part and part of the expansion of Krsna, or Govinda. So Brahma says, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. So just we have to imagine how much potential is the Lord Krsna.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.255-281 -- New York, December 17, 1966

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We Are Expansions of Radharani

We Are Expansions of Radharani

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1
Bombay, December 17, 1975

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Prabhupada:

sri prahlada uvaca
kaumaram acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha

(aside:) You can give some stand. How long he will stand?

durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam

This is the instruction of Prahlada Maharaja to his class friend. Prahlada Maharaja was born of Hiranyakasipu, great demon. He is described as demon because he was interested only in material comforts. Hiranya means gold, gold and very comfortable situation of material life. He was interested in that, and he wanted to teach his son about this economic development. But Prahlada Maharaja, when he was in the womb of his mother... There was fight between the demons and the demigods, so the demons -- sometimes when there is fight, sometimes one party is victorious, sometimes the other party is victorious -- so the demigods' party became victorious, and they were harassing the demons like anything. So Hiranyakasipu's wife, she was pregnant, she was captured by Indra, the King of heaven, and she was being dragged to take her in the house of Indra. In the way, Narada Muni met them; he chastised Indra. Narada Muni was devarsi, rsi amongst the demigods. So he said, "Why you are giving trouble to this woman? This is not good." So the demons replied, demigods replied that "This woman is pregnant, and there is Hiranyakasipu's son. So we want to kill that son also, because he is demon. So we are taking this woman to our place just to wait for the time of her delivering the child." At that time Narada Muni said, "No, no. This child is not a demon child. This child who is within the womb of this woman, he is a great devotee, so don't try to kill him. Neither you can kill him, that is not possible." So they are demigods, they accepted Narada Muni's proposal. So they offered respect to the woman, that "Here is, within the womb of this woman, a great devotee." So they circumambulated and offered respect to the wife of Hiranyakasipu and they went away. So Narada Muni took the wife of Hiranyakasipu to his asrama: "My dear girl, my dear daughter, you please come with me, remain with me till your husband comes back." So she agreed, and woman's natural propensity is to serve, so she was very nicely serving Narada Muni, and Narada Muni became very much pleased and he instructed about transcendental knowledge. Although to the wife of Hiranyakasipu, but still the Hiranyakasipu's son Prahlada Maharaja was within the womb, he also heard the instruction and he learnt everything. Later on he will explain that "My mother, on account of being woman, she has forgotten the instruction of Narada, but I heard it even from within the womb; I remember it."

So this Prahlada Maharaja is repeating the same instruction which he heard from Narada Muni when he was packed up within the womb. So this is one of the instruction, that spiritual instruction does not depend on any material condition. In any position one can understand spiritual instruction. Ahaituky apratihata yena atma samprasidati.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yena atma samprasidati
 [SB 1.2.6]

That is first-class religion, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo [SB 1.2.6]. Para means supreme. There are different types of religion, but the supreme religion is para dharma, that is yato bhaktir adhoksaje, that religious system which instructs the followers how to become a perfect devotee of the Supreme Lord. That is first-class religion. We are fighting in this material world. "You are Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Sikh," "I am Jain," "I am this," "I am that," but this not paro dharma; this is aparo dharma. Para and apara, there are two qualities, just like material and spiritual. Material is called apara, and spiritual means para, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, apareyam.

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

These material elements -- earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence, and false ego -- these are eight material elements, out of which five are gross-bhumir apo 'nalo vayu -- and three are very subtle. Just like everyone: I know you think with your mind; you know also I think with my mind. But mind is subtle. I cannot see your mind, neither you can see my mind, neither I can see my mind, nor you can see your mind. This is subtle. And the finer than the mind is intelligence, and finer than the intelligence is egoism or egotism, and finer than egotism is the soul.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is little difficult for ordinary persons who are interested with the material gross and subtle elements. For them it is little difficult. But Krsna says apareyam, "This is inferior, these energies." They are energies, prakrtir me astadha. Prakrti means energy, just like prakrti means woman, naturally a woman is under the control of the man. That is our Vedic system, and natural system also. However, the woman may claim equal rights, they are under the control of the man. That is natural. So similarly prakrti means which is under the control of the Supreme Lord. That is prakrti. In another place, Bhagavad-gita it is said,

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivarate
 [Bg. 9.10]

Krsna says mayadhyaksena: "Under My control the material nature is working." Mayadhyaksena prakrtih. In another place in Brahma-samhita it is said how prakrti is under the control of the Supreme Lord: srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. Durga is the material nature. It is very powerful. Srsti-sthiti, creation, maintenance and annihilation, is going on under her control, Durga-devi. We have seen the picture of Durga, ten hands with ten kinds of weapons. So she is very powerful, but still she is under the control of Govinda.

srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya ca cestate sa
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.44]

The mula prakrti, the original prakrti, is fully under the control. Control means she acts according to the direction of Govinda. Yasya ajnaya, she is acting. So this prakrti is inferior prakrti, and there is another, superior prakrti. That superior prakrti is represented by Srimati Radharani. Radharani and Durga, both of them are prakrtis of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but one prakrti is meant for controlling this material world, and the other prakrti is meant for blessing the spiritual world. Two prakrtis are Krsna's prakrti. Therefore Krsna says,

apareyam itas tu (anyam)
viddhi me prakrtim para
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
 [Bg. 7.5]

So this jiva-bhuta, living entities, we are living entities, we also belong to the spiritual prakrti, we are expansion of spiritual prakrti. Just like Srimati Radharani is always engaged in the service of the Lord, anaradhyate. Aradhyate, it is Radharani. The Radharani, the name has come from the word aradhyate. Aradhana, aradhana means worshiping. So everyone is meant, beginning from Radharani, and her expansion, Laksmi, in Vaikuntha, laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.29]. Here we worship mother Laksmiji, goddess of fortune, to receive some favor. But in the Vaikuntha world there are many hundred thousands of Laksmi, laksmi-sahasra-sata, and they are sambhrama-sevyamanam: with great respect, they are engaged in serving the Supreme Lord. So, we being expansion of the spiritual Laksmi, or Radharani, our duty is to serve Radharani, and through Radharani to serve Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are missing this point, that instead of learning from Radharani how to serve Krsna, we are being controlled by the another prakrti, material energy, Durga, with weapons in her ten hands. This is our position. Therefore we are missing the point, and it is said in Brahma-samhita..., no, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam... This is also spoken by Prahlada Maharaja:

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah
 [SB 7.5.31]

So in this material world they do not know what is the aim of life. Na te viduh. Na te viduh svartha-gatim. Everyone is very much expert to see his interest. Two businessmen, they are agreeing, but everyone is trying to see his personal interest first. This is called svartha-gatim. That is natural. But Prahlada Maharaja says, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnu. Unfortunately, these materialistic persons, they do not know what is his real interest. The real interest is Visnu, how to serve Visnu.

That is explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the beginning. Sanatana Gosvami, a great minister of Nawab Hussein Shah's government, he retired from his ministerial activities and became a servant of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to preach this Krsna consciousness movement. The six Goswamis of Vrndavana:

sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-ragunath
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-ragunatha

So there are many description about their activities in Vrndavana. Some of them are described by Srinivasa Acarya. The prime duty was, these Gosvamis, they were ministers, big, big zamindars. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was the only one son of his father and uncle, and in those days, five hundred years ago, their paternal income was twelve lakhs of rupees. So such person joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa sanatana bhatta-ragunatha. Either they were very, very learned scholar or coming from very, very rich family, big post, all the six Goswamis.

sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha

So their business was, these Gosvamis, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau: they were always engaged in chanting "Krsna." That is the real purpose of human life, especially in this age. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaja by Sukadeva Goswami, he described the symptoms of Kali-yuga: it is very, very faulty. But he concluded that kalau dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah. In this age of Kali it is very fallen age, mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. The population in this age, they are, almost all of them they are manda-manda means bad or very slow -- so they do not understand what is the aim of life, or very slow to understand; therefore they are called manda. And because they do not understand their real interest of life, they can be called very bad, manda. So these are the symptoms: mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah. So in this age, although it is so fallen, the sastra says, dosa-nidhe rajann, kalau dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah. There is one great opportunity. What is that great opportunity? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. If one takes to chanting this Hare Krsna mantra, then he becomes relieved or freed from the all contamination of this age, and mukta-sangah, he becomes liberated and he goes back to home, back to Godhead. Simply by chanting. That is mukti. Mukti means, we are now under the influence of this material energy, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], this is apara prakrti. So apara prakrti, we have to give up the association of the apara prakrti, and we have to take shelter of para prakrti. This is our aim of life. The subject matter was how to become successful in life. That we are trying to explain. The success is that we have to give up the control, we have to become freed from the control of the apara prakrti, and we shall voluntarily submit to be favored by para prakrti. This is our business, aim of life. Then our life will be successful. If we miss this opportunity to give up the shelter of apara prakrti, and do not take shelter of the para prakrti, then we are missing the opportunity. It is very subtle thing, there is no education, but the information and the enlightenment is there in our sastra. In Bhagavad-gita everything is explained, how one can give up the control of the apara prakrti and be under the shelter of para prakrti.

daivi hi esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
 [Bg. 7.14]

It is not very difficult. Krsna comes to instruct this simple truth, that "You are being controlled by the material energy. You give up this business; you be controlled by the spiritual energy, and your life is successful." This is the method. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te.

So we are..., our Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose, that simply we are trying to educate people how to give up the control of the material energy, and under the control... Not to control the material energy; that we cannot do, that is not possible. But not to become under the control. That is very simple method: mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. Just like if you become honest, if you are not criminal, then there is no police control-police may be there. But as soon as you become criminal, you come under the control of police. Similarly our business is, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained, and everywhere in the sastra, and actually we are so, we are eternal servant of God, or Krsna. This is our real position. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. But our disease is instead of becoming dasa, we are trying to become the master of the prakrti. This is called materialistic way of life. So that will not make us happy at any stage of our life. This is very dangerous. We are missing the point.

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te 'pisa tantryam uru-damni baddhah
 [SB 7.5.31]

We are forgetting that we are absolutely under the control of the material nature.

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

We are fully under the control of material nature, and foolishly, ahankara, on account of being bewildered by false egotism, we are thinking that "I am independent." This is called material illusion.

So our first business is to understand what is this material world, what is the spiritual world, what is God, what is my relationship with Him, and how to execute the business of my life, to become successful in this human form of life. The success of human form of life is to understand this thing: our relationship with God. And we should act in relationship with God. Then our success of life will be achieved. This is the main purpose of Krsna consciousness movement. It is a very profound subject matter to understand, but everything is explained. Our only request is that you read Bhagavad-gita as it is; don't try to interpret. That is useless. Otherwise why people have lost in India their own culture? Because they have interpreted wrongly. Every sastra has been interpreted wrongly and therefore people are misguided. They could not take advantage of the instruction of Bhagavad-gita because all through, the Bhagavad-gita has been misinterpreted. So many so-called politicians, scholars, but it is maybe for the first time -- not first time; it is there -- but to make it broad propaganda wide, that try to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any interpretation. That is our mission. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Don't try to interpret and spoil it. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Ei desa means, He was born in Bengal, India -- it may be Bengal or in India-He, we have interested with every man all over the world,

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara hoibe mora nama

So He was interested in all the parts of the world, how they can be delivered from the clutches of this material energy. So He wished especially the Indians to take this job of preaching the teachings of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He wanted it.

bharata-bhumite manusya janma hoila yara
janma sarthaka kari karo para-upakara

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, para-upakara. It is not the business of the Indian people to exploit others. The mission is they must be very, very merciful to all outsiders, born in, out of India. That is India's mission. Because they are in darkness, they do not know. So instead of enlightenment, giving them jyotir gamah-tamasi ma: "Don't remain in darkness" -- so we are imitating them. This is not India's good fortune. We should not imitate. That is not very good civilization. That is, this has been described as asuric civilization in the Bhagavad-gita. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnu: they do not know. Anyway, although they do not know, they are accepting now. The Krsna consciousness movement is so potential that they are accepting, that is upakara. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted this, para upakara. They are in darkness, tamasi. Bring them in the light: tamasi ma jyotir gamah.

So this attempt has been done by us individually, with teeny effort, but it is becoming successful. But if we take up seriously this movement, every one of us become completely aware of this movement and take this mission as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] "Every one of you, you become a guru," by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So "I shall become guru? What shall I do? I do not know anything." No! You haven't got to know anything. You simply, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. You simply repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. Whomever you meet, you try to convince him; then you are guru. So our mission is this, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's. We are trying to execute the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We don't say anything else except what is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita says, Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Simple thing. It is not very difficult thing. Krsna says, "Always think of Me." Is it very difficult task? No. You chant Hare Krsna, you remember Krsna immediately. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So always remember Krsna, this is Krsna's instruction, man-mana, "Always think of Me," mad-bhakta, and naturally you become bhakta. As soon as you go on chanting Hare Krsna, just like these European and American boys, they have been instructed to chant Hare Krsna mantra... Don't think that I showed them any magic, how to manufacture gold, or how to become this or that. No. Simply I have asked them to chant Hare Krsna, and they have joined me because they have chanted Hare Krsna. Why? Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. By chanting this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the dirty things within the heart will be cleansed. They you will understand what is my position, what to do.

So this is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, yare dekha tare kaha, Krsna said that man-mana bhava mad-bhakta: "You just think of Me, you just become My devotee, mad-yaji, you just offer a little flower and water to Me." Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. If you think that "We have got money. The money is for my enjoyment, and Krsna may be offered a little water and flower," that is cheating; that is not good. According to your position you must worship. This is wanted. Otherwise, bita (indistinct). If you have got money and if you don't serve Krsna, and you serve Krsna with a little water and flower, Krsna can understand this kind of cheating business. No. Everyone should worship Krsna according to his position. That is wanted. Kurusva tad mad-arpanam. Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi kurusva tad mad-arpanam [Bg. 9.27]. To become very big businessman is not ordinary thing; it requires tapasya, very great labour, brain, yat tapasyasi. But the result, Krsna says, kurusva tad mad-arpanam, He's asking, "Give it to Me." So there is no harm to become very big businessman, earning money. That is all right -- but you give it to Krsna. Then in any position you can remain Krsna consciousness. And if you remain Krsna conscious, then you will understand Krsna. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

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

Krsna is explaining that everyone is trying to understand God, but by speculation you cannot understand. By service only you can understand. By attachment. You cannot serve Krsna without being attached. Therefore Krsna says in the Seventh Chapter, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah: "Taking shelter of Me, or My devotee, if you practice this yoga system, bhakti-yoga system, increasing your attachment for Me, this is wanted." Krsna consciousness means we have got attachment so many things, but that attachment has to be transferred to Krsna. Then you'll become Krsna conscious. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah asamsayam. Then asamsayam, without any doubt. To understand God there are three features: brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. So the ordinary person, they can be able to understand Brahman; a little advanced than them, they can understand Paramatma; but to understand Krsna is very difficult. Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many millions of persons, one tries to become siddha, perfect. What is that siddha? Brahma-jna. Yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah [Bg. 7.3]. And out of the siddhas, those who are actually self-realized, aham brahmasmi, out of many of them maybe one is able to understand Krsna.

So Krsna can be understood only by devotion. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. So we have to take this process, sravanam kirtanam visnu. So our only request is that to understand Krsna is not very difficult if we read Bhagavad-gita perfectly, seriously. Then Krsna is understood. And as soon as you understand Krsna... Because Krsna is explaining Himself, what is the difficulty to understand Krsna? Hm? If you, Mr. Birla, you explain that "I am like this. I have got so much money, I have got so many business, I have got so many factories," if you explain, then where is my difficulty? But if I speculate, "Mr. Birla may be..., so much (indistinct) may be had." That is always imperfect. But if you understand directly from Mr. Birla, then it is clear. So Krsna, God, is explaining Himself, "I am like..." Asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu [Bg. 7.1]. So there is not very difficult to understand Krsna if we simply... But if we interpret foolishly, and try to understand Krsna by misinterpretation, then the business is finished. Don't do that. Simply try to understand Krsna as He is explaining Himself, then your life is successful. How it is successful?

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

That is successful. If one can understand Krsna, about His activities, why He comes, He explains, yada yada hi dharmasya [Bg. 4.7], [break] ...change this body. But we do not know what kind of body I am going to get. These information are there. But any kind of body you get, even in the higher planetary system as demigod, a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16], that is not good. The best thing is you get a body, a spiritual body, like Krsna, sat-cit-ananda-vigraha. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti... [Bg. 4.9]. Then you haven't got to accept any more this material body. Then what happens to me? Mam eti, you come to Krsna and enjoy with Him. That is success of life.

Thank you very much.

 

Devotees: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada!

Prabhupada: Any questions?

Giriraja: Any questions? (long silence)

Prabhupada: Boliya mataji. Prasna boliya? There should be question. (another long silence)

Giriraja: The process of hearing and then asking questions is the way to clarify our understanding, just like Krsna and Arjuna. So actually we must have some questions in our minds; otherwise we would all immediately surrender to Krsna.

Prabhupada: Yes. Either you surrender to Krsna or clear it by question. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture Engagement at Birla House -- Bombay, December 17, 1975

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Crazy Fellows and Colorful Life

Crazy Fellows and Colorful Life

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.05
Bombay, December 17, 1974

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Nitai: "Divided into varieties by her threefold modes, material nature creates the forms of the living entities, and the living entities, seeing this, are illusioned by the knowledge-covering feature of the illusory energy."

Prabhupada:

gunair vicitrah srjatim
sa-rupah prakrtim prajah
vilokya mumuhe sadyah
sa iha jnana-guhaya
 [SB 3.26.5]

Living entities, they have knowledge. That is the difference between matter and living entities. Living entities, they have got knowledge. The dull matter still requires to be developed. They are also covered knowledge. There is knowledge, but it is covered. Just like the tree: it is also a living entity, but the knowledge is more covered than the moving living entities. There are two kinds of living entities: moving and not moving, sthavara-jangama. Sthavara means standing, cannot move. And jangama means moving. So jangama is better than this sthavara. And amongst the sthavara, there are varieties. The insects, ants, reptiles, serpents, they are also jangama. But one is better than the other, one is better than the other, and finally we come to this position, human being, moving, but better than all the lower animals, insects. Development, development of consciousness. But originally we are all pure living entities. We are contaminated by the modes of material nature. The more we are contaminated, our consciousness is covered. Therefore it is said, gunair vicitrah.

Vicitrah means varieties. Why there are varieties? The varieties are because according to our association with the different material modes of nature, therefore there are varieties. There are 8,400,000 varieties of forms simply on account of different type of association. Bhagavad-gita also says, karanam guna-sangah asya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. So many varieties of living entities in this material world, they are due to gunair vicitrah, by the different qualities, mixture of qualities. So on the gross estimation the mixture is sattva, rajas, tamas, the first mixture. So this mixture has to be analyzed and separated. Just like in printing there is color separation process. It is also like that, color separation process. The sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, now mixed up by expert management, by expert process they can be separated, and we can come purely on the sattva-guna platform. And as soon as we come to the sattva-guna platform, then we can see things as they are. Chindanti sarva-samsayah. When we are in the mixed-up qualities, then mumuhe, then we are bewildered.

Just like at the present moment the human society cannot understand what is God, cannot understand. Mumuhe. It is the chance, human form of life, to understand God, and therefore sastra, Vedanta, says atha, athato brahma jijnasa: "Now you inquire about Brahman." Uttisthata jagrata prapya varan nibodhata: "Why you are sleeping again? This is a chance." There is a very good example, that some people, they keep that kit-kit(?) bird, and they are trained up to walk on the field and again come in the cage. So the master gives him the chance, "Now, get out. Come in the free field." So if he likes, he can go away, fly away. But his attraction is so acute that after sometimes, walking on the field, again the master says, "Kit, kit, kit, kit." Again he enters. He could fly away. This is a chance.

Similarly, the mother material nature, or Durga-devi... Durga means the superintendent of this prison house, material, Durga. Dur-ga: "You cannot go out." That is called durga. Durga means fort also. Very difficult, dur-ga, to go out. So the superintendent is called Durga. The mother Durga is the superintendent of this material world. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka [Bs. 5.44]. Very powerful, she has got ten hands. Ten hands means ten direction: east, west, and north, south, and the four corners, eight, and up and down, ten direction, dik, dasa-dik. So she is watching all sides: "You cannot get out." Therefore she is called Durga-devi. Or this material world is called Devi-dhama, "the place where the Devi, mother Durga, is the superintendent." Daivi hy esa gunamayi, maya [Bg. 7.14]. She is called also Maya, Daivi-maya.

Maya..., whose maya? It is Krsna's maya. Maya means something wonderful, mystic. Or maya means illusion. So many, there are meaning. Maya means affection also. So some way or other, this Durga-devi, Maya, is Krsna's maya. Just like prison house. Prison house is also government house, but it is not as good as the government house. It is government... The proprietor is the government. It is looked after by the government. You can call it government house, but government house is different, raja-bhavan. Similarly, everything belongs to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to Him. Therefore Krsna says, mama maya. Mama maya. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya [Bg. 7.14]. That is creation of Krsna. It is necessary.

Somebody... The question is asked, "Why Krsna created this material energy which is so miserable condition?" Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. So it is not Krsna willingly created. But He gave the chance to the living entities who forgot Krsna. He forgot Krsna's service and wanted to enjoy this material world. Indriya-tarpana(?) Indriya-pritaye. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. Here they are doing just against the law, kurute vikarma. Karma, vikarma, and akarma. So we have very good experience, especially in big, big cities. People, just to get money they are doing so many unlawful activities, vikarma. That is vikarma. They know that "If I do this, it is punishable by law," but still, for getting money they do that. That is the nature of this material world. For sense gratification one can do anything, risking life also. The thief is stealing stealthily, hiding and risking life to get some money. Why money? The money will supply his sense gratification.

Therefore, when one is after sense gratification, he is mad, he becomes mad. Balavan indriya-grama durdanta. Indriya-grama, these are the adjectives. Durdanta indriya-kala-sarpa-patali. These are the description. Indriya, the senses, are just like snakes, kala-sarpa-patali. As the snake, as soon as it bites, immediately there is death, so similarly, our indriyas, the material senses, are like durdanta indriya-kala-sarpa-patali, and we are using it. These sense are being used in this material world. Therefore it is said, nunam pramattah. They have become mad, mad after sense gratification. The sublime sense gratification is sex. Therefore it is advised that,

matra svasra duhitra va
naviviktasano bhavet
balavan indriya-gramo
vidvamsam api karsati
 [SB 9.19.17]

So we shall be very much careful about the senses. The whole yogic process means to control the senses. Yoga indriya-samyamah. Indriyas are so powerful that it drags us to the hellish condition of life. It is very difficult. So this material world means all crazy, mad fellow after sense gratification. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. Why they are acting unlawful things, either stately unlawful or according to scripture unlawful? Yad indriya-pritaye, only for sense gratification. Yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti.

So sastra says... It is the statement of Rsabhadeva. He says, na sadhu manye: "No, no. It is not good." Na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam. Atmanah, the soul. Asann api klesada asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]. The atma is covered by this material body, although it is temporary. Sometimes it is for ten years or sometimes twenty years, sometimes hundred years, sometimes millions of years, but it is limited. Either you get the body of Lord Brahma or the body of the poor ant, they are all temporary. It will be finished. So although it is finishable...

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

Asann api. Asann means "will not"; it is temporary. But so long you have got this body, klesada, it is painful always, miserable. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika -- some kinds of miserable condition must be going on.

So this is our position. Therefore atma-darsana, one must know what he is. He is spiritual being. Spiritual being, he has nothing to do with this material world, but somehow or other, we have fallen in this material world. Anadi karama-phale, padi' bhavarnava-jale. It is just like ocean. So just like if you fall down from the boat or the ship, then it is struggle for existence. You may be very nice swimmer, but that does not mean in the water you will be comfortable. That is not possible. Similarly, we living entities, part and parcel of God, we are as pure as God. Krsna, God, is pure. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Pavitra. So similarly... Pavitra means without material contamination. That is pavitra.

So the...

apavitrah pavitro va
sarvavastham gato 'pi va
yah smaret pundarikaksam
sa bahyabhyantara-sucih

This is the process, that you may be pure or impure. Material condition means impure, contaminated, conditioned. So to get out of this contaminated condition, the sastra says, yah smaret pundarikaksam: "If you always constantly think of Pundarikaksa, the lotus-eyed Krsna or Visnu," yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantara-sucih, "he becomes externally and internally suci, purified."

So at the present moment our position is contaminated position by the contact of the three modes of material nature. Gunair vicitrah. Gunair vicitrah. You see so many varieties of life, different varieties of life. Uccavaca. Some of them are higher, in higher position; some of them are lower position. But this vicitra, soul, is pure. That is one quality. But this vicitra quality, why? Vicitra means variety. Because gunaih. Karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. Why one has become dog and one has become god? God means demigod. They are also living entities within this material world, but they live in higher planetary system. Just like here also we see some of them are living in high skyscraper building, very comfortable apartment, and some are living in the huts, jhupari. In Bombay you can see. Both things are there. Similarly, these demigods -- Indra, Candra, Varuna, and many others -- they are also living very comfortably in higher planets. They are also living entities. But they are in the, mostly in the sattva-guna. And here, in this planet or lower than this planet, they are mostly in rajo-guna and tamo-guna.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. If you develop sattva-guna, then gradually you can be elevated to the higher planetary system where the demigods live. Madhye tisthanti rajasah. If you are affected by the rajo-guna, then the middle planetary system, means bhur bhuvah svah... Om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya. So..., and lower planet, then Tala, Atala, Vitala, Patala, Rasatala, Talatala -- there are so many down planetary system. There are fourteen planetary system, seven down, seven up.

So this is going on. This is going on. Therefore it is called gunair vicitrah. All these living entities and their living condition, their mode of life, standard of life, everything, they are simply contamination of the three gunas: tri-gunair vicitrah. Srjatim sa-rupah prakrtim prajah. Sa-rupah prakrtim. They are getting this form according to the tendency of the mind, sa-rupah. If I contaminate tamo-guna, then I get lower-grade life. If I contaminate rajo-guna, then middle-grade life. And if we contaminate... That is also contamination, but it is better than the other two.

So all of them are material qualities, and that is unwanted association of the living entity. That is not required, because in the Vedas it is said, asango 'yam purusah: "The living entity has nothing to do with these material qualities." But somehow or other, he has come in contact. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura said, anadi karama-phale, padi' bhavarnava-jale. And the Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says like that, ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam visame bhavambudhau. "My dear Lord, Nanda-tanuja, the son Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, I am Your eternal servant." Ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam: "I am... Somehow or other, I have fallen in this ocean of material existence. Kindly pick me up and make me the dust of Your lotus feet." Just like if you are in the ocean, somehow or other, if you are taken one inch above the water, you immediately feel relief. So we have to become at least one inch above these material qualities. Then you are liberated, immediately.

So who can do that? That is done by Krsna. Not the demigods can do that. It is not possible. Only Krsna can give. Just like if you..., one is condemned to death, nobody can save him. Only the king can save him, the president can save him. Nobody can save him. It is not... By law, nobody can save him, one who is condemned to death. Everyone knows that. By king's mercy, by president's mercy... So similarly, we are here in this material world just like condemned to death. Condemned... That's a practical, condemned to death. Who is not condemned to death here? Who can say, "No, I am not condemned to death." Can anyone say? Everyone is condemned to death. "As sure as death." That is condemned to death. Why shall I die? If my nature, constitutional position, is na jayate na mriyate -- I do not take birth; I do not die -- then why I am dying? That is condemned to death.

So condemned to death, we are acting in such a way. That is nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. We have got one life, and there is... According to the body, the dog is working in a certain way, the cat is working in a certain way, the man is working in a certain way, the brahmana is working in a certain way, the sudra is working in certain way, according to the body. The child is working in a certain way. The grown-up young man is doing in certain way. So according to body, we are working in different way, vicitrah, but they are all contaminated activities. Therefore we have go take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam: "I understand that I am Your eternal servant. My position is Your servant. But I prefer to become the servant of maya. Therefore this is my fallen position. If You kindly take me again." And He is ready. Krsna is ready. Therefore He comes personally to canvass, that "Why you are rotting in this material world?" Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Just like fathers, sane father, request the bewildered son, "Why, my dear son, you are suffering in this way? Why don't you come back to home, and live peacefully and blissfully?" But no, we are determined. We are determined. Although Krsna is canvassing, His devotees are canvassing, "No. No, sir. We shall enjoy here." What is enjoyment? Birth and death, disease and old age -- is that enjoyment? But they have no brain to understand. Dull, mudhah, duskrtina. Therefore Krsna says, na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. Krsna says, "Surrender unto Me. I give you protection." But they will not do. Why? Because duskrtino mudhah naradhamah. That is the position.

So because we are duskrtinah, mudhah, naradhamah, therefore there are so many varieties of life. Gunair vicitrah srjatim. And that is being done by the material nature. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Prakrti, nature's law, it does not... It is so perfect machine... One... We have several times said. Just like there is perfect machinery: if you have contaminated the germs of cholera or smallpox, venereal disease, then you must suffer from that disease. The machine is working. Machine is working. Similarly, the machine of the prakrti is working very finely. As soon as you contaminate one kind of sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, then you become contaminated, and your activities and your body and your mode of life -- everything according to that contamination.

So in order to save ourself from this contamination, the only process is, as Krsna says,

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
 [Bg. 18.66]

Here the so-called pious activities, that is also sinful activities. That is our mental concoction. We have made, "This is pious and this is impious." But to remain in this material world is itself impious, because it is contamination. So when you are diseased, contaminated, so where is the difference of pious activities and impious activities? It is simply imagination. In the material world there cannot be any pious activities -- because the result is suffering birth and death and old age. Then where is your pious activities? So it is simply concoction.

So when Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66], sarva means "all." What is that "all"? Because we have created something pious and impious, something good, something bad, so Krsna says, "You rascal, give up all this bad and good. Your so-called bad and good has no value. The only value is that you surrender unto Me." And then that is value. Otherwise you concoct, "This is very good; this is very bad." In the prison house, if you think a first-class prison is very nice, but after all, it is prison house. Your independence is cut down. So you may think that if it is actually first-class prison... Politicians, they are given first-class classification of prison house. Does it mean the politician want to remain there for good? Why they want to come out? So similarly, here in this material world it is simply vicitra, varieties. We call, "This is first class. This is second class. This is third class." It is simply varieties. Actually, it is all third class. There is no first class, second class. Gunair vicitrah. Just like you like some color. Somebody likes red color, somebody likes blue color, sometimes yellow color. But after all, it is color, you like this or that. Similarly, sattva-guna is yellow color, and tamo-guna is blue color, and rajo-guna is red color. So you may like this color or that color -- after all, it is material color.

So you should become free from all this colorful life of material existence and you become pure. But how you can become pure? That is also given in the Bhagavad... Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. Gunan. Here it is said, gunair vicitrah: "By the colorful mixture of these modes of material nature, there are so many varieties, varieties of the modes of nature." But if you want to be out of this colorful material life and you realize yourself, aham brahmasmi, "I am Brahman, and I am the same quality as God," then you have to engage yourself in devotional service.

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

brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
 [Bg. 18.54]

So try to come to the platform of sattva-guna. Not sattva-guna-brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20], transcendental, spiritual platform. Come to this brahma-bhuta; then your life will be successful. And if you want to live this colorful life -- sometimes Brahma, sometimes dog, sometimes cat, sometimes human being, sometimes king, sometimes worm of the stool -- in this way, if you like this colorful life... The colorful life is going by the modes of material nature. As we are contaminating different colorful life, we are having this body. So in order to... The Buddha philosophy gives little hint only, nirvana: "You just finish this colorful life." But it does not give further enlightenment. Simply it gives the hint that "You finish, nirvana." Nirvana means "Finish this colorful life. Become zero." He said zero, sunyavadi. But actually, we cannot be zero. Because we are eternal, how we can be zero? We have to enter another colorful life. That is spiritual life. That is spiritual life. Simply if you make zero, that is not... That is little better, that you understand that this colorful life of material existence is not good. But what is your positive engagement? Unless you are positively engaged in another superior colorful life, you cannot give up this base colorful life.

And that engagement into superior colorful life is devotional life. Just see superior. Bhagavan says in the Bhagavad-gita, susukham kartum avyayam [Bg. 9.2]. Susukham. Su means very nice, and sukham means happy. The devotional service is so nice and happy. You see this devotional service. You always engage..., you are always engaged in the Deity worship, bring nice cloth. Instead of dressing yourself with nice cloth, dress Krsna with nice cloth. Then your desire for dressing nicely will vanish. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. Bhakta is satisfied when Krsna is very nicely dressed. He doesn't care for his own dress. Therefore this colorful life is diminishing. Here we are trying to become very nicely dressed, to be attractive by others. But when one becomes a Vaisnava, he is no more interested in this colorful life. But he is interested in the colorful life of Krsna. He is interested, param drstva nivartate. He is satisfied. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau **. When he, the devotee, sees that Krsna is very nicely dressed, Krsna is very nicely ornamented with garland, with jewels, sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana **, daily changing, and the temple is very cleansed, and Krsna is offered, catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada, carvya, cosya, lehya, peya, varieties of prasadam, his life becomes happy in that way, not by enjoying them, but offering to Krsna. This is another colorful life.

So if you change your colorful life of this material existence and if you take to the colorful life... If you simply make zero, then it will not be fruitful, because we cannot become zero. It is not possible. People say that you become desireless. That is impossible. How we can become desireless? That is the life, to desire. The desire has to be purified. That is wanted. That purified means in spite..., instead of desiring a very nice dress for yourself, when you desire the nice dress for Krsna, this is purified. This is purified. Instead of desiring yourself to eat very nice palatable dishes, if you offer Krsna nice palatable dishes, then you become desireless. This is desireless.

So you will not be bereft of the prasada. Whatever you offering to Krsna, Krsna is so kind, He will eat, and He will leave it again, the same, very tasteful. And you will eat it, and you become spiritualized. Krsna is not hungry, that because you will give Him very palatable dishes, He will eat everything. He is self-sufficient. He is being offered such nice dishes by many thousands of goddess of fortune, including Radharani, and so He has no need for your nicely prepared foodstuff. But He is so kind that He comes to accept it just to deliver you. Take it like that. That is Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.5 -- Bombay, December 17, 1974

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Retirement

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.39
Los Angeles, December 17, 1973


 

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Nitai: "Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha, grandson of Lord Krsna, at Mathura as the king of Surasena. Afterwards Maharaja Yudhisthira performed a Prajapatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life."

Prabhupada: So Maharaja Yudhisthira first of all appointed his grandson, Pariksit Maharaja, the emperor of the whole world. Then he distributed... [break] ...or only intimate families, because Krsna's family, Yadu dynasty, and this Maharaja Yudhisthira's family, Kuru dynasty, they were related in so many ways by marriage. Maharaja Yudhisthira's mother, Kunti, belonged to the Yadu dynasty -- means Krsna's aunt, Krsna's father's sister. Similarly, Arjuna's wife Subhadra..., here is Subhadra, she became the wife of Arjuna, sister of Krsna. So there were so many family relationships, Krsna's family and the Kuru family. Krsna was not present. Therefore Maharaja Yudhisthira was taking care of the children, grandsons. As his grandson was posted as emperor, similarly, Krsna's grandson was also situated as the king of Surasena, in which province the Mathura is there: mathurayam.

So you can read the purport.

Nitai: "Maharaja Yudhisthira, after placing Maharaja Pariksit on the imperial throne of Hastinapura, and after posting Vajra, the grandson of Lord Krsna, as the king of Mathura, accepted the renounced order of life."

Prabhupada: Yes. This was the system, that one must retire. Just like at the present moment, although people are asking the president that "You retire, you resign," he is not resigning, obstinate. Because he knows, "This is the first and last chance. I am not going to be elected again. So stick to the post and take as much money as possible." That's all. But formerly, they voluntarily retired, the kings. In India also, we have seen. So many big, big politicians, they could not give up their political job. Even Gandhi. I wrote a personal letter to Gandhi that "Mahatma Gandhi, you are recognized all over the world as a very pious man, and you are supposed to be very devotee of Bhagavad-gita. Now you have got your independence. You fought for independence. Now you have got your independence. So I request you to take the teachings of Bhagavad-gita to preach all over the world." That was my request. Because I was thinking of preaching this Bhagavad-gita. So I thought that "Gandhi's position is better. If he takes up this job, preaching of Bhagavad-gita, many people will give attention. Yad yad acarati sresthah. He is a recognized good man, so people will follow." But he did not do so. He stuck up to the politics. And unless he was killed by another opponent party, he did not give it up. Similarly, I have seen other politicians also, Jawaharlal Nehru, Panth,(?) they would not give up. Panth(?) was so weak, I have seen. He could not stand even. He was doing like this, always. Still he would not give up. Similarly, Jawaharlal Nehru, he was paralyzed. Unless he was dead, he could not give up.

So this is not Vedic civilization. Vedic civilization is that at a certain age, you must retire. Never mind. The age is divided into four parts: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. So Vedic civilization means varnasrama-dharma, accepting the institution of four varnas and four asramas. Social and spiritual order. For social order there must be brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, and for spiritual order, there must be brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. This is the system. So unless you accept this institution of varnasrama-dharma, you are not considered as civilized man, Arya, Aryan.

Aryan means who are making progress under the institution of varnasrama-dharma. That progress means to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the goal. But people do not know that. Not only now; formerly also. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know what is their ultimate goal of self-interest. Why Maharaja Yudhisthira is taking, retiring, from the...? That is not... To become king is not the ultimate goal of life. No. He has got another ultimate goal of life. He remained as a king as a matter of duty. Just like you work in some office or as a professional man. You work as a lawyer. You work as an engineer. You work as a medical man. That you can do, because you have to do something to live, livelihood. It doesn't matter. But to become an engineer or to become a scientist or become a medical man or a lawyer, that is not my ultimate goal of life. That is needed to maintain the body and soul together, but that is not ultimate goal of life. For that purpose, you may be what you are, but you must retire.

At the present moment, people retire by force or by some way or... But they do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. There are many retired men's house in your country, but they do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Ultimate goal of life is to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because in your busy life, you have got very little time; therefore after grhastha life, fifty years, up to, not more than that, pancasordhvam vanam vrajet, then you must retire. It doesn't matter whether you have finished your duty or not. It doesn't matter. You must retire. And then, after being trained for some times, being retired from the family life, living secluded life -- not exactly secluded, but detached from family life -- let the elderly sons, daughters, they can take care of the family, and the husband, wife, they travel in different places of pilgrimage. Again they come for some time, but without any attachment, as guest in the house of his son. In this way, when he is trained up, then he says to the wife, "Now you live with your sons. They will take care of you. I am taking sannyasa."

So everyone has to take sannyasa. It is not that a particular man, simply Caitanya Mahaprabhu has to take sannyasa. No. That is obligation. You must. In Buddha philosophy, everyone has to take sannyasa and live as a sannyasi for some years. That is their duty. So Maharaja Yudhisthira prepared himself for becoming sannyasi. Sannyasi means renounced. No more family responsibility or any responsibility. Simply to become pure devotee of the Lord. That is sannyasa. Anasritah karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah sa sannyasi. What is the sannyasi definition? Sannyasi means he works, but not as the enjoyer of the fruit of the work. That is sannyasi. Everyone, karmi... Karmi means he is working hard, day and night, but he wants the fruit of the work to enjoy himself. That is karmi. Sannyasi also will work hard, day and night, but he will not take the fruit. It is for Krsna. That is sannyasi. Sannyasi means sat-nyasi. Nyasi means renounced, and sat means the supreme truth. One who renounces everything for the sake of supreme truth, he is called sannyasi. That sannyasi formality is to change the dress. But anyone... Just like this Maharaja Yudhisthira, Arjuna and his brothers, they were all sannyasis. But still, formality, they accepted sannyasa, gave up attachment for the house. In this way, because he is king, if he does not set example, then others will not accept sannyasa.

Go on.

Nitai: "The system of four orders of life and four castes in terms of quality and work known as the varnasrama-dharma is the beginning of real human life. And Maharaja Yudhisthira, as the protector of the system of human activities, timely retired from the active life as a sannyasi handing over the charge of the administration to a trained prince, Maharaja Pariksit. The scientific system of varnasrama-dharma divides the human life in four divisions of occupation and four orders of life. The four orders of life as brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa, are to be followed by all, irrespective of the occupational division. Modern politicians do not wish to retire from active life even if they are old enough, but Yudhisthira Maharaja, as an ideal king, voluntarily retired from active administrative life..."

Prabhupada: Yes. We have referred to the politicians, because king means he is also politician. As soon as we speak of king, he is in politics. So these are the example. Although he was also great politician, he had to fight in the Battle of Kuruksetra, he had to adopt diplomacy, everything, but not that he would forget his real duty. This is perfect civilization, that one should not forget the real duty. The real duty is to fulfill the mission of the human life. The mission of human life is to understand God. And God is there, you cannot deny, God is there. But we do not know what is God, what is our relationship with Him. That we do not know. Just like in your country, the currency notes are advertised, "In God We Trust." But if we ask anybody that "This is the slogan of your state. What do you know about God?" nobody can reply. They will say, "It is something like this, something like that." But no... Everything vague idea. Nobody knows what is God, neither he knows how to trust in God. That is instructed in the Bhagavad-gita: what is God and how to trust in Him. This is the subject matter of Bhagavad-gita. But the people do not know. They simply have the slogan, "In God We Trust." Nobody knows what is God.

But we are trying to give the contribution, what is God. Not only God -- His form, His name, His address, everything we are giving. Here is the form of God, Krsna. If you do not believe, that He is not God, then you must say what is your idea of God. If you do not know what is the idea of God, then you must accept from me. And how can you deny that Krsna is not God? First of all you have to know what is God. God means the Supreme. That is the dictionary word, "Supreme Being." So Krsna is the Supreme Being. Krsna is the Supreme Being. Here we see a rich man, he enjoys, and his assistants, his managers, his secretaries, they work. They bring money from business, from factory, and the proprietor enjoys. This is a crude example. Similarly, here is God. He is in the enjoying spirit. He is not going to the office to manage his factory. No. He doesn't go. He simply enjoys. That is the injunction of the Vedas: na tasya karyam karanam ca... Definition of God, what is God.

What is God, the idea is given in the Vedas, Upanisad, na tasya karyam. First thing is that He has nothing to do personally. That is first qualification of God. If He has to do something personally, then He is not God. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate: "Nobody can be equal to Him or greater than Him." This is definition of God. Any subject matter... Suppose opulence, riches. So nobody can be richer than God or nobody can be equal with God. This is greatness. "God is great." How He is great? That is defined every..., particularly. He is great because nobody equally rich with Him. Nobody is richer than Him. That is God. Everybody is poorer than Him. Therefore na tat-samah. Sama means equal, and adhika means greater. How God can be great? If somebody is greater than Him, how God is great? If somebody is equal to Him, then how He is great? Just see how the definition is given perfectly. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate: "He has nothing to do." Because He is great, why He should work? All the subordinates will work. We are all subordinate. Therefore we shall work for God. But we have made our formula, that "God shall work for me." "God, give us our daily bread. We have nothing to do. Simply give us our bread." What is this? But the Vaisnava idea is that "Without giving bread to God, God will die." Yasoda-mayi is thinking, "If I do not give Krsna to eat something nice, Krsna will become lean and thin." That is love of Godhead, how to serve Krsna, how to serve God. Sevonmukhe. That is real religion. When we are not to take service from God, but we are ready to give service to God, that is real religion. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. Adhoksaje. God is beyond our senses. Therefore He is Adhoksaja.

So that type of religion which teaches the followers how to serve God, how to love God, that is perfect religion. It doesn't matter whether it is Christian religion or Hindu religion, no. If the followers are trained up how to love God, how to serve God, that is perfect. That is being taught here. In this Krsna consciousness movement, there is no such teaching to ask from God. No. To give everything to God. That is Krsna consciousness movement. That is required. So Yudhisthira Maharaja is a devotee. Therefore, although he was the powerful emperor, still, he is now sacrificing his life for the service of the Lord. This is human civilization. At least, at a certain point of your life, you must sacrifice. If you haven't got anything, money, then you can sacrifice your life.

Pranair arthair dhiya vaca etavaj janma-saphalyam dehinam iha dehisu. This human form of life can be perfected. How? How it can be perfected? Pranair arthair dhiya vaca. Prana means life. Artha means riches. Pranair arthair dhiya. Dhiya means intelligence. And vaca, vaca means words. So we have got four things. We have got our life, and everybody has got some riches, either one pound or one million pounds. Everybody has got something. That is called artha. Prana, artha, and everyone has got intelligence, and everyone has got the power to speak. So we have to engage all these four things. Either four or three or two, at least one, we must engage. Pranair arthair dhiya, sreya-acaranam sada. This is the principle of religion or perfection of life. Etavaj janma. Then our life will be... There are many other slokas in Bhagavatam.

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varnasrama-vibhagasah
svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam
 [SB 1.2.13]

This varnasrama-dharma we have already explained. So any civilized man must be within this category of varnasrama-dharma. Otherwise he is animal. Unless you accept some institution of making progress in spiritual life, you are animal. That is the difference between animal and man. Man has got some institution, some social structure, religious structure, political structure. Otherwise what is the difference between animals? The animals, they haven't got any president or senate house or parliament or church. That is the difference.

So this varnasrama-dharma means one has to accept these principles of varnasrama-dharma and act accordingly. A brahmana should act accordingly to brahmana principles. Satyam samo damas titiksa. The ksatriya should act accordingly. The vaisya should act according. The same example, as we have given many times, that I have got my head department, arms department, belly department, and leg department. To keep the body fit, everyone should act very nicely. Brain should work nicely, arms must be strong, belly must be fit to digest foodstuff, and legs must work. Similarly, these things... The varnasrama-dharma is necessary. It is not a convention. It is not a convention, that "The Hindus or the Indians, they are our only brahmanas." No. Here are also brahmanas. Because it is creation of God. God's creation must be there.

So now this Krsna consciousness movement is picking up who are the brahmanas. They mixed up. They are mixed up. So long there was no picking up of the brahmanas. Now, by this movement, Krsna consciousness movement, we are picking up the brahmanas. Because there is need of brahmanas at this time. Because brain is not there. The brain... Brahmana means the brain. They must have knowledge. That is brahmana. In India, the brahmanas are called pandita, although nowadays he is fool number one. But it is a title of the brahmana to become pandita. Pandita. He must know everything. Satyam samah, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam. He must be very wise man. Jnanam vijnanam, and practical application, vijnanam. Jnanam vijnanam astikyam. And not nastika, not atheist. Jnanam vijnanam means one must know what is God. That is jnana. And brahma janatiti brahmanah. Brahmana means one who has already known God, or brahma-vastu. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. That is brahmana. Therefore people should go to brahmana. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Without becoming a brahmana, one cannot become guru. Because if he does not know Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan, what kind of brahmana he is, and what kind of guru he is? So therefore one must know the ultimate truth, Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti. Not silent, simply by understanding Brahman or Paramatma, but he must know what is Bhagavan. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Bhagavan is Krsna. That is the verdict of the Vedas. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

So a brahmana, even with good qualification, but if he does not now Krsna, then he cannot become guru. That is the injunction. Sat-karma-nipuno viprah. Vipra means brahmana. Nipuna means very expert. One... Now, sat-karma. Brahmana's business is six. Pathana, pathana, yajana, yajana, dana, pratigraha. A brahmana must be learned, and he must make others learned. That "I am learned man. I don't care for others..." No. He must teach others to become brahmana. Pathana pathana. Yajana yajana. He must worship God, and he must teach others also how to worship God. Yajana yajana. Dana pratigraha. Brahmana's business is not to do any trade or professional... He takes charity, pratigraha. But dana. Therefore in India it is said if a brahmana gets one lakh of rupees, still he is a beggar. Why? Because he does not keep it. If he gets one lakh of rupees now, next moment he will spend it for Krsna. Dana pratigraha.

So even though one is expert, pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha, avaisnavo gurur na sa syat. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah, he is expert in reciting all the mantras, Vedic mantras, he knows everything -- but he is not a Vaisnava. You find nowadays, impersonalists, voidists, so many brahmanas, they have no idea what is God, who is God. That is called avaisnava. Vaisnava knows what is Visnu, what is God. But avaisnava, non-Vaisnava, they do not know. So this is the formula, that even one brahmana is expert in all knowledge, but he does not know who is God, gurur na sa syat, he cannot become guru. This is the stricture. Sad-vaisnavah sva-paco guruh. That is sva-paca. Sva-paca means dog-eaters. They are considered to be lowest of the mankind, dog-eaters. There are different types of eaters, cow-eaters, goat-eaters and camel-eaters, this eaters, that eaters. There are so many. Out of that eaters, one who eats the dog, he is considered the lowest. So even a person coming from the family of dog-eaters, if he knows who is God, he can be guru. This is the injunction of the sastra. One who knows God, he cannot remain dog-eaters. But sometimes he comes from there. So... But sastra says, "Yes. When he has learned the science of God, then he can be accepted as guru."

That is the confirmation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei ‘guru' haya
 [Cc. Madhya 8.128]

Who can become guru? Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru. That is the injunction. Yei... It doesn't matter. Kiba vipra kiba sudra, nyasi kene naya. He may be a brahmana, he may be a sudra, he may be a sannyasi, he may be a grhastha. It doesn't matter. He may be a European, he may be American, he may be Indian. It doesn't matter. If he knows the science, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128].

So it is not limited under certain country, certain atmosphere or certain population. Krsna consciousness is open for everyone. So therefore our request is that these Europeans and Americans who have taken to Krsna consciousness, just become perfect in the understanding of this science and become guru and deliver the whole world.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.39 -- Los Angeles, December 17, 1973