Krishna is THE Source Of Everything

Krishna is THE Source Of Everything

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.152-154
New York, December 5, 1966

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Prabhupada: So Lord Caitanya is describing about the personal feature of Lord Krsna. The (im)personal feature of Lord Krsna, as described in the Bhagavad-gita, that is the manifestation of His material energy. Now the personal feature as described by Lord Caitanya in the Caitanya-caritamrta, this is the description of His spiritual feature. We have already studied in the Bhagavad-gita that the Lord has two distinctive features: material and spiritual, superior and inferior. Of course, for Him there is no superior or inferior. But for us, it is superior, inferior. We cannot say that because everything is emanation from the Supreme, therefore there is no superior or inferior. No. Superior, inferior, in relationship with the energy. Just like isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati: [Bg. 18.61] "Isvara, the Supreme Lord, is situated in everyone's heart." So He is in the heart of a hog, of a dog, and the learned brahmana as well. For Him there is no such discrimination -- what is hog, what is dog, what is brahmana, what is good, what is bad -- because He is Absolute. But here we have to distinguish between the hog and the dog, at least so far the material body is concerned.

So Lord Caitanya says,

krsnera svarupa-vicara suna, sanatana
advaya-jnana-tattva, vraje vrajendra-nandana

He is addressing Sanatana Gosvami. You'll remember that this chapter, "Instruction to Sanatana Gosvami," was begun when Sanatana Gosvami, after his retirement, approached the Lord at Benares and surrendered himself and asked Him, "What I am?" So under that question, He is describing his relationship with Krsna. Krsna. The jivatma, the living entity, is eternally servitor of Krsna, and one should understand the nature of his master so that his service attitude, his affection, may be more intimate. Suppose I am serving at a place. I am engaged in a service to a master, but I do not know how big is my master. But when I understand the influence and opulence and greatness of my master, I become more devoted: "Oh, my master is so great." So therefore simply knowing, "God is great, and I have got some relationship with God," that is not sufficient. You must know how much great He is. Of course, you cannot calculate, but as far as possible, you should know how great He is.

So that greatness of Lord Krsna is being described here by Lord Caitanya to His disciple, Sanatana Gosvami. Advaya-jnana-tattva, vraje vrajendra-nandana. Advaya-jnana-tattva. Advaya-jnana-tattva means He is Absolute. He is not relative. Here everything is relative, but God means He is Absolute. He has nothing to be dependent. Here everything, we are all dependent. To understand something, to understand light, we have to understand darkness. To understand good, we have to understand what is bad. So here it is everything duality. So Krsna is Absolute. That is the first understanding, that there is no duality. Krsna, His name, His fame, His pastimes, His quality, His association, associates -- everything is one. One plus one equal to one, always remember. There is no difference between Krsna and Krsna's name. That is Absolute. We have got here experience that the thing and the name of the thing, they are different, dual. Suppose here is a glass of water. I am thirsty. I want glass of water. But if I say "water, water, water, water," that will not quench my thirst. I must have the thing, water, and then it will be acting. But Krsna is advaya-jnana. So when we hear Krsna's name, then we should understand that "Krsna is before me in His sound vibration. He is present before me in sound because He is everything." Why sound (is) not Krsna? If He is everything, sound is also Krsna.

So this is called advaya-jnana. Similarly, when we read Bhagavad-gita, that is also Krsna. Therefore we should pay respect. When we enter into the temple of Krsna, it should be understood that we are in touch with Krsna. Everything in relationship is Krsna. That is the highest... Therefore the devotees who are in the higher conception of Krsna consciousness sees nothing before him save and except Krsna. That is not to be imitated, but the stage, in the higher stage, the devotee sees nothing but Krsna. Sarvatra sphuraya tanra ista-deva murti. Everything in relation to Krsna. Matter is energy of Krsna. Therefore energy and the energetic, not being different, so even in the material world he sees Krsna. So for him, there is no matter, everything spiritual. Advaya-jnana. There is no matter at all. Just like in Krsna, he has no distinction what is matter, what is spirit, but in our conditioned stage we have got superior, inferior conception. But when we are also in the higher stage of the Absolute Truth, brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54], when we are actually in such pure devotional service in Krsna, then we will see that everything is Krsna. For example, just like we take Krsna-prasadam. Krsna-prasadam, we respect prasadam. We offer obeisances before taking prasadam. Why? Because the prasadam is also Krsna. So by taking prasadam, I am contacting Krsna. By hearing Krsna, I am contacting Krsna. By working for Krsna, I am contacting Krsna. This is called Absolute.

So Lord Caitanya says, krsna advaya-jnana-tattva. He is Absolute Truth. Vraje vrajendra-nandana.  And the abode which is called Krsnaloka, Vrndavana... He is just like the boy of... Vrajendra-nandana. He has got His devotee as father and mother. He is just like a boy, sixteen-years-old boy, Vrajendra-nandana. That is the real feature of Krsna. You will never find Krsna as very old man. No. Krsna's real feature of body, not this body, His transcendental body, sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1], with a flute in the hand, He looks just like a fresh sixteen-years-old boy, always freshness. Kisora. Kisora means, kisora age is from ten years to sixteen years. And after sixteenth year, one begins his youth. So Krsna is always in His kisora avastha. Kisora avastha means He will appear just like boy, a fifteen-, sixteen-years-old boy, Vrajendra-nandana. But at the same time, sarva-adi: He is the original. Everything, whatever you see, either in the material world or spiritual world, He is the origin. So He is the oldest. He is the oldest, but you will see Him as youngest. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana purusam nava-yauvanam ca [Bs. 5.33]. In the Brahma-samhita you will find description of Krsna, advaita acyuta... Advaita means absolute. Acyuta means nonfallible, Brahman. He is Parambrahman. We are also Brahman, but we have fallen down. We have fallen down in this material condition. But Krsna never falls down in material condition. When He appears before us, don't think that "He is also fallen soul like me." The fools consider like that. Avajananti mam mudha [Bg. 9.11]. Mudha means fools. The fools consider Krsna as ordinary man. Manusim param bhavam ajanantah. The fools do not know what is immense potency, background, of Krsna. Therefore they think Krsna as like one of us.

So here it is said, sarva-adi. Sarva-adi means the primal. Primal. And sarva-amsi. Sarva-amsi means He is the original thing, and everything is part. We are also part and parcel of Krsna. Mamaivamsa, in the Bhagavad-gita. Amsi. Amsi and amsa. Just like this hand, It is called part, and I am, as whole body, I am the whole. So we can understand part and whole. So therefore He is whole, and everything is His part. He is the amsi; He is the whole. Sarva-amsi. Kisora-sekhara. This very word, kisora-sekhara, "the supreme boy." The supreme boy. His feature is just like a fresh boy, but the supreme. Kisora-sekhara cid-ananda-deha, spiritual body. Just mark this description of Krsna: cid-ananda-deha. Cid-ananda-deha means transcendental, spiritual body, not this body. Because the less intelligent persons, they cannot think of personal God... Because they think that whenever there is question of personality, it is material body. They cannot find out the shape of the spirit soul. It is so small that from material eyes, by material instrument, you cannot find out the shape of the soul. Therefore they conclude that there is no shape. The same example: just geometrically, the definition of point is given, "point has no length, no breadth," because a point cannot be measured by any human instrument. But nothing can be without... Even the atom has got its measure. But because we have no power to measure, we set aside, dismiss: "Oh, there is no, nothing." So similarly, "Because we do not know what is spirit, and we think spirit is something just opposite to this matter, and matter we find manifestation, form, therefore spirit should be formless." That is their conclusion.

But actually it is not so. We therefore require to learn from the authority. Krsna... Lord Caitanya says, cid-ananda-deha. Cid-ananda-deha, the transcendental eternal body. Cid-ananda-deha and sarvasraya. Sarvasraya means He is the rest of everything. Now, you see before you that so many big, big planets, even the sun, it is floating in the air. Such a big body, lump body, which is some million times greater than this earth, we can see it is floating in the sky. So how it is floating? Here it is explained, sarvasraya. It is floating on Krsna's energy. Everything is Krsna's energy. Sarvasraya sarvesvara. Sarvesvara means the Supreme Lord. This is very nicely explained by Lord Caitanya. Sarva-adi: "He is the origin of everything." Sarva-amsi: "He is the whole of all the parts. And He is just like a fresh boy. His body is transcendental, spiritual, full of bliss." Sarvasraya: "And He is the rest of everything. And He is the Supreme Lord." This is the description of Krsna.

So as we have seen that Lord Caitanya, when He instructs, He gives at once evidence from authoritative scripture, that is the way of presenting. Always you should remember that we cannot imagine about God: "I think God is like this." This is nonsense. You have no thinking power. You are under the grip of material nature. He is pulling. The material nature is pulling you by the ear, just like this. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. You are being acted, influenced. Just like the same example: You are thrown in the Atlantic Ocean. You have no power. By the waves you will have to work. The waves are tossing this way and that way. You are simply struggling. That's all. So how we can think independently within the tossing of Atlantic Ocean? This is all nonsense. So we cannot imagine, we cannot concoct, about God. We have to hear from authoritative scripture, authoritative version. Then we will understand. So here is authoritative version from Brahma-samhita:

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
 [Bs. 5.1]

The Brahma-samhita describing about Krsna, that isvara, Lord... There are many lords. We have got experience. In England you will find many lords. We had some dealing with Lord Zetland, Marquis of Zetland. There are many lords. In your country also there are many lords. Any rich man is lord. In our country also there are many lords. But Krsna is not a lord like them. These lords are under the grip of material nature. They are lord by name. But as soon as the material nature gives a slap on the lord, at once passed, everything lordship finished. So He is not a lord like that. Isvarah paramah. He is Lord, but the Supreme Lord. He is not under anyone's control. Here the stamped lord, rubber-stamped lord, they are under full control. So they may say that "I am lord of all I survey," but it is all foolishness. Nobody is lord. The real Lord is Krsna. Therefore it is said, isvarah paramah. Parama means Supreme. And who is that Supreme Lord? Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1].

So how He becomes parama, the Supreme? Because He is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. His body is spiritual, full of bliss and eternal. Therefore He is Supreme Lord. Anadi. So we have got experience that everything has got its cause. Suppose I am lord. But I have got some cause to become lord. Either my father was lord or I have accumulated some wealth, the government has recognized me as lord... Under certain condition, I have become lord. But He is adi. Adi means He is the origin. There is nothing beyond Him; therefore adi. Adi, anadi. Anadir adih. Everything has got a cause, but He has no cause. He is Lord, but there is no cause how He has become Lord. When I am lord, there is cause. I cannot become... Perhaps you know that in England, if somebody becomes very rich, he has to deposit some amount of money to the government, then government will award him the title "lord." And with that huge amount of money his family will be maintained, and the first son of the lord family, he will be declared as lord. In this way. So far I have heard. I do not know exactly. But this lord is made, recognized, by the government on deposition of some certain amount of money. The government recognizes, "Yes, this family may be recognized as lord family." They create. In England they create aristocracy. Similarly, when they were in India, they also created many aristocracies. So Krsna is not a created, aristocratic lord. That we should know.

Anadir adir govindah [Bs. 5.1]. Govinda means... Go means three things. What is that? Go means the senses, and go means cow, and go means land. There are three meanings of go. So He gives pleasure to these three things. Wherever He is present, it becomes blissful, ananda. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). The Vedanta-sutra says, anandamaya, always full of... Krsna, the reservoir of pleasure. So whenever He is present, in whichever land, in whichever country, in whichever planet He is present, it becomes full of bliss, ananda. Govinda. And He is playing just like cowherd boy, sixteen-year-boy and playing with cows. His father has got many cows, and He goes to the cows, pleasure trip with friends. That is Krsna's business. He is not going to any office or any factory. You see? So gostha. He goes, and His mother gives Him sufficient to eat. And after eating breakfast, with His friends and His flute and cows He goes outside for pleasure trip. That is Krsna's business. Therefore He is Govinda. The cows, oh, as soon as they see Krsna, they become... They lick up His face and body, and every cow has got a different name. As soon as He will call, the cow will come immediately and dropping milk. And those cows are also spiritual. Surabhi. It is described in the Brahma-samhita. Surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. Surabhi. Surabhi cow means nonexhaustive. You can milk as much milk you want and as many times. In the material world the cow is limited. There is time that you can milk, morning and evening, and so much quantity, not more than that. But surabhir means you can milk those cows anytime you like and you can draw milk as many as you like, as much as you like. This is called surabhi. Surabhir... In the description of Brahma-samhita: cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. Surabhir abhipalayantam. So therefore He is Govinda. He gives... He is pleasure for everyone.

And indriya... Go means senses. We are seeking sense pleasure. Sense pleasure means reciprocation between the two. I want to see a beautiful girl. That means two. Or I want to see a beautiful boy. So that means two. So without two, there cannot be sense pleasure. I want to eat something palatable. There must be two. At least, the dish must be full of varieties. So impersonal, there is no pleasure, actual pleasure. So Krsna, our relationship with Krsna, our service with Krsna, that is pleasure. Govinda. That is real sense pleasure. By seeing Krsna, by tasting Krsna, by smelling Krsna, by touching Krsna -- everything, that is sense pleasure. That is our real sense pleasure. So He is Govinda and sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1], the cause of all causes. Beyond Him, there is no other cause. This is the description Lord Caitanya gives, and we shall gradually discuss other points.

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How to Waste Your Life

How to Waste Your Life

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.4
Vrndavana, December 5, 1975

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Harikesa: Translation: "Therefore, only for the purpose of sense gratification, material activities like economic development are simply a waste of time and energy without any practical profit. If such energy and endeavor is utilized for Krsna consciousness, surely one can attain to the spiritual platform of self-realization. There is no benefit by engaging oneself in economic development."

Prabhupada:

tat-prayaso na kartavyo
yata ayur-vyayah param
na tatha vindate ksemam
mukunda-caranambujam
 [SB 7.6.4]

So prayasa, activities... Rupa Gosvami has forbidden,

atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
laulyam jana-sangas ca
sadbhih bhaktir pranasyati
 [NoI 2]

There are six kind of activities which will increase your transcendental importance of life, and there are six kinds of activities which will destroy your whatever little devotion you have got. These, in the Upadesamrta you will find, how you can increase and how you can finish. So about finishing, if you are actually advancing in spiritual life, if that is your aim, then these six things should be avoided. As it is said, prayasah. The first thing is atyahara, eating too much than necessity, atyahara, or collecting more than you require. For maintenance of your body you have to secure some monetary benefit -- but not more than what you require. People are not satisfied. At the present moment everyone is trying to get more and more and more and more and more. There is no satiation. This kind of endeavor is forbidden. It will not help you. But people are mad after money. If he is getting, say, five hundred rupees, he says, "No, why five hundred? Five thousand." And if he gets five thousand, then he says, "Why five thousand? Five lakhs." And if he gets five lakhs, then he says, "Why five lakhs? Five crores." This is there. The whole world is going on. They are never satisfied. You go to any rich man: "Sir, you have now enough money. Please come to our meeting in the morning, seven-thirty." "No, I have no time." He's earning money.

So everyone thinks, "To earn money is my first business. That is... And to work for it, that is my first business." But that is forbidden. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this is forbidden. Becau... Why forbidden? Because you cannot get more than what you are destined to get. That is not possible. If by your karma, karma-phala, by result of your karma, if you are to get some happiness, you will get that much, not more than that. So what is the use of endeavoring? Therefore it is said, tat-prayaso na kartavyo yata ayur-vyayah param. Simply waste your time. Suppose you are doing some business and earning money. And if somebody says that "You cannot get more than five hundred rupees per month," then why you'll work so hard? But because they have no information -- they do not take consultation from the right person -- therefore they are trying uselessly. The human life was meant for understanding Krsna. Instead of using the energy for understanding Krsna, they are spoiling the energy unnecessarily to earn money. This is the modern civilization. The whole Western world, how they are spoiling their life unnecessarily. We should be satisfied in the economic position as we are put into.

So in another place Narada Muni says,

tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasah
 [SB 1.5.18]

Gabhira-ramhasah, tal labhyate. Your material gain, happiness or distress, you are destined to get. You'll get it. Again the same, duhkhavad anyatah. Anyat natah. Nobody tries to get distress. If you ask anybody that "Why you are working so hard?" nobody says that "I am working so hard, I want distress." Nobody will say. Everyone will say, "I'll be happy. I'll get happiness. Therefore I am working hard." "No, this is distress." "Yes, this is distress, but I'll get happiness after this." This is called maya. He is undergoing distress, but he is thinking, "I'll get happiness." This is called maya. So there is no use. This is sastric injunction. You have to see your future through the sastra. So don't waste your time in that way. Ayur-vyayah param. Ayur-vyayah. This duration of life, human life -- Prahlada Maharaja has begun with the words durlabham manusam janma -- this life is very, very important, and after many, many births you have got it. So you should always remember that every moment of this life is so important. How much it is important, that is explained by Canakya Pandita. Anyone can understand. He says... He is not a, I mean, Krsna conscious person but moralist. He was prime minister. He says, ayusah ksana eko 'pi na labhyah svarna-kotibhih. Your duration of life... You have got a certain years' duration of life. You cannot live more than that. If you have got your duration of life for fifty years, you can live up to fifty years, not hundred years. These are all destined. It is useless. So therefore it is very important. In the Bhagavata in another place it is said, turnam yateta anumrtya pateta yavat nihsreyasaya. The same thing repeatedly. Here Prahlada Maharaja also says that durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. First of all you have to consider that we have got this human form of life after many, many hundreds and thousands, millions, 8,400,000... [break] Durlabham. So therefore it is, although temporary... Everyone knows that "I'll not live forever." But even though it is temporary, adhruvam, not eternal, it is arthadam. It is said, arthadam. Whatever little life you have got, you can attain perfection. This is the advantage. You can attain perfection.

How perfection? Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

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

This is perfection. Krsna says that "You give up all these nonsense engagement. Simply surrender unto Me, and I shall give you relief." Our continuation of material life means full of sinful activities. We act some way, and we get a similar body. And again the life continues and again we get another body, another body, another body. But in the human form of body, you can get the highest perfection, Krsna consciousness, and that will stop your continuation of this material life. Manah sasthani indriyani karsati.

mamaivamso jiva-bhutah
jiva-loke sanatanah
manah-sasthanindriyani
prakrti-sthani karsati
 [Bg. 15.7]

By mental concoction and sense gratification he is continuing this material existence.

So every man, the same instruction is there, that this human form of life is only meant for Krsna consciousness. But the rascals, they will not hear. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings, hari hari biphale janama gonainu: "My Lord Hari, I have simply wasted my time." Actually, if one is not Krsna conscious, he is simply wasting his valuable time. Hari hari biphale janama gonainu. How? Manusya-janama paiya radha-krsna na bhajiya janiya suniya bisa khainu. The same thing as Prahlada Maharaja says. This is called mahajana. The one mahajana is speaking something, another mahajana will say something else -- that is not mahajana. Mahajana means evam parampara praptam [Bg. 4.2]. What Prahlada Maharaja said millions of years ago, Narottama dasa Thakura is saying the same thing. Prahlada Maharaja said, durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam, and the same thing is being repeated by Narottama dasa Thakura: hari hari biphale janama gonainu. (aside:) Why they are going there with children? So this is called parampara praptam. (aside:) Nobody should go within with children. Eh? They...

Aksayananda: She was standing at the doorway. She didn't go in.

Prabhupada: No. So, why should we waste our time? Just see practically. We are asking people that "Don't waste your time. We are opening hundreds of centers. You come with us. Little prasadam you require. We shall supply. You chant Hare Krsna." "No. No. I shall do the same thing, prayasa, trying for this, trying for that, trying for something else, something else. No." Nobody is satisfied that "My life is meant for Krsna consciousness. Here is a chance to develop Krsna consciousness. Let me live here peacefully and let me eat the prasadam and chant Hare Krsna." You'll will find no customer. This is maya.

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

It is very, very difficult. But still, Vaisnava, he will advise. A moralist who knows sastra, he will also advise, just like Canakya Pandita. I was saying, Canakya Pandita said, ayusah ksana eko 'pi na labhyah svarna-kotibhih. Formerly there was exchange for... Means of exchange was coins, gold mohan(?). Even in India, even in Muhammadan, there was gold. Not this paper, cheating: "I give you money, one thousand rupees, some paper. That's all." Where is money? But people are satisfied. "Yes, I have got one thousand rupees. It is written there. That's all." But actually money is the gold, gold exchange. So therefore Canakya Pandita said... This means at that time there was gold coin exchange. Even in our childhood we have seen in India there was coins, gold coins, silver coins, everywhere, all over the world. In England there was pound, gold coin. So Canakya Pandita said, svarna-kotibhih. Svarna means gold coins, and koti means ten millions. So suppose today is 6th December. Now seven o'clock, morning, seven o'clock, 6th December, passed. Can you bring it again by paying one crores of gold coins? Hm? That "Let me get back again seven o'clock, 6th December, 1975, again"? No. It is gone forever. So just see the value that you cannot get back even a moment of your life by paying millions and millions of dollars. How time is valuable, just calculate. Therefore Canakya Pandita, sa cet nirarthakam nitah ka no hanis tato 'dhika. If you waste your time, such valuable time, for nothing, just imagine how much loser you are. But we do not know. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu, kirtaniyah sada harih: [Cc. Adi 17.31] "Your life is meant for chanting. Therefore you should simply chant sada, always, consistently." This is the advice. This is properly using the moments of time. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said that tat-prayasa. If you foolishly endeavor for making some economic development, then what is the...? Ayur-vyayah param. You have got this valuable life. Every moment is so valuable. That means you are wasting your valuable life by such endeavor to improve your economic condition. It is not possible. Tad ayatnatah. If you get distress without endeavoring for it, you will get happiness without endeavoring for it, because that is destined. You cannot get more or less. You have to... You'll get it.

Therefore, whatever little life we have got, instead of wasting for improving economic condition, let us use it for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is life. Who understands this philosophy, this rascal world? Nobody understands this philosophy, but this is real philosophy: not to waste your valuable time for improving your economic condition. That is not possible. You have to utilize every moment to see how we are improving Krsna consciousness. So "How I am proving? Who will give me the certificate?" No. You don't require anyone's certificate. You'll know it. If you actually trying for advance in Krsna consciousness, the certificate will be understood by yourself automatically. What is that? Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. If you advance in Krsna consciousness, that means you'll be detestful for material enjoyment, especially sex enjoyment. That is the last word of material enjoyment. So this is the test, that bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat.

yad avadi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde
nava nava dhaman udyata rantum asit
tad avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah sustu nisthivanam ca

Yamunacarya. This is the test. The more you advance in spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness, you'll dislike this material happiness. This is the test.

How it is? Now, just like if you are hungry and if you get food, then the more you eat, your appetite or hunger will be minimized, and at last you'll say, "No, no, I don't want any." Similarly, advancement in Krsna consciousness means, "No no, I don't want." Not only saying, "Don't want," but yad avadi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde nava nava dhaman udyata rantum asit tad avadhi bata nari-sangame. Here our feelings of happiness is sex life. Sometimes we think, "Oh, how I was enjoying sex life with my wife, with my husband." That is also pleasure. They read so many novels because there is sex life. They feel very happy: "How this man is talking with this woman, woman is talking, this woman, and how they are enjoying." So that is subtle, subtle enjoyment. There are eight kinds of subtle sex life. If you see one beautiful woman and if you appreciate, "Oh, how nice the face is," that is subtle sex. If you read books, that is also subtle sex. If you endeavor how to approach that woman or man to find out the opportunity, that is subtle sex. There are eight kinds of subtle sex life. So it is forbidden for a brahmacari even to think of woman. That is brahmacari. Even thinking of woman is subtle sex life. It is very, very difficult. But mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. If you catch the lotus feet of Krsna very tightly, these things will not disturb. That is said by Yamunacarya. Bhavati mukha-vikarah. If you become pure devotee of Krsna, then as soon as you think of sex, you'll spite. "Eh! Nonsense. What is this?" This is the result. That is the certificate, whether you have got that attitude -- spite on it. Then you understand that you are increasing. Otherwise you are in the same hellish condition. You may show that you are becoming a devotee, very great devotee. So test yourself, how much you have advanced.

So that is the sastric injunction everywhere. Trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Bahu-duhkha-bhajah.

yan-maithunadi grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham
kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham
kandutivan manasi yo visaheta dhirah
trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah
 [SB 7.9.45]

Everyone is practically aware that how sex life is followed by so many miserable condition of life. Everyone knows it. Either illicit or legal. The world is going on. Because there is no Krsna consciousness, now they are creating so many sinful life, killing the child openly. The doctors, the medical men, the scientists, advise, "If you like, you can kill your child." And to kill a child means how much sinful activities, they do not know, but they are inducing. He has to become a child and he will be killed by somebody else. And again as many times he has killed children he will have to live within the womb and be killed. Bahu-duhkha-bhajah. It will be followed by so many miserable condition of life. But now they are advertising, "One, two, three -- no more children." But "one, two, three" means balance children, you kill. This is going on. Then why not stop sex life? Oh, that is not possible. Bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Not only in this life but in the next life, next life, because there is no... Mudha nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam. These rascals... This rascal civilization is so dangerous, mudha, full of rascals.

So our little humble attempt is to give them relief from this rascaldom civilization. That is Krsna consciousness movement. Krsna consciousness movement means to give little relief or little knowledge to the people in general, especially to the human being. Like Prahlada Maharaja is... Durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. In the human life one can understand. We are speaking all these instruction from sastra by Krsna or Krsna's devotees. Why? Just to give a little relief. They may understand how to live. Durlabham manusam janma. "Before the next death let me finish my Krsna consciousness life." That is required. That is intelligence. Otherwise as soon as the life is finished, there is no guarantee that I am going to take again a human form of life. It is not possible. But there is little guarantee for the devotee. For the devotee, if he has rendered little service to Krsna even for a moment, the life of human life next is guaranteed. Guaranteed in this way, that if he unknowingly commits some mistake, then it is guaranteed. And if he knowingly commits mistake, then he is going to be cats and dogs. This is the facility. Yoga-bhrastah. Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastah sanjayate [Bg. 6.41]. Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer patet tato yadi bhajann apakvah [SB 1.5.17]. One has taken to Krsna consciousness, but on account of immature Krsna consciousness, if he falls down, falls down like that, then he gets... Yoga-bhrastah sanjayate sucinam. But if one purposefully commits mistake and sinful life, "Now I am chanting Hare Krsna. I can do all sinful life. It will become counteracted," that rascal will be punished very, very much. Namnad balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. "I am living in Vrndavana. Oh, it is dhama, so let me do all nonsense. It will be counteracted." They'll be these cats and dogs and monkeys in Vrndavana. Dhamaparadha. Dhamaparadha. Of course, Vrndavana's influence will be there, but at least one life he has to become the hog and dog in Vrndavana. Then next life he'll be... Because as soon as he becomes animal, there is no scope of unlimited committing sinful life. Animals are restricted. They can commit one kind of sinful life. That, the human being, because he is very intelligence, he commits unlimited duration of sinful life. That is another danger. So one who commits this sinful life in Vrndavana, remember, he has to become next life cats and dogs. There, as you see, there are many dogs, hogs. But still, Vrndavana-dhama is so powerful that next life he will get salvation, even if he has become dogs and hogs. But that is not good. Why should we act in such a way that in Vrndavana-dhama we shall commit sinful life and become a cats and dog? Jaya jaya vrndavanavasi yata jana. We should be careful. We should be careful, especially in dhama, dhamaparadha.

So Prahlada Maharaja said that "Don't waste your time for improving your bodily comforts. That is not good. It is simply waste of time." Tat prayaso na kartavyo yata ayur vyayah param. This life, human form of life, param, the supreme life... In the material existence the human form of life is supreme. Even the demigods, they desire that "If I can again go to Bharatavarsa and get a human life." This is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. So you have come to Bharatavarsa or you are born in Bharatavarsa, human life. Take full opportunity of Krsna consciousness. Don't waste a single moment. This is the instruction. And even if you develop your economic condition, then what is the gain? Real gain is to become Krsna conscious. Therefore it is said, na tatha vindate ksemam mukunda-caranambujam. You simply dedicate your life to serve Mukunda. Krsna's another name is Mukunda. Muka means liberation. Mukti. Muk means mukti. So ananda, the mukty-ananda, that is real ananda, liberation. So therefore our business is how to surrender fully unto the lotus feet of Mukunda, mukunda-caranambujam, and fully engage in His service. That is the only business of human life. Don't try to make economic development, dharmartha-kama-moksa [SB 4.8.41]. Don't try to become a religious person also. Religious person means strictly following the rules and regulation of varnasrama-dharma. That is called religious.

varnasramacaravata
purusena parah puman
visnur aradhyate pumsam
nanyat tat tosa-karanam
 [Cc. Madhya 8.58]

Varnasrama-dharma is called dharma. Dharma... There is brahmana. He has got his duties, prescribed duties. Ksatriya, he has got his prescribed duties. This is all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. And vaisya, he has got his prescribed duties. So even if you are executing your occupational duties very perfectly, but if you do not enhance your Krsna consciousness it is useless. Dharma-artha-kama-moksa [SB 4.8.41, Cc. Adi 1.90]. It is useless. You can say, "I am executing my brahmana-dharma very nicely." No. Even if you are executing,

dharma-svanusthitah pumsam
visvaksena kathasu yah
notpadayed ratim yadi
srama eva hi kevalam
 [SB 1.2.8]

Even if you are execute your occupational duties very nicely, but if you do not become Krsna conscious, then it is simply waste of time. Srama eva hi kevalam. The real purpose of life is mukunda-caranambujam. That is real purpose of life. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, "Don't try to anything else, so-called happiness or distress." So-called happiness, distress, we should always remember. Even the distress, we should neither... (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.4 -- Vrndavana, December 5, 1975

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Mistaking Suffering For Enjoyment

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27
Los Angeles, December 5, 1973



 

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead [Govinda] because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space."

Prabhupada: Go on reading the purport.

Pradyumna: "Herein Arjuna refers to the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, which was imparted to him by the Lord in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. The Lord left behind Him the instructions of the Bhagavad-gita not only for the benefit of Arjuna alone, but also for all times in all lands. The Bhagavad-gita, being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom. It is nicely presented by the Lord Himself for all who have very little time to go through the vast Vedic literatures, like the Upanisads, Puranas and Vedanta-sutras. It is put within the study of the great historical epic Mahabharata, which was especially prepared for the less intelligent class, namely the women, the laborers, and those who are worthless descendants of the brahmanas, ksatriyas and the higher sections of the vaisyas. The problem which arose in the heart of Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra was solved by the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Again, after the departure of the Lord from the vision of earthly people, when Arjuna was face-to-face with being vanquished in his great acquired power and prominence, he wanted again to remember the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita just to teach all concerned that the Bhagavad-gita could be consulted in all critical times, not only for solace from all kinds of mental agonies, but also for the way out of the great entanglements which may embarrass one in some critical hour. The merciful Lord left behind Him the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita so that one can take the instructions of the Lord even when He is not visible to material eyesight. Material senses cannot have any estimation of the Supreme Lord, but by His inconceivable power, the Lord can incarnate Himself to the sense perception of the conditioned souls in a suitable manner through the agency of matter, which is also another form of the Lord's manifested energy."

Prabhupada: Just like we have no knowledge of Krsna, conditioned soul. Therefore for our understanding, He is so merciful, He descends as arca-murti. This Deity which we are worshiping, that is called arcavatara, incarnation of arca. He's accepting our worship, our prayer, our everything. He has descended just suitable for our handling. That is His mercy. Therefore we should not consider that this arca Krsna is made of stone, as atheists will say, that "These foolish persons are worshiping... Heathens, they are worshiping." No, we are not worshiping stone. We are worshiping Krsna. But that they do not know. Krsna has appeared before us. Because at the present moment, we cannot see except stone and wood, therefore, suitable for our vision, He has appear in such a way. Otherwise how we can appreciate? Here... They are searching after what is God, but here is God. Here is God. Therefore in the sastra it is forbidden, arca, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. It is forbidden that when you worship Deity, you should not think that it is made of wood or stone or something else material. No. What is this material? Material is... Matter means energy of Krsna. Just like the sunshine, or like the illumination of this light. It is the energy of this lamp. So it is not different. Similarly, as Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh, this earth, water, air, fire, anything material, that is expansion of His energy.

So He can accept your service through His energy. That is His omnipotency. That is called omnipotent. You cannot do anything of your personal affairs with your energy, but... You can sometimes do. Suppose if you have got money. Even being present on the spot, by spending money you can get the things done. The money will act for you. Similarly, Krsna being omnipotent, He can take your service through His agency, through His potency. And potency means sakti. Sakti-saktimator abhedah. Krsna and His potency is not different. So Krsna by His causeless mercy, He has appeared before you in a manner by which you can touch Him, you can handle Him, you can dress Him, you can give Him. This is Krsna's mercy. It is not idol worship. Therefore it is forbidden. Don't think it is idol. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Thus the Bhagavad-gita or any authentic scriptural sound representation of the Lord is also the incarnation of the Lord. There is no difference between the sound representation of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One can derive the same benefit from the Bhagavad-gita as Arjuna did in the personal presence of the Lord."

Prabhupada: You can derive the same benefit as Arjuna by reading Bhagavad-gita. People say that Arjuna was enlightened because Krsna was present before Him. But Krsna is present before you also, by His words, by His sound representation. Just like Hare Krsna mantra, Krsna's name, it is not different from Krsna. Nama, abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Nami... Here in the material world the name and the person whose name, that is different because it is material. If you want water, this water substance or water is different from the name water. You cannot quench your thirst simply by chanting "Water, water." That is not possible. Because it is material. But you can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the significance of spiritual and material. Otherwise, how people are satisfied simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra? Let him chant some other name, material. No. You cannot chant more than three times. Then you will feel tired. But you can go on chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra for hundreds and millions of years. It will, still you will not feel tired. That is the difference. Therefore His name and He is not different. Abhinnatva.

nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

This is the shastric injunction, Nama, the holy name of Krsna, is abhinna, nondifferent from Krsna. Nama cintama... Purnah suddhah, full, complete. Not that little less, no. Full. Purnah suddhah. And uncontaminated. Just like Krsna is uncontaminated, similarly, His name is also uncontaminated. Purnah suddho nitya. Eternal. As Krsna is eternal, name is also eternal. Purnah suddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvat. Because they are not different one with another, so the most important word is desa-kalartha-yuktani. Desa, time and space. Bhagavad-gita is... Because nondifferent from Krsna. As Krsna is everywhere, similarly, Bhagavad-gita can be appreciated in every country, every season, every circumstances. That is desa-kalartha-yuktani. Then hrt-tapa upasamani ca. Hrt-tapa. There is a hrt-tapa. Hrt means heart, and tapa means... Real meaning is temperature, or temperature rooted. Just like agni-tapa. Agni. Agni means fire, and tapa, it has got temperature. So to a certain degree you can tolerate. But when the degree... Just like in India we have got temperature in summer season 120 degrees. Here, just like in your country, the temperature is less. In other country... The temperature in, I mean, the Middle East, the temperature is 135 degrees, Arabian countries.

So there are three tapas, three kinds of miserable condition, this material world. That also can be taken, tapa. Tapa means suffering, excessive heat and cold. That is called tapa. So hrt-tapopasamani ca. The teachings of Bhagavad-gita... We are suffering always within the heart. As Narottama dasa Thakura says, that visaya visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale. Visaya. Visaya means this material enjoyment. So it is just like poison. The more we are entangled in material enjoyment... There is no enjoyment. It is suffering. But we are taking suffering as enjoyment. Just like in this winter season, we cover ourself very nicely with gloves, with overcoat. It is simply counteracting the suffering. But a man who has got a nice overcoat and gloves, he is thinking he is enjoying. This is maya. He forgets that he is simply trying to counteract the suffering. Actually, he is suffering. But having a nice coat or nice place, he is thinking that he is enjoying. That is foolishness. That is called maya. There is no enjoyment in this material world. Simply we are trying to counteract the suffering. This counteraction of suffering, we are accepting as enjoyment. So this material world means you must suffer. That is the position of the material world. Otherwise why you have come to material world? Just like in the prison life, how you can expect enjoyment there? But a man... Suppose a big politician is put into the jail and he is given a very nice, comfortable bungalow and everything, but he is in the jail. But he is thinking that "I am enjoying." He forgets that he is in the jail. He is in the jail. That is called ignorance, maya. He is suffering and he is accepting. Just like the pig. He is eating stool, but he is thinking he is enjoying. This is going on.

So hrt-tapa. In this, I mean to say, ocean of suffering, visaya visanale, diva-nisi, the more we want to enjoy, the more sufferings enter. More suffering. You can understand. Just now we got this car, horseless car. But now there is a problem. They are thinking, "If there is no petrol available, then what will happen?" So this is material existence. Visaya visanale, diva-nisi... Anxiety. That anxiety is suffering, "What will happen? What will happen?" That is material existence. Sada samudvigna-dhiya. Always full of anxiety. This is material life. So Narottama dasa Thakura says that visaya visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale: "The heart is burning on account of this material existence." Juraite na kainu upaya. "But I did not try to find out the means by which I can get out of this." Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kena taya. The medicine is this Hari, Krsna, Krsna's teachings, Krsna's name, Krsna's glorification. That is the real medicine. But we have no attraction for these things. We are simply trying to counteract the suffering, and we are accepting this counteraction as enjoying. Bhagavad-gita: haranti smaratas cittam.

So actually, if we want to enjoy life, then we should take the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna. We shall chant Hare Krsna mantra. That will give us relief from the blazing fire. Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam **. This is the only way. Otherwise...

So when Arjuna was too much perturbed by absence of Krsna, he was simply remembering the instruction of Krsna which he received in the Battle of Kuruksetra.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27 -- Los Angeles, December 5, 1973