Everything Belongs To God

73/07/15 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.15

download  Players

 

Take a test

---

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
 [Bg. 1.15]

Translation: "Then Lord Krsna blew His conchshell named Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell named Paundram."

Prabhupada: So Vrkodara, Bhimasena, is advertised as voracious eater. But he can perform Herculean task also. Just like the elephant, it eats voraciously, but it gives service also. Similarly if we simply eat voraciously and we cannot give any service that is not good. We must eat sumptuously and give service also. In Bengali it is said that pete keli pithe soya (?). If one is given sufficient food in the belly, he can carry more burden on the back. So Bhima-karma, his activities were very Herculean, very, very, difficult tasks he performed.

So everyone is named here with his task. The first name is, Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. He is the master of the senses. Govinda. Go means senses. "Who gives pleasure to the senses." So Krsna has got many names, thousands, out of which, the Krsna name is chief, mukhya. That is described in Vedic literature. People say God has no name. That is right. He has no particular fixed name. But His names are there according to His different activities. Just like His name is Devaki-nandana. Because He accepted Devaki as His mother, therefore He is called Devaki-nandana. Similarly, He is called Nanda-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Vrajendra-nandana -- -in relationship with Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda, His foster father and mother. Similarly, He is sometimes named Partha-sarathi because He acted as the chariot driver of Arjuna. Arjuna's name is Partha. His mother's name is Prtha, Kunti's. From Prtha, his name is Partha. From his father's name, Pandu, his name is Pandava. So in this way big personalities or anyone, they should tally, the name should tally with the activities. This is nomenclature.
In the... According to Vedic civilization, after the birth of the child, there was name-giving ceremony, what kind of name. So that was calculated astrologically, that what kind of name he should be given, because the name should carry some meaning of the activities of his life. So Krsna is named here Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa, Krsna, in the fifteenth chapter is described that He gives direction to everyone. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma." Realization of the Absolute Truth are three features, Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
 [SB 1.2.11]

Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The same object. So the Brahman realization is impersonal realization. Just like the sun, the sun globe, and the sunshine. They are one, but the sunshine, realization of the sunshine, is not realization of the sun globe. Or realization of the sun globe is not realization of the sun god who is within the sun globe. Vivasvan. His name is Vivasvan. The present predominating Deity in the sun planet, his name is Vivasvan. And his son Manu is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So at the... This is very nice example, that the sunshine, the sun globe and the sun god. They are all one, but still, the sun globe is not the person, sun god; neither the sunshine is not the person sun, although they are one. This is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, inconceivably one and different simultaneously.

So Brahman realization is also God realization, but it is partial. The Supreme Lord is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. He is person. But He is not a person like us. He is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Vigraha means person. So He is person, Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Three features, realization of the Absolute. The first realization, imperfect realization, is impersonal Brahman. Further advanced realization -- Paramatma realization. And ultimate realization -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. These are the three stages.

So when He is Hrsikesa, it is His Paramatma feature. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
 [Bg. 18.61]

Isvara, the Supreme Lord, Krsna. Isvara means the Supreme, isvara means controller. But the supreme controller is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. Control everyone of us, we are controller. We control our family, our society, our business, our factory. There are different kinds of controller. So in that sense everyone is isvara, but different types of isvara. But the supreme isvara.... Supreme means nobody controls Him, but He controls everyone. That is Supreme. Here we are controller, but we are also controlled, somebody else, superior than me. Therefore we cannot be called supreme controller. Supreme controller is Krsna.

When Krsna was present on this planet, nobody could control Krsna, but He controlled everyone. Nobody could control Krsna. So therefore the great saintly persons, even Brahma, they have decided, that isvarah paramah krsnah: [Bs. 5.1] "The Supreme controller is Krsna." He controls even Brahma, adi-kavaye. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. Tene, He instructed Brahma sabda-brahma, Vedic knowledge, hrda, through heart. That is Hrsikesa. You can argue that "Brahma was the first creature within this universe. So how he could be instructed by somebody else?" No. The somebody else is always there within the heart, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa means controller. Sarvasya caham... Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya, in the fifteenth chapter, sarvasya ca aham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: [Bg. 15.15] "From Me, one remembers and one forgets also." Forgets also. If you want to forget Krsna, so Krsna will give you such intelligence that you will forget Him forever. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].

So the atheist class, demon class, they want to forget Krsna. So Krsna gives him such intelligence that he can speak of atheism so many volumes. But he is getting that intelligence from Krsna. Krsna gives everyone the chance that "Whatever you want to do, you can do. I will give you intelligence. So if you want to become atheist, then I will give you intelligence how to become first-class atheist, like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kamsa. And if you want to become devotee, then I will give you intelligence also in that way." Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection, tesam, not all, not all... Because not all, not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, "Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God." You are God. That's all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it.

So we may claim that "Every one of us, we are God," but nobody can claim that "We are supreme; I am Supreme God." That is not possible. That can, Krsna can claim only. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "My dear Dhananjaya, there is no more superior personality than Me." And He proved it. So God cannot be manufactured. God is God. Krsna, when He was three months old on the lap of His mother, still, He was God. He could kill the Putana. So God cannot be manufactured by so-called meditation and mystic power. You can get some of the insignificant powers of God, but simply, but you do not know how much powerful is God. That you do not know. Therefore when a person gets little power, he thinks that he has become God. He does not know how much powerful God is.

So therefore sastra says that "You may be god in your own atmosphere, in your own jurisdiction. You may think that you are God." And everyone thinks like that. "But the Supreme God is Krsna." Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Upanisads it is said that God is also a person like me, you. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). But His personality is different from your personality, from my personality. What is that difference? Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman: "He supplies all the necessities of all other personalities." That is the difference. God is supplying us food. This conception is there in the Bible, "God, give us our daily bread." This is nice. Accepting that you are getting all supplies from God, this is sukrti, this is punyavat.

If one, anyone says, "Oh, what God? We are creating our own food." Just like the Communist says. They are duskrtina, rascals. But if anyone even goes to the church and temple for asking something to God, he is pious. At least, he has approached God. So one day when he will be advanced devotee, he will not ask any more. He knows that "Why shall I bother God? He is supplying everyone food, so why shall I ask Him food? My food is also there. Let me serve Him." That is his higher intelligence. That is higher intelligence, that "Why shall I ask food from God? God is supplying food to the cats, dogs, ants, elephants, and I want little food, he will not supply me? And especially when I engage myself in His service? Ordinary man pays to his servant, and I shall starve if I am engaged in the service of God?" This is intelligence. This is intelligence. "Why shall I bother God? If He likes, I will starve. That doesn't matter. But I must engage myself in the service of the Lord." This is intelligence. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realization. It is not easily comes.

So there is no question of scarcity for devotee. Just like this morning I was discussing with a gentleman. So a devotee is not in need of everything. Why he should be? He cannot be. Even one who is not devotee, if he is getting supplies from God, how is it that the devotee will not get? Just like the government. The government, although there is prisonhouse, the government supplies the food. Not that because they have gone to the prisonhouse, they are starving. Rather, those who are unemployed, they prefer prisonhouse, that without any service, they will get free food.

So anyone within this material world, they are prisoners. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara, the Supreme Lord Krsna as Hrsikesa, He is sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma, and He is guiding. This is confirmed in the Vedas that two birds are sitting on one tree. These two birds, one is Krsna and another, the living entity, Paramatma and jivatma. The jivatma is eating the fruit, and Paramatma is simply becoming witness. Anumanta upadrasta. Paramatma is seeing, Hrsikesa is seeing that you are doing this. So we may forget what nuisance we had done in our last life, but Paramatma is there, witness; you have to get a body according to your work. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. You are working, that is being witnessed by the Paramatma. And He is also giving advice. Because we have forgotten Krsna, we have rebelled against Krsna. We want to act according to our whims.

Just like a child wants to do something according to his whims. Father checks him, "My dear child, do not do this." But if he likes, if he persists, father says, "All right, you do it." This is the position. The Hrsikesa, Paramatma, He is always guiding us, but we do not accept His guidance. This is our position. Arjuna has accepted Krsna, that "I shall be guided by You. Although You'll not fight." Therefore here it is said, Hrsikesa, He's guiding Arjuna. The hrsika means the senses. Hrsika-isa. Isa means Lord, master, isvara or isa. So Hrsikesa. Actually, He is the master of the senses. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find. In the Eleventh Chapter it is said, sarvatah pani-padam tat, "God has His hands and legs all over the universe." What is that? This, our hand, our legs, this is God's hands, God's leg. He is the master. I am claiming, "This is my hand," but as soon as God withdraws the power of your hand, it is paralyzed, you cannot repair. Therefore the real proprietor is Krsna. You are not proprietor. You have been given the facility to use it, for..., use it not for your sense gratification, but for the satisfaction of the Lord. Then your life is perfect. Because the things belongs to Krsna. He is Hrsikesa. He is the master. Just like we are sitting in this house. Somebody has given us. Similarly, everything belongs to God. This is self-realization. My body belongs to God, my mind belongs to God, my intelligence belongs to God, I am spirit soul, I am part and parcel of God. Therefore everything belongs to...Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God. So if you don't use it for God, that is called demonism. And if you use it for God, that is devotion. That's all.

One must realize that "Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to me. Even this body is given to me by God. "Why a different body? The different body is... God gives us different body according to our karma. That is explained. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. How we get a different type of body? We have got different types of body. Because according to our past karma, we have created a certain type of body and now we have entered into that body and working according to past karma.

The Christian theologicians, they do not believe in the karma. I was student in Christian college, Scottish Churches College. So in our younger days, the Professor, Dr. W.S. Urquhart. So I heard his lecture, that he did not believe in the karmas. He said that "If I am suffering or enjoying for my last karma, who is the witness? Because some witness must be there that I have done this." But at that time we were not very expert. But this Hrsikesa is the witness, anumanta upadrasta. Upadrasta. He is simply seeing. So the Christians, they have no Paramatma idea. Sometimes they say holy ghost. Means a clear idea. But this Hrsikesa is clear idea. Hrsikesa. Hrsika-isa.

So this bhakti, devotional path, is meant for satisfying the master of the senses. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Hrsikena, by your senses, when you serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Narada-pancaratra. So that is our business. We should under... That is self-realization. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to us. This is Bhagavata communism. As the communists, they say, "Everything belongs to the state," we say "Everything belongs to God." We never say that anything belongs to anyone. No. This is Bhagavata communism. So everything belongs to God. So one can utilize God's property as much as he requires, not more than that. Then he will be thief, he will be punishable. Just like father's property. Each and every son has got the right to live at the father's protection. Ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. That is spiritual communism. Whatever wealth is there within this universe, all belong to God, and we are, as sons of God, we have got right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. That's all. This is spiritual communism. If you take more, then you become punishable. This is the law of nature.

Therefore our aim of life should be to understand that every..., to know... This is self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. This is self-realization. I also belong to God. My, this body made of five elements, gross body... Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], earth, water, fire, air, sky. This is gross body. And subtle body, kham mano buddhir eva, mind, intelligence, ego. These eight. Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These eight kind of prakrti, they are My energy. They are My energy." So this whole universe is creation of Krsna's material energy.

We are marginal energy of Krsna. So we are now put into this material energy because we wanted to enjoy this material world. In the spiritual world the only enjoyer is Krsna, either in spiritual or material world, He is the only enjoyer. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. "I am the enjoyer." So this is to be understood, that He is the supreme enjoyer. He is also enjoyer of My energy. Because my energy is derived from Krsna's energy. Just like master and servant. The master is paying him food, anything for comforts. He is getting energy. So how the energy should be utilized? For the master, not for his sense gratification. This is perfection of life. You produce anything by your energy, but you cannot use it for your sense gratification. Then you become perfect. And if you want to do it, then Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, will give you intelligence how to do it. Just like He is giving Arjuna intelligence. Therefore He is mentioned as Hrsikesa. How to win victory? How to utilize his energy for Krsna? Krsna wanted the battle. Arjuna was a military man. He utilized his military strength for Krsna's purposes. That is the perfection of life.

So whatever you have got, if you utilize it for Krsna's sake, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhakti [Cc. Madhya 19.170], that is bhakti. Even by fighting, you can be a great devotee, just like Arjuna. He was not chanting on the beads, but he was fighting. But still, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me. Krsna says, "Oh, you are My great devotee." Now people, may say that "He was not chanting. He was fighting. How he became a great devotee?" But Krsna says, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me: "You are My dear friend. You are My devotee. Because you are utilizing your energy for Me." So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krsna. Then your life is perfect. Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 -- London, July 15, 1973

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Servant - What Loss

Servant - What Loss

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.108-109
New York, July 15, 1976

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Devotee:

jivera 'svarupa' haya-krsnera nitya-dasa
krsnera 'tatastha-sakti', bhedabheda-prakasa
 [Cc. Madhya 20.108]

suryamsa-kirana yaiche agni-jvala-caya
(svabhavika) krsnera tina-prakara 'sakti' haya

Prabhupada: So Caitanya Mahaprabhu begins his instruction to Sanatana Gosvami because he's the appropriate person to understand. In the previous verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has asserted,

yogya-patra hao tumi bhakti pravartaite
krame saba tattva suna, kahiye tomate

So the philosophy is very simple, but unless one is fit or appropriate person, he cannot understand. No. So in the material world we are materially diseased; therefore it is very difficult for us to understand this Krsna consciousness philosophy. Otherwise it is very simple thing. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera 'svarupa' haya krsnera nitya-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Very simple thing. Everyone, even a child can understand that we are, our svarupa, our constitutional position, is that we are servant of God, Krsna. But the material world is so bewildering that everyone is thinking that "I am master of everyone." This is the disease. "I am the monarch of all I survey." There is an English poetry. Everyone is thinking. Why this is so much struggle in this New York City? Because now there is Presidential election, so everyone is thinking, "If I could become the President." That is everyone's desire. But those who are not so fit, they do not stand for election, but those who are little fit, so they stand, make competition, "I am the President." If you are President, why you require election? The simple truth. If you are actually President, then why do you depend on other's vote? You become President. No. Artificial President. Simply by votes he is President. Actually he is not; he is the servant of the voters, but he's thinking, "I am President." This is called maya. Everyone is servant of Krsna. He's servant. Every one of us, we are servant. So take this example. Actually the President means the servant of the voters, and as soon as the voters do not like him... Just like Nixon is drawn back.

So nobody can be master. That is not possible. You'll find in this instruction, ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya [Cc. Adi 5.142]. Only Krsna is the master, and everyone is servant. This is our position, actual. But artificially we are trying to become master. That is struggle for existence. We are trying for something which we are not. We know this word, "struggle for existence," "survival of the fittest." So this is struggle. We are not master; still, we are trying to become master. The Mayavada philosophy, they also undergo severe type of austerities, penances, but what is the idea? The idea is that "I shall become one with God." Same mistake. Same mistake. He's not God, but he is trying to become God. Even though he has performed so much severe austerities, vairagya, renunciation, everything... Sometimes they give up everything of material enjoyment, go to the forest, undergo severe type of penances. What is the idea? "Now I shall become one with God." The same mistake.

So maya is very strong, that these mistakes continue even one is very advanced so-called spiritually. No. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu touches the main point immediately with His instruction. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy. Where Krsna says the last word, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja.. [Bg. 18.66]. He is talking on the position; He is Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is asking, demanding, "You rascal, give up everything. Just surrender to Me. Then you'll be happy." This is the last instruction of Bhagavad-gita. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the same Krsna but acting as devotee of Krsna; therefore He is speaking the same thing. Krsna said, "You surrender," and Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "Every living entity is the servant of Krsna." That means he must surrender. Servant's business is to surrender, not to argue with the master or to claim that "I am equal with you." These are all fanatic, mad proposal.

pisaci paile yena mati-cchanna haya
maya-grasta jivera se dasa upajaya

A servant cannot become master. That is not possible. But as soon as... As long as we shall persist on this wrong conception of life, that "I am not master; I am servant," er, "I am not servant; I am master," then he will suffer. The maya will give him suffering. Daivi hy esa. Just like outlaws, rogues and thieves, they defy government order: "I don't care for government." But that means he voluntarily accepts suffering. He has to take care of government law. If he does not ordinarily take care, outlaw, then he'll be put into the prison house and by force, by beating, by punishment, he has to accept: "Yes, yes, I accept."

So this is maya. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. We are under the rulings of the maya. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Why? Because we are declaring master. Servant is declaring to become master; therefore suffering. And as soon as we accept that "I am not master; I am servant," then there is no suffering. Very simple philosophy. That is mukti. Mukti means just come to the right platform. That is mukti. Mukti is defined in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, muktir hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih [SB 2.10.6]. Mukti means to give up this nonsense business, anyatha. He is servant, but he's thinking master. That is ankatha (?), just the opposite. So when he gives up this opposite conception of life that he is master, then he is mukti; he's liberated immediately. Mukti does not take so much time that you have to undergo so much severe austerities and go to the jungle and go to the Himalaya and meditate and press your nose and so many things. It doesn't require so many things. Simply you understand plain thing, that "I am servant of Krsna" -- you are mukta immediately. That is the definition of mukti given in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Muktir hitva anyatha rupam svarupena avasthitih. Just like even a criminal in the prison house, if he becomes submissive that "Henceforward I shall be law-abiding. I then shall obey the government laws very obediently," then sometimes he is released prematurely on account of giving a declaration.

So we can become immediately liberated from this prison house of material existence if we accept this teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. And therefore so many arrangement. We are having Krsna Deity here, and every one of us, we are engaged as servant. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-mar janadau **. Somebody is engaged in cleansing the temple. All servant, we are. Somebody is engaged in dressing the Deity. Somebody is engaged in preparing nice foodstuff for Deity. Somebody is making flower garlands. Somebody is going to distribute literature to make people understand the glories of Krsna. So in this way Krsna consciousness movement means everyone is engaged cent percent to become servant of Krsna. So those who are sincerely engaged in the service of the Lord, they are all liberated. They are all liberated. The Mayavadis who are trying to become liberated in so many ways, mystic yoga practice and austere penances, and so on, so on, so on, so on... You can get that liberty immediately, simply by engaging yourself in some service of Krsna. Immediately. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even little service you give, it is your permanent asset. Even if you fall down from that service platform, still, whatever you have done, it will never go in vain. As soon as there is opportunity, again you shall begin from that point where you left. Therefore everyone... Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam hareh [SB 1.5.17]. There is a verse spoken by Narada Muni, that even by sentiment, not understanding properly the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, even by sentiment -- "All right, let me also dance and chant like these people, the saffron-colored, shaved-head people are doing. Let me do that" -- so once dancing with them will never go in vain. It will (be) immediately accounted, "Ah, he has danced." It is so nice. It will never go in vain. Then these children are dancing. Don't think it is spoiling time. Everything is recorded. This you will find in the, our Nectar of Devotion. You'll find. Rupa Gosvami... It will never go in vain. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Bhaktivinoda Thakura also sings, keno mayar bose, yaccho bhese', khaccha habudubhu bhai, jiv krsna-das, ei visvas, korle to' ar duhkha nai. Everyone is being washed away by the big waves of the ocean of nescience, but if he simply accepts, "No, I am Krsna dasa. I am not master. I am not God. I am simply a servant..." And the more you become servant of the servant, more you are perfect. Not directly servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This is perfection. Don't try to become directly Krsna dasa. Krsna's servant, his servant, his servant, his servants -- you come down to the hundredth point of servant; then you are perfection.

tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vas
janame janame mora ei abhilas

Narottama dasa Thakura said, "Let me become the servant of the servant and live with devotees [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. That is my desire."

So this Krsna consciousness movement is that let us live amongst devotees. Why we are struggling to get so many centers open? Because devotees will live there, follow the regulative principles according to the instruction of the sastra and spiritual master, guided by, and people will get chance. As soon as one comes in this society of devotee, he'll get some opportunity. And svalpam apy asya... That is meant. Even by sentiment one comes... Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam hareh [SB 1.5.17]. The Narada Muni said, "Even by sentiments, one gives up his occupational duty, so-called occupational duty, and surrenders to Krsna, even not understanding fully..." So sastra says, "What is the loss there?" And if one is performing one's material duties very perfectly, then what is gain there? He's simply wasting time. And a devotee, even by sentiment or whimsically comes in this center and gives some service, that is a permanent record. And these karmis, although they are acting very sincerely, but there is no guarantee what is the next life. He may become a dog. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and tyaktva deham... Or what is that? Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. These will be dehantara, change of this body. The body will be finished, everyone knows, but body being finished, you are not finished; nobody is finished. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Then he has to accept another body. So if we do not work according to the rules and regulation of nature, then we have to accept another body, and we do not know what kind of body you are going to accept. But it will be a gift by nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani [Bg. 3.27]. Eh? Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. So they do not know these things, the rascal civilization. Just like dancing like dog, that's all. This is rascal civilization. They have no responsibility of life, and dancing like dog. No. The Krsna consciousness movement is very scientific movement. Everyone should try to understand. If he wants to understand through science, through philosophy, through logic -- in any way -- through religion, through culture -- anyway he wants to understand, we have got volumes of books. Try to understand. It is not a bluff. It is all scientific. So either you accept as Krsna, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, that jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa... [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. If you immediately accept the words of, accept the words of Krsna-sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66] -- that is very good. But if you are very learned philosopher, scientist, then read books. Both ways we have prepared to convince you.

So,

jivera svarupa haya krsnera nitya-dasa
krsnera tatastha-sakti bhedabheda-prakasa
 [Cc. Madhya 20.108]

Bhedabheda-prakasa. Bheda means difference, and abheda means one. Two philosophies are going on. The Mayavadis, they say, "We are the same." So 'ham: "I am the same." Aham brahmasmi: "I am the Supreme Brahman." But the Vedic literature says, aham brahmasmi, but Krsna, or God, is Param Brahman. In the Vedas there is no such thing as aham param brahmasmi. No. They are misusing. The... Instead of understanding... Brahman, every one of us, we are Brahman. There is no doubt about it. But unfortunately, by mistake, by illusion, I am thinking, "I am this body." So spiritual education means first of all one has to understand that aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman. I am not this body." That is the beginning of spiritual education.

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

One has to become first of all... Not become. Just to understand one has to come to the platform of Brahman. Then spiritual education begins.

brahma-bhutah prasannatma
nasocati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param

So bhakti is not very ordinary thing. It begins after one is liberated. The Mayavadi says that "By bhakti one can become one with God." No. That is not bhakti. That is Mayavada. That is mistake. Bhakti means to understand that "I am eternal servant of Krsna." This conviction is possible when one is brahma-bhutah. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati. Brahma-bhuta means "I am part and parcel of Krsna," as it is said, suryamsa-kirana, yaiche agni-jvala-caya, svabhavika krsnera... Oh... When one understands this, that "I am... My position is eternal servant," that is brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20]. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Then undoubtedly he becomes immediately jubilant, that "Now I have got my real master to serve. I am serving so many, I mean, items, in the family, in the society, in the community, in the nation. But I could not be satisfied. Neither I am..., persons to whom I have given my service, they are also not satisfied." This is wrong service. Nobody is satisfied. The so-called master is not satisfied, and the so-called servant is not satisfied. The so-called servant means that "Unless you pay me, I am not going to serve you." Strike. "I am your master. You pay me. Then I shall serve you." So nobody is servant actually. Everyone wants to become master, either collectively or individually. That is maya. This is material world. And when one understands that he is not a master -- he is servant -- and the real master is Krsna, that is liberation.

So bhedabheda-prakasa. So the living entity is simultaneously one and different. The two philosophies are going on. One philosophy, Mayavada, aham brahmasmi, miscalculation, so 'ham -- this is to become one. And another philosophy, Vaisnava philosophy -- that we are different. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that both are true. Bhedabheda-prakasa. A living entity is one with God and is as different from God. Bhedabheda-prakasa. One? How one? Because Krsna says that "Living entities are My part and parcel." Just like this hand, this finger, is part and parcel of my body, so therefore it is one. But the finger is not the whole body. Different. It is very simple thing. Bhedabheda-prakasa. Anyone can understand. The finger... The tree... Just like the leaf, the twigs, the flowers, the fruits. They are all tree. But at the same time, it is not tree; it is leaf, it is branch, it is twig, it is flower. It is very simple philosophy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained, tatastha-sakti, marginal. Marginal means the living entity has to become servant. That is his position. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. But when the servant wants to become master, he is under the clutches of maya. And when he understands that "I am not master; I am servant," he is under Krsna. That is tatastha. Tatastha means marginal. That tata... Tata means the beach. Sometimes the beach is covered with water, and sometimes it is land. That is called tatastha. So that land, sometimes water.

So when we accept Krsna as our master, then we are in the Vaikuntha planet. And when we do not accept... That propensity we have got, sometimes by forgetfulness or sometimes by willingly. By forgetfulness if we think that "I am master," that is also mistake. And willingly, if we reply, "Why shall I serve Krsna? Let me become Krsna," this Mayavada philosophy, "Let me become God..." So all these things are maya. Real position to become... Not become. We are. But to become sane. Now, in madness, we are talking all this nonsense that "I am one with God. I am God." We have to be treated. This treatment is Krsna consciousness. By hearing, by chanting -- ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12] -- all the mistakes within our the core of our heart is dispel... Then we come to the understanding. Then,

suryamsa-kirana, yaiche agni-jvala-caya
svabhavika krsnera tina-prakara sakti haya

Now, we are grouped under the tatastha-sakti, and there are other two potencies, or energies. That is called spiritual energy and material energy, the spiritual world and material world. We have got experience of the material world not completely. We do not know even what are going on in the whole material world. We see the universe. We see at night so many stars and planets, but we have no idea. So we do not know even what is this material world perfectly, and what to speak of spiritual world. But the spiritual world is there, as there is this material world, and the living entity belongs to the spiritual world. Actually he belongs to the spiritual world. By chance or some way he has come to the material world. So when he goes back again to the spiritual world, then he gets his normal condition of life. Unfortunately, in the modern education there is no information of the spiritual world, the spiritual identity, and go on, our relationship with God -- nothing. Simply they are working like cats and dogs under the influence of maya and the suffering. To stop this suffering, one must take to Krsna consciousness and understand the position of his life and be perfect.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.108-109 -- New York, July 15, 1976

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Everything Belongs To God"

73/07/15 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.15



Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
[Bg. 1.15]

Translation: "Then Lord Krsna blew His conchshell named Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell named Paundram."

Prabhupada: So Vrkodara, Bhimasena, is advertised as voracious eater. But he can perform Herculean task also. Just like the elephant, it eats voraciously, but it gives service also. Similarly if we simply eat voraciously and we cannot give any service that is not good. We must eat sumptuously and give service also. In Bengali it is said that pete keli pithe soya (?). If one is given sufficient food in the belly, he can carry more burden on the back. So Bhima-karma, his activities were very Herculean, very, very, difficult tasks he performed.

So everyone is named here with his task. The first name is, Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. He is the master of the senses. Govinda. Go means senses. "Who gives pleasure to the senses." So Krsna has got many names, thousands, out of which, the Krsna name is chief, mukhya. That is described in Vedic literature. People say God has no name. That is right. He has no particular fixed name. But His names are there according to His different activities. Just like His name is Devaki-nandana. Because He accepted Devaki as His mother, therefore He is called Devaki-nandana. Similarly, He is called Nanda-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Vrajendra-nandana -- -in relationship with Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda, His foster father and mother. Similarly, He is sometimes named Partha-sarathi because He acted as the chariot driver of Arjuna. Arjuna's name is Partha. His mother's name is Prtha, Kunti's. From Prtha, his name is Partha. From his father's name, Pandu, his name is Pandava. So in this way big personalities or anyone, they should tally, the name should tally with the activities. This is nomenclature.
In the... According to Vedic civilization, after the birth of the child, there was name-giving ceremony, what kind of name. So that was calculated astrologically, that what kind of name he should be given, because the name should carry some meaning of the activities of his life. So Krsna is named here Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa, Krsna, in the fifteenth chapter is described that He gives direction to everyone. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma." Realization of the Absolute Truth are three features, Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]

Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The same object. So the Brahman realization is impersonal realization. Just like the sun, the sun globe, and the sunshine. They are one, but the sunshine, realization of the sunshine, is not realization of the sun globe. Or realization of the sun globe is not realization of the sun god who is within the sun globe. Vivasvan. His name is Vivasvan. The present predominating Deity in the sun planet, his name is Vivasvan. And his son Manu is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So at the... This is very nice example, that the sunshine, the sun globe and the sun god. They are all one, but still, the sun globe is not the person, sun god; neither the sunshine is not the person sun, although they are one. This is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, inconceivably one and different simultaneously.

So Brahman realization is also God realization, but it is partial. The Supreme Lord is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. He is person. But He is not a person like us. He is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Vigraha means person. So He is person, Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Three features, realization of the Absolute. The first realization, imperfect realization, is impersonal Brahman. Further advanced realization -- Paramatma realization. And ultimate realization -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. These are the three stages.

So when He is Hrsikesa, it is His Paramatma feature. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
[Bg. 18.61]

Isvara, the Supreme Lord, Krsna. Isvara means the Supreme, isvara means controller. But the supreme controller is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. Control everyone of us, we are controller. We control our family, our society, our business, our factory. There are different kinds of controller. So in that sense everyone is isvara, but different types of isvara. But the supreme isvara.... Supreme means nobody controls Him, but He controls everyone. That is Supreme. Here we are controller, but we are also controlled, somebody else, superior than me. Therefore we cannot be called supreme controller. Supreme controller is Krsna.

When Krsna was present on this planet, nobody could control Krsna, but He controlled everyone. Nobody could control Krsna. So therefore the great saintly persons, even Brahma, they have decided, that isvarah paramah krsnah: [Bs. 5.1] "The Supreme controller is Krsna." He controls even Brahma, adi-kavaye. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. Tene, He instructed Brahma sabda-brahma, Vedic knowledge, hrda, through heart. That is Hrsikesa. You can argue that "Brahma was the first creature within this universe. So how he could be instructed by somebody else?" No. The somebody else is always there within the heart, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa means controller. Sarvasya caham... Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya, in the fifteenth chapter, sarvasya ca aham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: [Bg. 15.15] "From Me, one remembers and one forgets also." Forgets also. If you want to forget Krsna, so Krsna will give you such intelligence that you will forget Him forever. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].

So the atheist class, demon class, they want to forget Krsna. So Krsna gives him such intelligence that he can speak of atheism so many volumes. But he is getting that intelligence from Krsna. Krsna gives everyone the chance that "Whatever you want to do, you can do. I will give you intelligence. So if you want to become atheist, then I will give you intelligence how to become first-class atheist, like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kamsa. And if you want to become devotee, then I will give you intelligence also in that way." Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection, tesam, not all, not all... Because not all, not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, "Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God." You are God. That's all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it.

So we may claim that "Every one of us, we are God," but nobody can claim that "We are supreme; I am Supreme God." That is not possible. That can, Krsna can claim only. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "My dear Dhananjaya, there is no more superior personality than Me." And He proved it. So God cannot be manufactured. God is God. Krsna, when He was three months old on the lap of His mother, still, He was God. He could kill the Putana. So God cannot be manufactured by so-called meditation and mystic power. You can get some of the insignificant powers of God, but simply, but you do not know how much powerful is God. That you do not know. Therefore when a person gets little power, he thinks that he has become God. He does not know how much powerful God is.

So therefore sastra says that "You may be god in your own atmosphere, in your own jurisdiction. You may think that you are God." And everyone thinks like that. "But the Supreme God is Krsna." Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Upanisads it is said that God is also a person like me, you. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). But His personality is different from your personality, from my personality. What is that difference? Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman: "He supplies all the necessities of all other personalities." That is the difference. God is supplying us food. This conception is there in the Bible, "God, give us our daily bread." This is nice. Accepting that you are getting all supplies from God, this is sukrti, this is punyavat.

If one, anyone says, "Oh, what God? We are creating our own food." Just like the Communist says. They are duskrtina, rascals. But if anyone even goes to the church and temple for asking something to God, he is pious. At least, he has approached God. So one day when he will be advanced devotee, he will not ask any more. He knows that "Why shall I bother God? He is supplying everyone food, so why shall I ask Him food? My food is also there. Let me serve Him." That is his higher intelligence. That is higher intelligence, that "Why shall I ask food from God? God is supplying food to the cats, dogs, ants, elephants, and I want little food, he will not supply me? And especially when I engage myself in His service? Ordinary man pays to his servant, and I shall starve if I am engaged in the service of God?" This is intelligence. This is intelligence. "Why shall I bother God? If He likes, I will starve. That doesn't matter. But I must engage myself in the service of the Lord." This is intelligence. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realization. It is not easily comes.

So there is no question of scarcity for devotee. Just like this morning I was discussing with a gentleman. So a devotee is not in need of everything. Why he should be? He cannot be. Even one who is not devotee, if he is getting supplies from God, how is it that the devotee will not get? Just like the government. The government, although there is prisonhouse, the government supplies the food. Not that because they have gone to the prisonhouse, they are starving. Rather, those who are unemployed, they prefer prisonhouse, that without any service, they will get free food.

So anyone within this material world, they are prisoners. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara, the Supreme Lord Krsna as Hrsikesa, He is sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma, and He is guiding. This is confirmed in the Vedas that two birds are sitting on one tree. These two birds, one is Krsna and another, the living entity, Paramatma and jivatma. The jivatma is eating the fruit, and Paramatma is simply becoming witness. Anumanta upadrasta. Paramatma is seeing, Hrsikesa is seeing that you are doing this. So we may forget what nuisance we had done in our last life, but Paramatma is there, witness; you have to get a body according to your work. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. You are working, that is being witnessed by the Paramatma. And He is also giving advice. Because we have forgotten Krsna, we have rebelled against Krsna. We want to act according to our whims.

Just like a child wants to do something according to his whims. Father checks him, "My dear child, do not do this." But if he likes, if he persists, father says, "All right, you do it." This is the position. The Hrsikesa, Paramatma, He is always guiding us, but we do not accept His guidance. This is our position. Arjuna has accepted Krsna, that "I shall be guided by You. Although You'll not fight." Therefore here it is said, Hrsikesa, He's guiding Arjuna. The hrsika means the senses. Hrsika-isa. Isa means Lord, master, isvara or isa. So Hrsikesa. Actually, He is the master of the senses. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find. In the Eleventh Chapter it is said, sarvatah pani-padam tat, "God has His hands and legs all over the universe." What is that? This, our hand, our legs, this is God's hands, God's leg. He is the master. I am claiming, "This is my hand," but as soon as God withdraws the power of your hand, it is paralyzed, you cannot repair. Therefore the real proprietor is Krsna. You are not proprietor. You have been given the facility to use it, for..., use it not for your sense gratification, but for the satisfaction of the Lord. Then your life is perfect. Because the things belongs to Krsna. He is Hrsikesa. He is the master. Just like we are sitting in this house. Somebody has given us. Similarly, everything belongs to God. This is self-realization. My body belongs to God, my mind belongs to God, my intelligence belongs to God, I am spirit soul, I am part and parcel of God. Therefore everything belongs to...Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God. So if you don't use it for God, that is called demonism. And if you use it for God, that is devotion. That's all.

One must realize that "Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to me. Even this body is given to me by God. "Why a different body? The different body is... God gives us different body according to our karma. That is explained. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. How we get a different type of body? We have got different types of body. Because according to our past karma, we have created a certain type of body and now we have entered into that body and working according to past karma.

The Christian theologicians, they do not believe in the karma. I was student in Christian college, Scottish Churches College. So in our younger days, the Professor, Dr. W.S. Urquhart. So I heard his lecture, that he did not believe in the karmas. He said that "If I am suffering or enjoying for my last karma, who is the witness? Because some witness must be there that I have done this." But at that time we were not very expert. But this Hrsikesa is the witness, anumanta upadrasta. Upadrasta. He is simply seeing. So the Christians, they have no Paramatma idea. Sometimes they say holy ghost. Means a clear idea. But this Hrsikesa is clear idea. Hrsikesa. Hrsika-isa.

So this bhakti, devotional path, is meant for satisfying the master of the senses. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Hrsikena, by your senses, when you serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Narada-pancaratra. So that is our business. We should under... That is self-realization. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to us. This is Bhagavata communism. As the communists, they say, "Everything belongs to the state," we say "Everything belongs to God." We never say that anything belongs to anyone. No. This is Bhagavata communism. So everything belongs to God. So one can utilize God's property as much as he requires, not more than that. Then he will be thief, he will be punishable. Just like father's property. Each and every son has got the right to live at the father's protection. Ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. That is spiritual communism. Whatever wealth is there within this universe, all belong to God, and we are, as sons of God, we have got right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. That's all. This is spiritual communism. If you take more, then you become punishable. This is the law of nature.

Therefore our aim of life should be to understand that every..., to know... This is self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. This is self-realization. I also belong to God. My, this body made of five elements, gross body... Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], earth, water, fire, air, sky. This is gross body. And subtle body, kham mano buddhir eva, mind, intelligence, ego. These eight. Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These eight kind of prakrti, they are My energy. They are My energy." So this whole universe is creation of Krsna's material energy.

We are marginal energy of Krsna. So we are now put into this material energy because we wanted to enjoy this material world. In the spiritual world the only enjoyer is Krsna, either in spiritual or material world, He is the only enjoyer. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. "I am the enjoyer." So this is to be understood, that He is the supreme enjoyer. He is also enjoyer of My energy. Because my energy is derived from Krsna's energy. Just like master and servant. The master is paying him food, anything for comforts. He is getting energy. So how the energy should be utilized? For the master, not for his sense gratification. This is perfection of life. You produce anything by your energy, but you cannot use it for your sense gratification. Then you become perfect. And if you want to do it, then Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, will give you intelligence how to do it. Just like He is giving Arjuna intelligence. Therefore He is mentioned as Hrsikesa. How to win victory? How to utilize his energy for Krsna? Krsna wanted the battle. Arjuna was a military man. He utilized his military strength for Krsna's purposes. That is the perfection of life.

So whatever you have got, if you utilize it for Krsna's sake, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhakti [Cc. Madhya 19.170], that is bhakti. Even by fighting, you can be a great devotee, just like Arjuna. He was not chanting on the beads, but he was fighting. But still, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me. Krsna says, "Oh, you are My great devotee." Now people, may say that "He was not chanting. He was fighting. How he became a great devotee?" But Krsna says, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me: "You are My dear friend. You are My devotee. Because you are utilizing your energy for Me." So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krsna. Then your life is perfect. Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 -- London, July 15, 1973