Every Dog Has His Pride

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.10
Mayapur, February 17, 1976

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Dayananda: "Prahlada Maharaja continued to think that a brahmana who has qualified himself with all the brahminical qualities, twelve in number, as they are stated in the book known as Sanat-sujata, such a brahmana, if he is not a devotee and averse to the lotus feet of the Lord, he is especially lower than a devotee who is a dog-eater even, but his mind, words, activities, wealth, and life -- everything is dedicated to the Supreme Lord. Such a low person is better than a brahmana as above mentioned because such lowborn person can purify his whole family, whereas a so-called brahmana falsely in prestigious position cannot purify himself."

Prabhupada:

viprad dvi-sad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-
padaravinda-vimukhat svapacam varistham
This is the verdict of the sastra. Svapacam varistham.
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-
pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhurimanah
 [SB 7.9.10]

Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. This is Prahlada Maharaja's instruction, that don't be falsely proud unless you have got the qualification. That is our mistake, dambha, dambha. And the pure life begins when we give up dambha, false prestige. Adambhitvam amanitvam ahimsa ksantih arjavam. This is the begin... One who is falsely proud, he is... (aside:) What is that sound? One should not be falsely proud. Everyone... Material world means everyone is falsely proud. Everyone is thinking, adhyo 'smi dhanavan asmi ko 'sti mama samah, everyone. This is the disease. "I am the richest. I am the powerful. I am the very intelligent." Everything, "I am." This is called ahankara. Ahankara vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. This false prestige... When one is absorbed with false things, he becomes vimudha, rascal. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. This is false prestige. We have to give up this false prestige. Ahankara must be there because you are a reality. You are not false. Your body is false, but you are reality. "I am soul." That realization must come. Aham brahmasmi. Not that ahankara-vimudhatma, "I am dog," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am this." This is ahankara, this false ahankara. But giving up all these nonsense prestigious position... A dog is also thinking he's in a prestigious position: "I am dog. I can bark very loudly. Gow! Gow!" He's also thinking that. Similarly, if I also think, "I am Indian," "I am white," "I am black," "I am this," what is the difference? Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. He is completely under the control of material nature, and he's thinking falsely that "I am very advanced in...," so on, so on. This should be given up.

So how it is given up? When one becomes devotee. Manye tad-arpita-mano-vaca. One who has given everything to Krsna, the, our sannyasa, tri-danda, that is tad-arpita-mano-vaca. Tri-danda means "I am accepting, my Lord, three kinds of chastisement from You, that I dedicate my body, my mind and my vaca, my words." This is called tri-danda. You should understand, those who are sannyasis, tri-danda-sannyasi. The Mayavadi sannyasis, they take one danda. Eka brahma dvitiya nasti. That is their philosophy, that "Only Brahman is there, and nothing else. So I am Brahman; you are Brahman" -- one, monism. That is their philosophy. Of course, that is our philosophy also, because everything is Krsna. There is nothing except Krsna. Krsna said in the Bhagavad..., maya tatam idam sarvam: "Everything I am." But their mistake is that because everything is Krsna, er, Krsna is everything, therefore everything is Krsna. No, that is mistake. That Krsna explains, that:

maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
naham tesu avasthitah
 [Bg. 9.4]

This is the mistake committed by the Mayavadis, that "If everything is Brahman, then whatever I worship, that is all right." That is nonsense. Krsna says, naham tesu avasthitah. Just like this microphone: it is Krsna. But if I worship this microphone instead of the Deity, then I am a fool. Then I am fool. This is the mistake the Mayavadis commit. They put the argument, "If everything is Krsna, everything is Brahman, so whatever I worship, that is Brahman." Krsna says, "No. That is not. Everything is Myself." This is called simultaneously one and different, acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. This is there in the Brahma-samhita. Krsna is always in Goloka. Just like here is Krsna. He's in Goloka, but He's so powerful, omnipotent... This is called omnipotency. In spite of His becoming in Goloka, He's everywhere. That is Krsna. That is the difference between Krsna and you or me. I am here; I'm not in upstairs. I'm here only. But Krsna simultaneously can be everywhere. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. So many pretenders, they claim that they are God: "I am God." But are you present everywhere? Can you say what I am thinking now? No, that he cannot. Still, he claims, "God." Nonsense. How he can become God? If you cannot say what I am thinking now, then how you can become God? God is situated everywhere. Andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham. Everywhere. Paramanu-cayantara-stham. Even within the atom there is God. So how you can claim God? Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Then they will answer, "I'm not in God now I am God, but maya... Therefore I cannot say now." That... "Why you have become under the control of maya? Then maya is greater than God. Then how you can become God? Maya is greater than God." So they cannot answer this. Because their theory is foolish, they cannot answer all these things. Actually, unless one is a devotee, he'll have all these bad qualification.

So Prahlada Maharaja is thinking himself that "I am less than svapaca." Just like Caitanya-caritamrta author says,

purisera kita haite muni se laghistha
jagai madhai haite muni se papistha
 [Cc. Adi 5.205]

He said that "I am insignificant, more insignificant than the stool-worm." The worm... There are worms in the stool. "So I am lower than that." Purisera kita haite muni se laghistha: "My value is less than the worm in the stool." This is called trnad api sunicena. It is not that Kaviraja Gosvami is artificially posing in that way. No. He's sincerely... No Vaisnava thinks himself, "I am very big man." No. He's not Vaisnava. Vaisnava means trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. This is Vaisnava. Even he is exalted more than anyone in this world, still he thinks himself as lowest: "I am lower than the worm in the stool." Prahlada Maharaja, Vaisnava, he is engaged to offer prayers to the Lord, Nrsimhadeva. So he's thinking in that way, that "What...? What form of prayer I can offer? I am born in a demonic family, low-grade family, and Brahma, he's coming from Brahmaloka, Satyaloka, Janaloka. They are so exalted. They could not satisfy the anger of the Lord, and I am born in low family. How can I do this?" This is his idea. But he's taking courage in this way, that in the sastra it is accepted that even one is born in low, low-grade family, svapaca... Svapaca means the most low grade. They're eating pigs. No... According to Vedic civilization, the pig-eater, even cow flesh eater is given better position. But the pig-eaters, they are the lowest, svapacas, untouchable. They are called untouchable. Any meat-eater is untouchable, but especially the pig-eater, svapaca. In India still, no even meat-eaters... Generally those who are meat-eaters, they take meat of such animals like goats, lambs, like that, those who are meat-eaters. And they never take cow's flesh because cow is protected, go-raksya. So in the Bhagavad-gita to the meat-eaters also it is said, krsi go-raksya vanijyam [Bg. 18.44]. Even if you are meat-eater, don't eat cow. You can eat others animals. But don't eat... "We are svapacas," svapaca is there. So if you are at all meat-eater, you can eat pigs, goats, but don't eat cows' flesh. That is very sinful. Why it is sinful? Because it's a very, very important animal in the human society, very important animal. You get milk and milk products. Then your brain becomes very nice, memory sharpened. That is, therefore, important. Don't eat. It is economically.

So svapacam varistham. Who is that svapaca? Now, who has given everything to Krsna, tri-danda. That means even a person coming out of the family of a svapaca, dog-eaters, dog-eaters, pig-eaters, yes... Svapaca, means dog-eater. Yes. Pig-eaters are also better. But the dog-eaters, they are the lowest. I think in China and Korea they are very much fond of dog-eating. So they are the lowest. So if... So here it is proof that dog-eaters or pig-eaters or any low-grade man is not prohibited to become a devotee. That is our Krsna consciousness movement. They say that without becoming a Hindu or born in India, nobody can become brahmana, nobody can become sannyasi. But here is the proof. In the sastra it says, svapacam varistham. The dog-eater is also highly praised. When? Tad-arpita-mano-vacana: "When he sacrifices everything -- his body, his mind, his words -- only for Krsna." This is called tri-danda-sannyasa. So why the low-grade man cannot be offered tri-danda if he is qualified? If he has dedicated everything to Krsna, why he should be prohibited? No. That is not the sastric injunction. Sastric injunction is for anyone. Nobody is prohibited to become Krsna conscious. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32], Krsna says. Krsna says even papa-yoni, less than the sudra... Sudra is also papa-yoni. Even woman is called papa-yoni according to strict... Striyah sudras tatha vaisya. Vaisya. Except brahmana and ksatriyas, everyone is considered to be lowborn, according to the Vedic injunction. But not that because he is lowborn, he cannot elevate himself. That is not the fact. The present, so-called Hindu society is degraded because if one is born in higher family, brahmana, ksatriya -- he may be less than a svapaca -- he's accepted as a brahmana. That is the fault.

But sastra does not say that without... Even if you are born in a high family, brahmana family, ksatriya family, and if you do not act or if (you) have not the qualification of brahmana, dvi-sat, twelve qualifications... What is that? Dvi-sad-guna-yutad aravinda... That is explained, what are the twelve qualifications. Dharmah: "He must be strictly religious principles." Dharmah. Dharmah begins strictly when one is fully surrendered to Krsna. There begins dharmah, because Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. He says that dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge. He comes to establish the principles of dharma. And why He is speaking, sarva-dharman parityajya? Why? If He has come to reestablish the principles of dharma-dharma-samsthapanartha -- then why He says sarva-dharm...? Sarva so-called dharmas, they are not dharma. Dharma means... Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the order that is given by God. That is dharma. And anything, so-called dharma, that is not dharma. That you manufacture, so many things. That is another thing. But real dharma, the... Just like I have several times explained, law means given by the government. You cannot manufacture law. That is not law. Similarly, dharma means the order given by God. That is dharma. Just like Krsna says. He said, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, tadatmanam srjamy aham: [Bg. 4.7] "When there is discrepancies, misuse of dharma, I appear." So He has appeared. He therefore said that "This is not dharma." You are declaring, "This is Hindu dharma," "This is Muslim dharma," "This is Jain dharma," "This is Christian dharma," "This is family dharma," "This is country dharma," so on, so on, so on. You have created so many dharmas. But Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya: [Bg. 18.66] "You give up all these dharmas." "Then what I..., shall I accept?" Mam ekam saranam vraja. That is dharma. Otherwise there is no dharma.

The Bhagavata also says, dharmah-projjhita-kaitavo 'tra: [SB 1.1.2] "The so-called dharmas, cheating process, is given up, kicked out." Projjhita. Prakrsta-rupena ujjhita. That is called projjhita. Sridhara Svami gives his note in this connection: atra moksa-vancha api nirastam. Anyone who is desiring for liberation, that is also cheating. That is also cheating. How you can be liberated? You are eternal servant of Krsna. Where is your liberation? You must serve Krsna. That is your dharma. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. If you don't serve Krsna, then you are immediately culprit, immediately punishable. That is going on. Maya is engaged to punish.

krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare
pasate maya tare japatiya dhare

As soon as. As soon as one tries to become independent without serving Krsna, that means he is in maya. He's in maya. Immediately maya is there. Just like as soon as you become a criminal, a thief, immediately you are under the jurisdiction of the police, immediately, without the... You may hide yourself for time being, but immediately you have become criminal. Similarly, as soon as one is not Krsna conscious, he's immediately a criminal, punishable. Therefore Krsna said, na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah, mayayapahrta... [Bg. 7.15]. He does not know what he's doing, this rascal naradhamah, mudha. These mudhas... Therefore when we say that a man who is not Krsna conscious, he is naradhamah, mudhah, that is a fact. But the world is such that satyam bruyat priyam bruyat ma bruyat satyam apriyam. They want if you can say the truth, but don't say the unpalatable truth. But that is social etiquette. When you speak about spiritual life there is no such scope. You must speak the truth: "Yes, you are rascal. Because you are not Krsna conscious: rascal, mudha. You are sinful. You are lowest of the mankind." Krsna says. Krsna says, na mam duskrtino mudhah.

So this is the test. This is the test, that as soon as one is not Krsna conscious, immediately he comes to the group of sinful activities, rascaldom, lowest of the mankind, mayayapahrta-jnana, all knowledge taken away, and he's an asura, Hiranyakasipu's family, Hiranyakasipu's category. So this is not optional, that "If I don't take to Krsna consciousness, that is my wish, my desire." No. If you desire in that way then you'll be punished. You become immediately... You cannot say, "It is my optional. I may become a thief; I may remain honest. That is my option." No. As soon as you become thief, you are punishable. Similarly, anyone who is not Krsna conscious, he's immediately punishable. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. The punishment will go on in various ways. That is going on. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. The punishment... This is punishment. That is presented by Krsna. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. This duhkha, janma-mrtyu, repeatedly to take birth and die, this is punishment. But these rascals, they do not care for it. They have become so rascal that "Oh, oh, that mrtyu? I shall die because it is nature." Why it has become your nature? Your nature is eternity. But they have no brain to understand. They have become so foolish. Nityah sasvato 'yam na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. The spirit soul... I am soul; you are soul. I am not dying. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. But these foolish persons, they do not know. They accept death, birth and death, old age and disease. There is no remedy. The so-called scientists, philosophers, they cannot give any remedy. The only remedy is Krsna consciousness. That they do not know. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. No. That is remedy. You have to become Krsna conscious.

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

This is... If you want to be really happy, if you want to be really in your original position, eternity, then you must take to Krsna consciousness. There is no alternative. It is not possible. It is not optional. The more you delay accepting Krsna consciousness, the more you are put into sufferings of this material world. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said that... The brahminical qualification is certainly very good. Within this material world there are three modes of material nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Those who are in the tamo-guna, they are the lowest, mudha, naradhama. Rajo-guna, they are little better. They have got some activities just like materialistic person. But sattva-guna, they are simply interested in spiritual realization. So spiritual realization means God realization. Unless one becomes a devotee... Just like in our Indian society, they say brahmana pandita and brahmana Vaisnava. So pandita, that is general qualification. Without becoming a pandita, he's not a brahmana. But above pandita, one has to become a Vaisnava. Then he's perfect brahmana, brahmana Vaisnava. So these are the twelve qualification of the brahmana enunciated in the dharma-sastra. There are twenty kinds of dharma-sastra. The most important of the dharma-sastras is the Manu-samhita. [break] ...doing all nonsense. Such kind of bhakti, aikantiki harer bhak..., utpatayeva kalpate: it is simply disturbance in the society, without full knowledge from the sruti-smrti, if by sentiments one becomes bhakta. That is not bhakta. Bhakta must be following the regulative principles, the instruction of guru and so on.

So here Prahlada Maharaja said the dvadasa-guna. The dvadasa-guna is dharmas ca, dharmasya satyam ca dhamas ca tapas ca amatsarya hi titiksa-anusuyava-yajnas ca danam dhrtih sutam ca vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya. So one must be qualified with these twelve qualities. In the Bhagavad-gita it is given, nine qualities, so, sama dama satyam saucam, jnanam-vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma sva-bhava... So you cannot become a brahmana simply by becoming a son of a brahmana. That is not possible. That is not the injunction. Just like you cannot become a high-court judge simply by becoming the son of a high-court judge. No. You must be qualified how to become a high-court judge. Then you'll be accepted. Not that... You cannot say, "I am... My father is high-court judge. I am high-court judge." That is going on. No. So here are the qualities of a brahmana, dvi-sad-guna-yutad viprat. Must be there, twelve qualities, at least nine qualities. Then you become a brahmana. And Narada Muni supports this in another place, that,

yasya hi yal laksanam proktam
(pumso) varnabhivyanjakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset
 [SB 7.11.35]

Narada Muni said, the greatest authority. He said that these are the qualities of brahmana, as described. If these qualities are found elsewhere, anyatra... Suppose a man is born in the sudra family, but he had developed these qualities. Then he should be called a brahmana. And suppose a person is born in the brahmana family but he has acquired the qualities of sudra or candala. Then he should be called candala. This is Narada Muni's statement. And Sridhara Swami gives his comment upon this sloka, that birth is not primary; the qualities are primary.

So Prahlada Maharaja also explained. Prahlada means in the Satya-yuga, long, long, millions and millions... The principles was this, that simply born in a brahmana family, he does not become, even with qualities... He must be a devotee. And a devotee, if he, even if he's born in a family of dog-eaters, he is varistham. He is fully qualified. We shall discuss again.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

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Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.3
Mayapur, February 17, 1977

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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) "Translation: Thereafter Lord Brahma requested Prahlada Maharaja, who was standing very near him: My dear son, Lord Nrsimhadeva is extremely angry at your demoniac father. Please go forward and appease the Lord."

Prabhupada:

prahradam presayam asa
brahmavasthitam antike
tata prasamayopehi
sva-pitre kupitam prabhum
 [SB 7.9.3]

So Nrsimhadeva was very, very angry. Now the atheist class of men, who do not know what is the nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they will say, "Why God should become angry?" So God, why He should not be angry? God must have everything; otherwise how He is God complete? Purnam. The anger is also another quality of living symptom. The stone does not become angry because he's stone. But any living being, he becomes angry. That is a quality. And why God should not be angry? They imagine God; not they have got any factual conception of God. They imagine that "God must be like this. God must be nonviolent. God must be very peaceful." Why? Wherefrom the anger comes? It comes from God. Otherwise there is no existence of anger.

Everything is there. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. That is the definition of Brahman. Whatever we have got in experience and whatever we haven't got in experience... We haven't got everything in experience. Just like about Nrsimhadeva it is said Laksmi also had no experience that the Lord can become half-lion, half-man. Even Laksmi, what to speak of others. Laksmi, she is constant companion of the Lord. So it is said, asruta. What is that? Adrsta. Adrsta asruta purvatvat. She became afraid because she also never saw such gigantic form and half-lion, half-man. God has so many forms: advaita acyuta anadi ananta-rupam. Ananta-rupam; still, advaita. So in the Bhagavata it is said that God's incarnations are exactly like the waves of the river or the sea. Nobody can count. You'll be tired if you want to count the number of waves. It is impossible. So God's incarnations are as many as there are waves. So you cannot count the waves; therefore you cannot understand how many incarnations He has got. Even Laksmi, even Anantadeva, they haven't got. So our experience -- very limited. Why should we say that "God cannot have this, God cannot have..." like that? This is godlessness. They make section. They say... Even in our so-called Vedic Arya-samajhi, they assert that God cannot take incarnation. Why? If God is all-powerful, then why He shall not be able to accept incarnation?

Therefore we should not take lessons of God from these rascals. We should take lessons of God from sastra, from guru and from sadhu, one who has seen God, tattva-darsina. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti tad jnanam [Bg. 4.34]. Tad jnanam means spiritual knowledge. Tad-vijnanam.

tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet
samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistham
 [MU 1.2.12]

So tad-vijnanam, you cannot imagine, speculate. That is not possible. You have to learn it from a person who is tattva-darsinah, who has seen God. Even by seeing, you cannot... Just like Laksmidevi, she is seeing every moment, constant... Even she does not know. Asruta-purva. Adrstasruta-purva. So whatever we see or we do not see, everything is there. Aham sarvasya prabhavah [Bg. 10.8]. Krsna says: "Whatever you see, whatever you experience, I am the origin of everything." So anger must be there. How you can say that "God should not be angry. God should not be like this. God should not..."? No. That is not fact. That is our inexperience.

So Brahma, Lord Brahma, he is supposed to be the first living being within this universe. Laksmi became afraid; Brahma also became very afraid. Therefore Brahma requested Prahlada Maharaja that "You go forward, my dear son, and appease the Lord. You can do because for you He has appeared in this fierceful feature. Your father offended Him in so many ways by teasing you, by punishing you, by putting you into difficulty. Therefore He has appeared in very angry. So you can appease Him. We cannot. It is not possible." Prahlada presayam asa brahma avasthita antike. So Prahlada Maharaja, being very exalted devotee, he could appease the Lord. Bhaktya, by bhakti, you can control the Supreme Lord. That is the only way. Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55]. The understanding is also through bhakti, and through bhakti you can control God. Vedesu durlabha adurlabha atma-bhaktau. You cannot understand God by studying Vedas. Vedesu durlabha. Adurlabha atma-bhaktau. But for His devotees, He is very, very easily available. Therefore bhakti is the only source. Bhaktyam ekaya grahyam. Only through bhakti you can approach, you can talk with God on equal level just like friend. The cowherd boys, they were treating Krsna on the same status: "Krsna is like us." But they loved Krsna very, very intensely. That is their qualification. Therefore Krsna sometimes agreed to take the cowherd boys on His shoulder. So this is the... Krsna wants that, that "My bhakta... Be My bhakta and control Me. Everyone worships Me with awe and veneration. I want somebody should come forward and control Me." That He wants. Therefore He has accepted mother Yasoda to control Him. How God can be controlled? Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. He's the supreme controller. Who can control Him? It is not possible. But He agrees to be controlled by His pure devotee. He agrees, "Yes, mother, you control Me. You bind Me. You show Me your stick so that I may be afraid."

So everything is there. Don't think that God is zero. No. Sunyavadi. Everything. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Athato brahma jijnasa. You are inquiring about Brahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So there must be anger, not that God should be always peaceful. But the difference is His anger and His peaceful attitude produces the same result. Prahlada Maharaja, a devotee, He is very satisfied with Prahlada Maharaja and He is very much dissatisfied with his father, but result is the same: both of them got liberation. Although a devotee becomes associate whereas the demon who is killed by God, he does not become an associate... He is not qualified. But he enters into the spiritual kingdom. He gets liberation from this material bondage. So why a devotee should take the same position? Therefore, mam eti. Tato mam tattvato jnatva visate tad-anantaram. They visate, enters, enters in the spiritual kingdom. Everyone who is liberated, he is entered.

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

But those who are devotees, they are allowed to enter into the planet, Vaikuntha planet or Goloka Vrndavana planet. In this way one gets his original position. But if we do not take to bhakti, then we may enter into the Brahman effulgence, but there is chance of falling down. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [SB 10.2.32]. So those who are impersonalist, they may enter into the spiritual kingdom. That is called param padam. Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam [SB 10.14.58]. But there is also chance of fall down. Aruhya krcchrena. After severe austerities and penances one can enter into the Brahman effulgence. But unless one gets information of the param padam-samasrita ye pada pallava plavam -- there is chance of falling down. In the material world there is bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. But in spiritual also, if you enter into the spiritual kingdom, from there also... Even sometimes it so happens. Of course, that is by God's desire. Just like Jaya-Vijaya. They were personal associates. But the explanation is Krsna wanted that "They should go..., the Hiranyakasipu..., these two, Jaya-Vijaya, they should go to the material world, and I must fight with them." Because that fighting, to become angry, that tendency is there. Where He will exhibit? In the Vaikuntha there is no chance of exhibiting this anger and fighting. That is not possible. Therefore He induces His devotee to "Go to the material world and become My enemy, and I shall fight. I shall become angry," because in the Vaikuntha, spiritual kingdom, there is no chance. Everyone is serving; everyone is friendly. Some relation... Where is the question of fighting? But fighting spirit is there; anger is there. Where He shall exhibit? And therefore Krsna incarnates, He becomes angry, and a devotee becomes enemy, and this is Krsna-lila, nitya-lila. It is going on.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.3 -- Mayapur, February 17, 1977

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Yoga System--Keep This Useless Body Fit"

69/02/17 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 6.16-24


Prabhupada: Yes. This is very nice. (laughs) Nothing is prohibited because after all, you have to execute the yoga process with this body. To make the best use of a bad bargain. You see? This material body is the source of all miseries. Actually the spirit soul has no misery. Just like normal condition of a living entity is healthy life. Disease takes place by certain contamination infection. Disease is not our life. Similarly the present position of material existence is a diseased condition of the soul. And what is that disease? The disease is this body? Because this body is not meant for me, it is not my body. Just like your dress. You are not the dress. But we are differently dressed here. Somebody red color, somebody white color, somebody yellow color. But that color, I am not this color. Similarly this body, I am white man, black man, Indian, American or this, Hindu, Muslim, Christian. This is not my position. This is all diseased condition. Diseased condition. You are trying to get out of the disease.

That is yoga system. To connect again with the Supreme. Because I am part and parcel. The same example. Somehow or other the finger is cut off and it is falling on the ground, it has no value. My finger, when it is cut off and it is lying on the ground, it has no value. My finger, when it is cut off and it is lying on the ground, it has no value. But as soon as the finger is joined with this body, it has got millions and trillions of dollars value. Invaluable. Similarly we are now disconnected with God or Krsna, by this material condition. Forget, not disconnected. Connection is there. God is supplying our all necessities just like a state prisoner is disconnected from the civil department. He has come to the criminal department. Actually not disconnected. The government is still take care. But legally disconnected. Similarly we are not disconnected. We cannot be disconnected, because there is no existence of anything without Krsna. So how can I be disconnected? Disconnection is that by forgetting Krsna, instead of engaging myself in Krsna consciousness, I am engaged in so many nonsense consciousness. That is disconnection. Instead of thinking myself that I am eternal servant of God or Krsna, I am thinking I am servant of my society, I am servant of my country, I am servant of my husband, I am servant of my wife, I am servant of my dog or so many. This is forgetfulness.

So how it has happened? Due to this body. Whole thing. Whole misconsciousness has come into existence due to this body. Because I am born in America I am thinking American. And because I am thinking American, the American government claims, "Yes, you come and fight, give your life." Draftboard. Why? This body. Therefore the intelligent person should know that I am suffering all miserable condition of my life due to this body. So we should not act in such a way that this imprisonment with this material body will continue birth and birth. Either American body, Indian body, dog's body, hog's body, so many -- 8,400,000 of body. That is called yoga. How to get out of this contamination of body. But the first instruction is to understand that I am not this body. That is the basic principle of Bhagavad-gita teaching. Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase [Bg. 2.11]. "My dear Arjuna, you are talking very nice nicely, just like a very advanced learned man. But you are talking on the bodily platform -- all nonsense." "I am father of this, oh, they are my relatives, they are my this, they are my this, how can I kill, how can I do, I cannot." The whole atmosphere consciousness is body. Therefore Krsna, just after Arjuna accepting him his spiritual master, he's immediately chastising him as a master chastises his disciple: "You nonsense, you are talking very wisely as if you know so many things. But your position is this body."

So the whole world, they are posing themselves as highly advanced in education -- science, philosophy, this, that, politics, so many things. But, their position is this body. Just like, an example, a vulture. A vulture rises very high. Seven miles, eight miles up. Wonderful, you cannot do that. And he has got wonderful eyes also. There are small eyes, vulture, it is so powerful that it can see from seven mile distance where there is a carcass, dead body. So he has got good qualification. He can rise very high, he can see from a distant place. Oh. But what is his object? A dead body, that's all. His perfection is to find out a carcass, dead body, and to eat, that's all. Similarly we may go up very high education, but what is our objective, what are we seeing? How to enjoy sense, this body, that's all. And advertisement? "Oh, he has gone with sputnik seven hundred miles up." But what you do? What is your occupation? Sense gratification, that's all. That is animal. So people are not considering how they're implicated with this bodily concept of life.

So one should first of all know that our miserable condition of material existence is due to this body. At the same time this body is not permanent. Supposing I identify everything with this body -- family, society, country, this, that, so many things. But how long? It is not permanent. Asat. Asat means it will not exist. Asann api klesada asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]. Simply troublesome. Not permanent and simply giving trouble. That is intelligence. How to get out of this body. People come, says that "I am not in peace. I am in trouble. My mind is not peace." But when the medicine is offered, he does not accept. You see? He wants something palatable, what he has understood, that's all. Many people come to us, "Swamiji, oh, this is my position." And as soon as we suggest the medicine, he'll not accept. Because he wants some medicine which will be acceptable by him. So how we can offer? Then why do you go to a physician? You make your own treatment? You see?

So here the suggestion is that this body is useless, but that does not mean we shall not take care. Just like you are going from one place to another place on your car. The car, you are not this car, but because you have to use the car for your work, you have to take care of the car also. But not much care that you simply become absorbed in the car business and no other business. Just like somebody, too much attachment to the car is polishing the car whole day, you see, polishing. So we should not be too much attached to this body. But because with this body we have to execute Krsna consciousness, therefore we should keep it fit also. That is called yukta-vairagya. We should not neglect. We shall take regular bath, we shall, regular nice food, Krsna prasada, keep our mind and body healthy. That is required.

So Krsna consciousness movement does not say that artificially you simply make some renouncement, all nonsense. And to recompensate we take to some drugs, take to some intoxication, no. You take nice food. Krsna has given nice food. Fruits, grains, milk, you can prepare hundreds and thousands of preparations nice with these foodgrains and we are doing that. Our purpose for inviting you in the love feast is that: replace Krsna prasada with your all nonsense foodstuff. They are not healthy. These are healthy food. Healthy food. Palatable, healthy food. So, eat Krsna prasada, nice prasada. If your tongue wants some nice palatable dishes we can supply you hundreds, thousands, offered to Krsna. Samosa and this sweet ball, rasagulla, so many things we can supply. You are not prohibited. But don't take too much. "Oh, it is very palatable, let me take one dozen of rasagulla." No, don't take that. (laughs) Then that is not good. That is greediness. You should simply take so much as will keep your body fit, that's all. You should sleep so much as will keep your body fit, that's all. Nothing more. Yuktahara viharasya yogo bhavati siddha. This is called yukta. We should eat simply for keeping healthy condition. We shall sleep simply for keeping healthy condition. But if you can reduce, that's nice. But not at the risk of becoming sick.

Because in the beginning, because we are accustomed to eat voraciously, so don't try to eat less artificially. You eat. But try to minimize. Therefore there are prescription of fasting. At least two compulsory fastings in a month. And there are other fasting days. The more you can reduce your sleep and eating, you keep good health, especially for spiritual purposes. But not artificially. Not artificially. But when you advance, naturally you'll not feel, just like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. There are examples. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was very rich man's son. And he left home. So he joined Lord Caitanya. So his father, he was the only son, very beloved son. Very nice wife. Left everything. And left means stealing, without saying anything. Somehow or other he left home. And the father could understand he has gone to Lord Caitanya at Puri. So he sent four servants, because he was very rich man. And four hundred rupees. five hundred years ago four hundred rupees means twenty times at the present value. So first of all he accepted, that, "Oh, father has sent, all right." So how he was spending money? So he was inviting all the sannyasis, in Jagannatha Puri there were many sannyasis, renounced order. And every month he was offering feasting. Then after few days, Lord Caitanya inquired His secretary, Svarupa Damodara, "Oh, nowadays I don't get any invitation from Raghunatha. What happened?" "Oh, sir, he has stopped accepting his father's money." "Oh, that's very nice." He thought that, "I have renounced everything and I am enjoying my father's money. This is all nonsense." He refused. He asked the man, "You go home. I don't want money." Then how he is living? "Oh, he's standing on the staircase of Jagannatha Temple and when the priests go home with their prasada, they offer something and he's satisfied." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Oh, this is all right, very nice." Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu was inquiring how he's standing there. So he ... standing. So Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, after a few days, he stopped that standing also. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired his secretary, "I don't see Raghunatha standing there. What he is doing?" "No sir, he has given up that standing because he thought, ‘Oh, I'm standing just like a prostitute, somebody will come and give me some. No no, I don't like it.' " "Oh, that's very nice. Then how he is eating?" "He's collecting some rejected rice in the kitchen and that he is eating."

So to encourage Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, one day Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to his room. "Raghunatha? I heard that you are eating very nice foodstuff and you are not inviting me?" So he was not replying. So He was finding out where he has kept that rice and He took and immediately began to eat. "Sir, you do not eat, this is not for You." "Oh! It is Jagannatha's prasada! How do you say it is not fit?" Just to encourage him. He may not think, that, "I am eating this rejected," you see? In this way Raghunatha dasa Gosvami reduced his foodstuff, ultimately, every alternate day only one piece of what is called, butter, so much. And he was offering even bowing down hundreds times and chanting so many times. Sankhya-purvaka-nama -- you have heard it while singing Six Gosvamis song. Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasani-krtau. So there are very nice examples of minimizing. Minimizing all material necessities. Up to the point nil. You see? But that is not possible for everyone. Don't try to imitate Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. But because they were associates of Lord Caitanya, each one of them showed some example. Unique example of how Krsna consciousness can be advanced. But our business is not to imitate them, but try to follow them. Try to follow as far as possible. Not artificially.

Therefore here it is said, "There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi," if you try to become immediately Raghunatha dasa Gosvami by imitating, you'll fail. Whatever progress you have made that will be finished. No. Not that. You eat. But don't eat more. That's all. Eating more is no good. You eat. If you are elephant you eat hundred pounds, but if you ant you eat one grain. Don't eat hundred pounds imitating the elephant. You see? God has given food to the elephant and to the ant. But if you are actually elephant then you eat like elephant. But if you are ant, don't eat like elephant, then you'll be in trouble. So here it is said, "There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little." Very nice program. Don't eat too little. You eat whatever you require. But don't eat more. Similarly don't sleep more. If you can keep your health perfect, but try to reduce it. Suppose you are sleeping ten hours. But if I keep myself fit by sleeping five hours, why should I sleep ten hours? So this is the process. Don't do anything artificially. So far the body is concerned, we have got four demands. Eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The defect is that modern civilization that they are thinking that this eating process, sleeping process if we can increase, that is very nice. If we can sleep the whole day and night on Saturday and Sunday, oh it is great profit, enjoyment. That is the civilization. They think it is an opportunity to sleep, thirty hours a day. You see? No. Don't do that. Reduce it. Try to reduce it but not artificially. Go on.

Devotee: Verse number seventeen: "He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system."

Prabhupada: Yes, you simply, there is no question of attending a so-called yoga class and pay five rupees or five dollars fee to keep yourself reduced fat and so on, keeping your health fit. You simply practice. This practice: Eat what you need, sleep what you need. Your health will be excellent. There is no need of any extraneous help. Simply by practicing this you'll have everything all right. Go on.

Devotee: Verse number eighteen: "When the yogi, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence, devoid of all material desires, he is said to have attained yoga."

Prabhupada: Yes. To keep the mind in equilibrium. That is yoga perfection. To keep the mind, that how you can do if you, in the material field you cannot keep your mind in equilibrium. That is not possible. Take for example this Bhagavad-gita. If you read daily four times you'll not get tired. But take any other book, after reading one hour you'll get tired. This chanting, Hare Krsna. You chant whole day and night, and dance, you'll never get tired. But take another name. Just after half an hour, finished. It is botheration. You see? Therefore to fix up the mind means to keep your mind in Krsna, then finished, all yoga. You are perfect yogi. You haven't got to do anything. Simply fix up your mind. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha -- if you talk, talk of Krsna. If you eat, eat of Krsna. If you think, think of Krsna. If you work, work for Krsna. So in this way, this yoga practice will be perfect. Not otherwise. And that is the perfection of yoga. Devoid of all material desires. If you are simply desiring for Krsna where is the scope of material desire? Finished, all material desire finished. You haven't got to try for it artificially. "Oh, I shall not see any nice girl. I shall close my eyes." That you cannot do. But if you fix up your mind in Krsna consciousness you are dancing with so many beautiful girls. That's all right, as brother and sister there is no question. This is practical perfection of yoga. Artificially you cannot do.

Simply in Krsna consciousness all perfection is there. Try to understand it. All perfection. Because that is spiritual platform. Spiritual platform is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. Therefore there is no misgivings. Yes, go on.

Devotee: Verse number nineteen: "As a lamp in a windless place does not waver..."

Prabhupada: Here is the example, just see.

Devotee: "...so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent Self."

Prabhupada: In this room, because there is no air waving, just see the flame is steady. Similarly, if the flame of your mind will remain as steady as this flame if you absorb the mind in Krsna consciousness. Then as the flame is not agitating, your mind will not be agitated. And what is perfection of yoga?

Devotee: Verse 20 through 23: "The stage of perfection is called trance or samadhi, when one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga."

Prabhupada: Samadhi means, samadhi means not to make void. That is impossible. Kleso 'dhikaratas tesam avyaktasakta-cetasam. Some yogi says that you stop yourself, make yourself motionless. How it is possible to make me motionless? I am moving spirit. This is not possible. Motionless means when you are fixed up in Krsna, there is no more material motion. That is motionless. This material propensities will not anymore disturb you. That is called motionless. But your motion for Krsna activities will increase. The more you increase your motion or activities in Krsna consciousness you become automatically motionless in material activities. That is the process. But if you want to make motionless, the same example -- a child, a child is restless. You cannot make the child motionless. You give him something, plaything, some nice picture. He will see, engaged, and motionless. That is the way. So people are motionless. Not motionless, what is called? Moving. But if you want to make him motionless then give him Krsna engagement. Then he'll be motionless. And that is realization. Why he should be engaged in Krsna consciousness unless he realizes that "I am Krsna's. I am not this matter's, I am not this nation's, I am not this society's, I am not this rascal's, I am simply Krsna's." Motionless. His full knowledge.

That is my position. I am part and parcel. Mamaivamso jiva -- all these living entities are My part and parcel. So as soon as you understand that "I am part and parcel of Krsna" immediately you become motionless to material activities. Yes.

Devotee: "This is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice..."

Prabhupada: Pure mind. This is pure mind. Pure mind means to understand oneself that "I belong to Krsna." That is pure mind. Mind, at the present moment my mind is contaminated. Why? I am thinking that I belong to this, I belong to that, I belong to this. But when my mind is fixed up, "I am Krsna's." That is my purpose. Yes.

Devotee: "And to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state one is situated..."

Prabhupada: This joyous in the self, that means Krsna is the Superself. Yoga practice. That I am individual self. When I am in samadhi with Visnu, Superself, that is my steadiness of the mind. So Superself and self, when they enjoy. Enjoyment cannot be alone. There must be two. Have you got any experience of enjoyment alone? No. So enjoyment alone is not possible. Enjoyment means two -- Krsna and you. The Supersoul and the individual soul. [break] the greatest difficulty. If you are convinced, that "I am part and parcel of Krsna," that even there is greatest difficulty position of your life, that is surrender. You know Krsna will give you protection. You try your best, you use your intelligence. But I believe in Krsna. Varasa neha pitaro nrsimha(?). If Krsna neglects, no other remedy can protect you. No other measure can protect you. Don't think -- suppose one is diseased. Many expert physicians treating him. Nice medicine is offered. Is that guarantee for his life? No. That is not guarantee. If Krsna neglects, in spite of all these good physicians and medicines he will die. And if Krsna protects him, even if he has no expert treatment, he'll still survive. So one who is fixed up in Krsna, fully surrendered, and one of the points of surrender is that Krsna will protect me. Then you are happy. Just like the child. He's fully surrendered to the parents and he is confident that "My father is there, my mother is there." So he's happy. Kadaham ekan... kinkara. If you know that somebody is there who is my patron, who is my saver, are you not very happy? But if you do everything on your own account, at your response(?), are you happy? Similarly, if you are convinced in Krsna consciousness that "Krsna will give me protection" and if you are true to Krsna, that is the standard of happiness. You cannot be happy otherwise. That is not possible. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman.

That is the fact. Even in your rebellious condition Krsna is giving you protection. Without Krsna's protection you cannot live even for a second. He's so kind. But when you admit it, when you recognize it, then you become happy. Now Krsna is giving you protection but you do not know it because you have taken your life at your own risk. Therefore He has given you freedom, "All right, do whatever you like. As far as possible I will give you protection." But when you fully surrender, the whole charge is to Krsna. That is special. That is special protection. Just like a father. The child who has grown up doesn't care for the father, he's acting freely. What the father can do? "All right, do whatever you like." But the child who is fully under the protection of the father, he takes more care.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita you'll find: samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu. "I am equal to everyone." Na me dvesyah: "Nobody is my enemy." How He can be envious? Everyone is Krsna's son. How he can become enemy to Krsna? He is son. That is not possible. He is friend of everyone. But we are not taking advantage of His friendship. That is our disease. That is our disease. He is friend to everyone. Samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu. But one who is recognizing, he can understand that "Krsna is giving me protection in this way." This is the way of happiness. Go on.

Devotee: "This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact. This yoga is to be practiced with determination and an undaunted heart. Twenty-four: One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with undeviating determination and faith. One should abandon without exception, all material desires born of ego and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind. Purport: The yoga practitioner should be determined and should patiently prosecute the practice without deviation."

Prabhupada: Now, this determination can be actually practiced or can be actually attained by one who does not indulge in sex life. His determination is strong. Therefore in the beginning it was said, that "without sex life," the determination. Or controlled sex life. If you indulge in sex life then this determination will not come. Flickering determination. You see. Therefore sex life should be controlled or given up. If it is possible to give up altogether, if not, controlled. Then you'll get determination. Because after all this determination is bodily affair. So these are the methods how to get determination. Go on.

Devotee: "One should be sure of success at the end and pursue his course with great perseverance, not becoming discouraged if there is any delay in the attainment of success."

Prabhupada: Determination means that one has to continue with patience and perseverance. I'm not getting the desired result. "Oh what is this Krsna consciousness, I give up." No. Determination. It is a fact. Because Krsna is saying this it must happen. There is nice example. That a girl is married to a husband. She's hankering after a child. So if she thinks that "Now I am married, I must have immediately a child." Is it possible? Just have patience. You just become faithful wife, serve your husband, and let your love grown up and because you are husband and wife, it is sure you'll have children. But don't be impatient. Similarly, when you are in Krsna consciousness, your perfection is guaranteed. But but you'll have patience, determination. That "I must execute. I should not be impatient." That impatience is due to loss of determination. And how that loss determination is there? Due to excessive sex life. These are all consequences. Go on.

Devotee: "Success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rupa Gosvami says, ‘The process of bhakti-yoga can be executed successfully with full-hearted enthusiasm, perseverance and determination by following the prescribed duties in the association of devotees and by engaging completely in activities of goodness.' "

Prabhupada: Yes, go on.

Devotee: "As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean. But the big ocean carried them away on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal and so she decided to dry up the ocean."

Prabhupada: Just see, a sparrow is trying to dry up the ocean. (laughs) This is called determination. Just like our Gandhi. He declared war against the Britishers. War is that non-violent, noncooperation. You see? But the determination was there. That "I must drive away the Britishers." And he did it. And what is the weapon? Nonviolence. "All right, you fight, you kill me, I shall not attack you." You see? He became, what is that? Determination. People laughed. "Gandhi is declaring war with the Britishers, so powerful, British Empire." And actually after the Britishers lost India, they lost all Empire. Because that was the jewel of British Empire. They lost all possession in the Far East, they lost possession in Egypt, they lost possession on Suez Canal, everything lost. So determination is so nice thing. Go on.

Devotee: "She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it." (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 6.16-24 -- Los Angeles, February 17, 1969

"Don't Increase The Disease"

75/02/17 Mexico, Bhagavad-gita 2.17



Prabhupada:

avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
vinasam avyayasyasya
na kascit kartum arhati
[Bg. 2.17]

Now Krsna is giving a practical way of understanding the presence of soul. He says, yena sarvam idam tatam: "One thing, which is spread all over the body, that is avinasi." That means immortal. So what is that which is spread all over the body? It is not the skin, not the... This is also spread over the body. The skin, the bone, the marrow, the blood -- they are also spread over the body, but Krsna is not meaning this material things. The actual active principle within this body is the spirit soul. Now, in medical science, bones are being replaced; flesh also being replaced; blood is also being replaced by injection. So everything can be replaced materially by scientific improvement. But when that things which is immortal, that is gone, it cannot be replaced. Even nowadays the heart is being replaced, but no medical science or any science has ever been able to replace the life. So he's giving the example that that presence of the soul is perceived by consciousness. So the flesh is there, the bone is there, the blood is also there, but when the consciousness is not there, that means it is finished. Because the consciousness is there, therefore any part of the body, if we pinch, we can feel pains and pleasure. And when the consciousness is not there, when the man is dead, the flesh is there, the blood is there and other ingredients are there, but there is no more life because it is useless now. Therefore Krsna says that avinasi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam. The tatam means spread. The consciousness is spread. If we pinch in this part, by consciousness you'll feel pain, or this part or any part of the body, because the consciousness is there, you feel pains and pleasure.

So Krsna points out that this consciousness is immortal, avyaya. Avyaya means which is never annihilated, avyaya. Vyaya means there is whole thing, and you can take out part of it, but avyaya means you cannot take a part of it also; it is always wholesome. So this consciousness is avyaya, means never annihilated, and avinasi means immortal. So when this consciousness is transferred from this body to another body, that is called transmigration of the soul. But one thing we must know it, that as there is consciousness in my body, as there is consciousness in your body, similarly, there is consciousness in the whole universe. So long the consciousness is there in my body and the consciousness is there in your body or everyone's body, the body is very nice, very fresh, everything is going nicely. So as soon as the consciousness is gone, immediately this lump of matter begins to decompose.

Similarly, this material cosmic manifestation is working very nicely -- the sun is rising; the moon is rising; the seasons have changes; the air is blowing; the light is there; heat is there -- why? Because there is big consciousness. And that small consciousness in your body and my body, keeping this body fit, similarly, there is another, greater consciousness which is keeping this material world fit and working order. So what is this consciousness? This consciousness is the spread of the soul. Just like example: you take a small grain of arsenic acid, or potassium cyanide, you put in your tongue, immediately it spreads all over your body and you die. So you can just understand the potency of a small grain of material thing. So how much potency is there of the spiritual thing? Because, we have already discussed, material things are inferior and spiritual identity is superior. So you study these material things, a small grain of poison or the sun, how much powerful they are. A small grain of poison immediately can finish the body, and the small disk, although it is not small... It looks... We can see. The sun globe is spreading the light and heat all over the universe. Similarly, the potency of the soul is so powerful that it is maintaining the whole body. Similarly, the potency of God is maintaining the whole universe. Just like on account of the presence of the soul the body is maintained, similarly, on account of presence of God the whole universe or the cosmic manifestation is maintained. As I am, a small particle of spiritual identity, I am maintaining this body so sound and healthy, similarly, the presence of the Supreme Soul Krsna, or God, is maintaining the whole material cosmic manifestation. Every one of us can perceive the presence of the soul and presence of God.

Another feature is that your consciousness and my consciousness is different. Therefore we are all individual. Similarly, God is also individual. That has been explained in the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says that "Arjuna, you, Me, and all these people who have assembled in this battlefield, they were individual in the past, individual at present, and they'll continue, individual, after death also." Now, that individuality... God is great because His consciousness is big. He is maintaining the whole cosmic manifestation. And I am very small. Therefore my consciousness is also limited, and I am spreading all over this body. So any sensible man, intelligent man, can understand the presence of God by seeing this cosmic manifestation in orderly being maintained. It is said in the Visnu Purana, just like fire remaining in one place spreads the heat and light, similarly, the soul also, being present in some part of our body -- it is said in the heart -- it spreads his heat and light, the consciousness. Similarly, God is also present. He spreads heat and light, and therefore we find so many varieties of manifestation. Just like... This example is very perfect. Just like the light is here, it is localized, but it is spreading its illumination all over this room. The light is situated in one place. Similarly, God is situated in His kingdom or in His place; still, He is present everywhere. He is present within your heart. He is present even within the atom. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.35] **. He is present in His abode, and He is present everywhere. He is present within the atom. He is present within your heart. This is called parinama-vada, or the presence of the energy of God. Every one of us, we are also energy of God.

There are three kinds of energies. He has got multi-energies -- parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport] -- but they have been summarized into three. The one energy is called spiritual energy, the other is called material energy, and the third is called marginal energy. The spiritual and material we can understand. At least we can feel when the, a living man and a dead man... A living man means spirit and matter combined. And a dead man means the matter is there; spirit is gone. So you can distinguish what is spirit and what is matter. So similarly, there is, as this is material world, there is another spiritual world. We living entities, we, by nature, we are spiritual, but because we have got the potency either to live in this material world or in the spiritual world, therefore we are called marginal. The real position is, because we are spiritual, we should live in the spiritual world. At the present moment we have lost our spiritual constitutional position; therefore we are in this material world. Just like a man is generally healthy, but sometimes he falls sick, so at the present moment our condition is sick. It is called bhava-roga. Bhava-roga. Bhava means to become, and roga means disease. What is that bhava-roga? We are appearing, taking birth in the material world. This is called bhava: "You become." And after sometimes you become finished, means death. This is called disease.

Bhava-roga. Yes. We have to cure this disease and come to our healthy standard of life. That opportunity is here in this human form of life. If you want to cure this material disease and revive your healthy condition of eternal spiritual life, the opportunity is here. Therefore our only business in this human form of life is to cure this material disease, not to aggravate it. Disease should be cured, not to increase it. But at the present moment we are mad after increasing the disease. We are acting in such a way that we have to accept another body. That means material disease will continue.

So to live irresponsibly like cats and dogs is very risky life. Because so long we shall be engaged in the matter of sense gratification -- material life means sense gratification -- we shall increase our prolongation of repetition of birth and death. So this irresponsible life of eating, sleeping, sex life and defense like cats and dogs will not help us. Therefore... Because this kind of activities will oblige me to accept another body, and as soon as we accept another material body we become subjected to the stringent laws of material nature. And the material miserable conditions are summarized into four items: birth, death, old age and disease. So those who are not in knowledge of the spirit soul, they are very irresponsibly prolonging his life in material activities. Material science could not find out the spirit soul within the body because the magnitude, the dimension of the spirit soul, is very, very small. That is stated in Padma Purana,

balagra-sata-bhagasya
satadha kalpitasya ca
bhago jivah sa vijneyah
sa canantyaya kalpate

Balagra means the tip of your hair. Divide into ten thousand parts. That one part is the dimension of the soul. That is there within the body. So material science has no such instrument or perfection of study that they can see such a small particle. Therefore these foolish people say there is no soul, but the practical application -- the soul is there; therefore the consciousness is there; therefore the body is working in order. The soul is minus, the consciousness is minus -- this body is a lump of matter.

So we have to study this very intelligently. Then we'll understand that what is soul, what is the business of the soul, why the soul is entrapped in this bodily, material body, why there are so many varieties, body. This is a great science, and that science is explained in this Bhagavad-gita. Actually, at the present moment there is no education, because education means to understand my identity. The so-called education which is going on, that is called art. Of course, they also say, "B.A., M.A., Bachelor of Art, Master of Art." It is just learning an art only; it is not education. Just like an electrical electrician. He knows the art how to put the negative and positive wire and bring electricity. That is an art. But that electrician does not know what is the science of understanding soul. The modern education, they are simply giving lessons on some art, generally known as technology. So by that advancement of knowledge we can construct high skyscraper building, nice motorcar, nice airplane, nice machine. That is art. But we do not know what is going to happen next life, my soul. That we do not.

So this is the distinction between avidya and vidya. Vidya means knowledge, and avidya means ignorance. Suppose you construct a very nice skyscraper building and next life you become something -- you remain a rat in that house -- then what is your benefit? The soul has to accept a body according to his karma. If by karma he has to accept the body of a rat, it will not be excused by nature that "You have constructed skyscraper building; therefore you'll again come and live there." No, that is not possible. If by karma you are fit for becoming a rat or cat, nature will give you that body. On account of your high attraction of the skyscraper building you can remain there, a rat and cat, but you cannot enjoy anymore. Therefore every human being should be very intelligent that "What is going to happen, my next life?" and prepare for that because it is said..., avinasi tu tad viddhi: "That small particle is avinasi," means it is not going to die; the body is going to finish. Then if my next life, next body, becomes rat and cat, then what is the benefit I get by this skyscraper building I have constructed with so hard labor and perseverance? This is knowledge. If you simply become interested on this small span of life, say, fifty or sixty or hundred years, utmost, but if you neglect your eternal existence, is that intelligence? We are teaching that science, and the Bhagavad-gita is there. Take advantage of it.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]

Hrdayananda: (translating) ...therefore we can become rats. We take birth as that. So now, can we become Krsna consciousness right now?

Prabhupada: Yes, if you like, you can become immediately. If you like, you can become Krsna conscious immediately.

Guest: (Spanish) [break]

Hrdayananda: He would like to become Krsna conscious, only wants to know if you believe in God. (laughter)

Prabhupada: Hm? What is that?

Hrdayananda: He wants to know if you believe in God.

Prabhupada: I don't believe in God? You believe in God? [break] Why I'll not believe? If you can believe, I can believe also. It is not believing; it is fact. We are explaining the fact, how the existence of God is there. There is no question of believe or not believe; the fact is fact. Just like if there is fire, you believe or not believe; the fire is there. That I have already explained. The fire is there, and the heat and light is expanded. If there is smoke, you can understand there is fire. This is knowledge. It is not that you have to see the fire, but because there is smoke, you can understand fully that there is fire. Similarly, the whole cosmic manifestation is working in order. That is explained as heat and light. Therefore there is fire or God. There must be. So it is not the question of believe or not believe. Fact is fact. [break]

Hrdayananda: (translating) When we offer something to you, for example, your picture, he wants to know if the person, if, simply by his act of offering does he become purified, or if the spiritual master is actually aware of the offering.

Prabhupada: Offering? What is that offering?

Hrdayananda: For example, if we offer some food to you or if we just offer, for example, chanting, any activity we try to dedicate to you...

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. The spiritual master is the representative of God. Whatever you offer to the spiritual master, it goes to God. Just like the tax collector. He collects taxes, but it goes to the government. The spiritual master does not take anything for himself. Whatever you give, that is carried to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like in our movement we collect millions of dollars, but it goes for Krsna's service, for constructing temple, for providing the devotees, for publishing books, for spreading this knowledge, in so many ways, not personal expenditure. [break]

Hrdayananda: ...his point is that if the spiritual master is actually conscious of our activities.

Prabhupada: The spiritual master may not be conscious, but God is conscious, and through God he is also conscious.
Hrdayananda: [break] (translating) ...come a time when all these conditioned souls will become liberated?

Prabhupada: Immediately, if he accepts the principle. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You give up all your engagements. Simply surrender to Me." If one agrees to this principle, he becomes immediately liberated. And He says also, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah: "I shall give you protection from all reaction of sinful activities. Don't bother. Don't worry." So He immediately squares up all account if you surrender to Him. And if you don't commit again sinful life, then your life is successful.

Hrdayananda: (translating) When the devotees are chanting their rounds and when they think of their spiritual master they feel a type of ecstasy. So why are they feeling this ecstasy?

Prabhupada: That means spiritual standard. That feeling of ecstasy is required. That is spiritual standard. If he does not feel ecstasy, then there is still time to come to the point. That is very good qualification. [break] Generally not, but there is chance. Therefore we have said marginal. Marginal, we have got independence. You can fall down, but generally not fall down. [break]

Hanuman: How is that, that this world is unreal? Why do we say that there is good thing and bad thing in the world?

Prabhupada: We don't say unreal. It is temporary. But "good and bad," that is our creation. There is nothing good here. Because there is death, then where is good? If, after all your attempts, you die, then where is the good? So "good and bad," that is imagination. There is nothing good; everything is bad here. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.17 -- (with Spanish translator) -- Mexico, February 17, 1975