Relief From Today's Hell

73/07/29 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.41-42

download  Players

 

Take a test

---

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

sankaro narakayaiva
kula-ghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy esam
lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
 [Bg. 1.41]

Translation: "When there is increase of unwanted population, a hellish situation is created both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. In such corrupt families, there is no offering of oblations of food and water to the ancestors."

Prabhupada: Sankaro narakayaiva. When there are unwanted children, then the family tradition, the family obligation, they are all forgotten. At the present moment, nobody knows that after death there is life, and still such life is connected with the family, the forefathers and the descendants. Nothing of this science is known at the present moment. More or less, exactly like animals. That's all. An animal has no such feelings of connections. Simply the number of days he will eat. He will eat, sleep, have sex life and die, that's all. This subtle regulation of family connection is unknown at the present moment, and still they are very proud of advancement of knowledge. So unwanted children, as we have discussed in the previous...

 

Pradusyanti kula-striyah. If the woman, kula-striyah, family... Family woman and prostitute are different. Still in India, the uncontrolled woman, or there is a class of prostitutes. They are not family women. But kula-striyah, family women, they have got so many obligations. There is a verse that svargapta-kama-moksaya dhara samprati hetuta. Dhara means wife. Wife can help one to be elevated to the heavenly planets, and dharmartha-kama, to become helpful in the matter of advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge: dharma; artha, economic development; kama, satisfying the husband for sense gratification; dharma artha kama; and moksa also, also for salvation. The wife is so important. If there is chaste wife, she can help the husband in these four principles of life, dharma artha kama moksa, dhara samprati hetuta. If we can train up nice wife, or the society trains the girls to become nice wife, she becomes a great source of energy to the husband. Dharma-artha-kama-moksah dhara sampra.... And if they are polluted, they become source of the sankara, varna-sankara.

The exact example of varna-sankara is the hippies at the present moment. All over the world, not only in the Western countries but in India also. So the population, hippie population means sankara population. So increase of such population means narakayaiva, naraka, hellish, hellish condition of life in this life, also in the next life. At that time, to live, actually we have practically seen in recent years, especially in Calcutta, it has become a hellish life. The population, the younger generation, is so polluted, so contaminated, that you cannot safely walk in the street. Anywhere, the young boys they can encircle you and rob you. You cannot say on. The police cannot help, the government cannot help. So these unwanted children, without being trained up in the varnasrama system, they become the cause of hellish life in this life also after death. After death according to Vedic regulations, pinda-udaka, pinda, offering Visnu prasada and water at least once in a year it is required by the family members. And according to Vedic culture, there is one month fixed up in a year when all people will offer pinda and udaka to the forefathers. Tarpana, tarpana. Week or fortnight, for one fortnight. So the idea is that if the forefather in the family has not achieved a proper life... Sometimes due to sinful activities, too much attachment, a man becomes ghost. Ghost, there is ghosts. Bhuta preta pisaca. Not only this life, demonic life, but after death also, there are ghostly lives. They do not get this gross body. They remain in the subtle body, mind, intelligence, and ego. Due to their gross sinful life, they are punished by not getting a gross life. Because without getting a gross life, we cannot enjoy. With mind, I cannot enjoy rasagulla. I must have the tongue, I must have the hand, fingers, I can pick up, then... In the mind, I may think of eating or collecting rasagulla, but actually I do not get the taste. So gross body is required, because every living entity in this material world, they have come to enjoy. Krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare pasate maya tare japatiya dhare. This is the beginning of our material life. When we forget to render service to Krsna, immediately we get a material body offered by the material nature.

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

So this gross body is required for enjoyment. Spirit, spiritual body is also very subtle, and the astral body, or subtle body, is also very subtle. The gross body required. So on account of one's severe sinful life, he does not get this gross body. Therefore the lupta-pindodaka-kriya. Taking for granted that some of my forefathers have become ghostly life and has not got the gross body, so by this pindodaka... Pinda means offering prasada of Visnu prasada. Still in India there is a place Gaya. There is Visnu temple, and it is a custom all Hindus... Nowadays, they do not go. They do not believe even. They have given up everything. Due to unwanted children, they don't care for it, what is family, what is pinda-udaka. Simply eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy, that's all. But you see 5000 years, Arjuna... Arjuna was not a brahmana, neither a sannyasi. A grhastha, householder, and a, in royal order. He's on the battlefield. He's not a Vedantist. But just see how his knowledge is perfect. This is Vedic culture. One may not be a brahmana. Brahmana is very advanced. Satya sama dama titiksa. But even ksatriyas, they are also so advanced, so advanced we can see that he is hearing Bhagavad-gita from Krsna in the battlefield. How much time you can spare in the battlefield? The talk took place between the two soldiers when he was just going to throw his arrow. Sastra sampate. Just we going to... He became very compassionate: "Krsna, I have to kill my own kinsmen." And he's describing. He's describing, "What kind of sinful activities I am going to do." So just try to understand how much people were advanced. These Bhagavad-gita talks took place between Krsna and Arjuna in the battlefield just on the verge of his beginning the battle. So how much time he could spare? Utmost, half an hour. Not more than that. So within half an hour, this Bhagavad-gita was taught to Arjuna, and he could understand it, and then he agreed to fight. Yes, nasto mohah smrtir labdha, karisye vacanam tava. [Bg. 18.73] How much advanced he was in education and learning, just imagine. At the present moment they are reading Bhagavad-gita years after years, big, big scholars, big, big theologians and... But they cannot understand. After reading Bhagavad-gita, they are accusing Krsna as immoral. One professor in Oxford University, he is a student or professor of Bhagavad-gita, has written book. Now his conclusion is that Krsna is immoral. That means he could not understand Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita cannot be understood by any demon or third-class man. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna said to Arjuna that: "I am speaking to you the same Bhagavad-gita, science of God, which I spoke millions of years ago to the sun-god, because the parampara is lost and I have picked up you because bhakto 'si me priyo 'si, you are very dear friend and bhakta."

So Bhagavad-gita is not meant for the demons or the abhaktas. The first condition is that he must be a devotee of Krsna. Then it will be revealed. Otherwise it is not possible. Naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavritah [Bg. 7.25]. Na mam duskrtino mudha prapadyante naradhamah. These things are there. So if one is devotee of Krsna, he can understand Bhagavad-gita very easily. Just like Arjuna understood within half an hour. Others, they cannot understand. In one sense, the people at that time were so educated, advanced, that they could talk about the Absolute Truth and understand within half an hour, one hour. There was no need of books in those days. People were so sharp memoried. Once heard from the spiritual master they'll never forget. With the advancement of Kali, so many things will reduce. One of them is the memory will be reduced. People will be weaker. There will be no more mercy. The brain will not be so powerful or sharp. These things are described. So we cannot even imagine what kind of brain Arjuna possessed. Another thing, this Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. And the Mahabharata was written for stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocarah. Stri, woman, stri, sudra and dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu means a person born in high family, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, at least brahmana, ksatriya, but he's not qualified brahmana or ksatriya. He's called dvija-bandhu, the friend of the twice-born. The brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, they are twice-born. One birth is father and mother; another birth is by the spiritual master, by Vedic knowledge. The Vedic knowledge is mother and the spiritual master is the father. So the second birth. Therefore, they are called dvija, twice born. So dvija-bandhunam, those who are not actually twice born but born in the family of dvijas. Therefore they are called dvija-bandhu, "not dvija, friends of the dvijas." Dvija-bandhu. One may become a friend of the dvija. One may become a son of a high-court judge, but that does not mean he's also high court judge. But now they are taking: "Because my father is brahmana, therefore I am brahmana." No. That was not accepted. Your father may be brahmana, but if you are not qualified brahmana, you cannot be called a brahmana. You can be called dvija-bandhu. So this Mahabharata was written: stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti gocarah. Woman and dvija-bandhu and the sudras, it is very difficult for them to understand the Vedic literatures directly, because they have no advanced knowledge or education. Therefore the same thing. The Vedic knowledge was described in the Mahabharata. Because it is history. Everyone is interested to read history. So through history, the Vedic knowledge was imparted. Therefore, Mahabharata is called the fifth Vedas. There are four Vedas, Sama, Yajur, Rk, Atharva. And Mahabharata is fifth Veda. They are meant for this stri, sudra, dvija-bandhu. So Bhagavad-gita is within the Mahabharata. So actually it was meant for the less intelligent class of men. But, at the present moment, the highest intelligent class of men cannot understand. Just see the difference. Formerly, 5000 years, this was meant for the less intelligent class of men, and we have deteriorated so much that the so-called highest intelligent class of men cannot understand this Bhagavad-gita. And he is posted as the professor in the Oxford University.

So this class of men are leading the society. The third-class, fourth-class men, they are leaders. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. So now we are talking with so many big, big persons, guests, coming daily. But actually, we can see how much the third-class, fourth-class men, practically blind, they are leading the society. That we can understand. Therefore, the social order is... Just like Arjuna is describing here, sankaro narakayaiva kula-ghnanam kulasya ca. Who knows this? Who knows this science, that sankaro narakayaiva, if you produce unwanted hellish condition? Who is caring for that? The world is in hellish condition, we can perceive, but they are trying in a different way. They want to remain demons; at the same time, they want to become leaders. So at the present moment, comparing the social status 5000 years ago... According to Darwin's theory, 5000 years ago, men were uncivilized, uncivilized. Now this literature is written by uncivilized men. Just see. So highly intellectual writings, they were uncivilized. Now they have become civilized. That is Darwin's theory. We are now making progress. So Arjuna said that patanti pitaro hy esam lupta-pindodaka-kriyah. Pindodaka. In Calcutta, there was a big scientist. His name was Sarpisirat. He was speaking in a, he was atheist number one, he was speaking that: "This pindodaka, by offering pinda, prasada and water, it will go to my forefather. So just give me to eat downstairs whether I can eat upstairs?" This reasoning. But he does not know that how much there are different types of eating. They do not know there is eating in the subtle body also. The ghosts also, they eat. But the method is different. So even a big scientist speak like that, then how the ordinary people...? Yad yad acarati sresthah, lokas tad anuvartate. If the so-called advanced in education they speak so irresponsibly, naturally, others will follow. Therefore, at the present moment, the whole generation is covered with ignorance and darkness. No clear knowledge. And without clear knowledge, whatever we do... Just like in darkness, whatever we act, that is simply embezzlement. That's all. It is not very correctly understood. Therefore we have no correct knowledge, no correct activities, and, and the result is narakayaiva. So you can read next verse.

Pradyumna:

dosair etaih kula-ghnanam
varna-sankara-karakaih
utsadyante jati-dharmah
kula-dharmas ca sasvatah
 [Bg. 1.42]

Translation: "Due to the evil deeds of the destroyers of family tradition, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated."

Prabhupada: So jati-dharma. Jati, nowadays it has been taken as "national." But here, jati-dharma means...Just like one is born in brahmana jati, ksatriya jati, vaisya jati, sudra jati. So each jati, they have got different types of responsibilities. So when the unwanted children, irresponsible children, they do not follow any more the tradition, the family tradition, or jati-dharma, so they create a class of population in the varna-sankara. So everything becomes topsy-turvy, hellish condition. And actually it has so happened. Now there is no more jati-dharma. Everyone is engaged somehow or other to fill up the belly. Formerly, formerly there was stricture. The brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas, these three higher castes, there were certain restrictions. The brahmana would not do this or the brahmana must do this. So that is called jati-dharma. A brahmana cannot accept service from anywhere. I have discussed many times. A ksatriya also cannot. And vaisya cannot. Only the sudra can become servant of others. Paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam. So, at the present moment, nobody can observe the strict rules and regulations, that "I am born in a brahmana family. I cannot accept anyone's service." Then you will have to starve. Because he has no brahminical capacity... By education, by culture, he's a sudra, although falsely he's claiming that he is a brahmana or ksatriya. So his jati-dharma, family tradition, family rituals, everything is lost due to this unwanted children. Unwanted children make everything topsy-turvy. So Arjuna is visualizing all the future calamities. But there is one remedy. It is a fact that jati-dharma we have lost. No more we can be called strictly following the jati-dharma. No more can one present himself strictly as a brahmana or ksatriya. Everything is lost now, by the influence of Kali-yuga. And varna-sankara. So there is only one remedy, only one remedy. That is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto:

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkara nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
 [SB 11.5.41]

We must admit that we have created hellish condition of society by producing unwanted children, and disobeying the jati-dharma or kula-dharma. That one has to admit, everyone. So what is the remedy? Only remedy is to surrender to Krsna. Krsna is canvassing that: "Even you can give up your jati-dharma, but simply surrender unto Me. I shall give you protection."

There is another verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: tyaktva sva-dharman caranambujam harer. Sva-dharma. Sva-dharma means jati-dharma. So I may be born in a brahmana or ksatriya, so I have got sva-dharma. A ksatriya or brahmana has got his own regulative principles. So Bhagavata, Narada says, Bhagavata says and Narada says that if one has given up his jati-dharma..., because Krsna is asking: sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Sarva-dharma means this sva-dharma, jati-dharma, or so many other dharmas man created for the nice keep-up of the society. Just like we create even in the modern world so many rules and regulations. Take for example that one must keep to the left. Just to keep order in the society. There are so many things. So jati-dharma, kula-dharma is also like that. Spiritually, it has no value. It, it can help one to be elevated on the spiritual platform. But spiritual advancement does not depend on this jati-dharma or kula-dharma. It does not depend. Even without following the rules and regulations of jati-dharma and kula-dharma one can become advanced in spiritual life. Ahaituki apratihata. If one is serious to become Krsna conscious, then all these material impediments cannot check him. Anyone can become. Sat, sat sva-paco... There is a... What is called? Mantra-tantra-visarada, avaisnavo gurur na syat vaisnavah sva-paco guruh. One is very expert in jati-dharma, but if he's not a Vaisnava, if he's not a devotee of Lord Visnu... Vaisnava means visnur yasya devata one who has accepted... There are many demigods, devatas. So sometimes they are advised that: "If you want this result, then you worship this demigod." Just like it is said that if you want a beautiful wife, so you worship Uma. Uma, the wife of Lord Siva, she is very beautiful. So similarly, if you want learning then you worship such and such demigod. If you want money, then you worship such and such demigod. These are there, I mean to say orders in the Vedic literature. But if you want to get relief from this material condition of life, then you have to take the shelter of Visnu, Vaisnava. Or the sastra says even if you have got other desires to fulfill, still you become Vaisnava. That is the last instruction. You don't require to worship other demigods. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is said kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajanty anya-devata [Bg. 7.20]. If one is bewildered on account of lusty desires, they go to different demigods for begging some benefit. So they are hrta-jnana. Hrta-jnana means lost of intelligence. If Krsna is the Supreme, so suppose if you want some material happiness, can He not give you? He can give you also. So why should you bother about other demigods? Therefore, it is said kamais tais tair hrta-jnana. If Krsna is the Supreme Lord, so if I have got some desires, material desires... Actual bhakti means minus all material... Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. One must be freed from all material desires. But even if you have got some material desire, still you can take shelter of Krsna. You don't require to take shelter of other demigods. So that is the last instruction in the Vedic literature.

akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udaradhi
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param
 [SB 2.3.10]

Akama means devotee. Devotees have no desire. They have got desire just to become devotee of Krsna. That is natural desire. If the son desires that: "I shall be obedient son of my father," that is natural desire. Or the son desires that: "I shall depend on my father, and I shall be happy," that kind of desire is natural desire. Similarly, if one desires that: "I shall become a devotee of Lord Krsna," that is natural desire. But when I desire to lord it over the material nature and forget my service to Krsna, that is called vasana. That is material desire, abhilasa. So we have to give up these material desires. Then it is bhakti. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnanam karmady anavrtam anukulyena krsna... [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11].

So even if we have violated the jati-dharma and kula-dharma... That is a fact. We have done so. There is no denying this fact. Every one of us, we have done that. Then what is the next duty or remedy? Because we have violated everything. So that, for that purpose, in the Bhagavata gives you direction. Here is the verse: devarsi-bhutaptam nrnam pitrnam. Pitr, pitr pindodaka-kriyah. So we are obliged to offer pinda and water to the pitrs. But here is an, what is called, an outlet. Devarsi, we are indebted to the devatas. Rsis, we are indebted to the great sages. Devarsi, devarsi bhutanam. We are indebted to so many other living entities, bhutanam, and nrnam. We are also indebuted to the human society. Nrnam, pitrnam. We are indebted to the pitrs, forefather. Pitrnam. So na kinkara nayam rni ca rajan. One becomes freed from the servitude of all these personalities, devarsi-bhutapta nrnam pitrnam [SB 11.5.41]. How he can become? Sarvatma yah saranam saranyam. One who has fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, saranyam. Saranyam means here is the real place where one can surrender fully. Others, if I surrender to a cats and dogs, what he will help me? Therefore they are not saranyam. But, by mistake, if they take shelter of such cats and dogs, what benefit they will get? Therefore saranyam, the worthwhile surrender is to the lotus feet of Mukunda. Therefore it is said, sarvatma yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartum. We have got so many duties, but in this age, we have lost everything. Therefore, our only duty is to surrender unto the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krsna. That will save us. Krsna says -- it is not story -- Krsna says aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. "I know that you have violated your family tradition, your past regulations, everything you have done for which you are to be punished, sinful activities, but I give you assurance, if you surrender unto Me, then aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. I shall give you deliverance from all the reactions of sinful activities." Therefore at the present moment, because we have lost all culture, we have done so many sinful activities, if we want to be saved, it is, the only remedy is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, and thus become saved.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Your Next Life-What Will It Be

Your Next Life-What Will It Be

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.47
Dallas, July 29, 1975

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Prabhupada:

vartamanah anyayoh kalah
gunabhijnapako yatha
evam janmanyayor etad
dharmadharma-nidarsanam
 [SB 6.1.47]

So there are three phases of time: past, present and future. Time is eternal; I am also eternal. But because I am in the material world, the time is relatively divided into past, present and future. Relativity, the law of relativity -- I have explained several times. Brahma's past, present, future and the ant's past, present, future are not the same. Similarly, our past, present, future or the ant's past, present, future are not the same. Time is eternal, but according to the quality of the body, the past, present, future is calculated. So it is said in the Bhagavad-gita... Krsna says vedaham samatitani [Bg. 7.26]. Because Krsna is not changing body, therefore He has no past, present, future. Those who are changing body, they have got past, present, future. I had my childhood. I have changed the body in this old age. Therefore I think, "In the past I was like this, or future, I will be like this." So this is relative. Time is eternal, we are eternal, but because we have accepted this temporary body, therefore we have to calculate past, present and future. So future means... Just like there is ordinary word in English, "Child is the father of man," future. The same child will be father or grandfather in future.

So this future, past, present, future, is being controlled by the three modes of material nature. If we practice in this life sattva-guna, then urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah: [Bg. 14.18] then we shall be promoted to the higher planetary system. Madhye tisthanti rajasah. If we cultivate rajo-guna... Rajo-guna means kama-lobha, kama, simply desiring. This is called rajo-guna. "I want this, I want this, I want this." Because there is no satiation of want, therefore every man or woman planning something, "How my sense gratification will be fully satisfied." This is rajo-guna, kama. Everyone is forgetting his real business. His real business is he should know, one should know, that "I am eternal. I have taken this temporary body and subjected to the laws of nature, birth, death and old age. So my real problem is how to become again eternal, not accepting any more birth, death, old age. That is my real business." But because I am infected with the material modes of nature, we are making different plans. Everyone is busy. Everyone is busy in different plans, forgetting his real business. This is called maya. Maya means..., ma means not; ya means this. Therefore maya means when you understand, "This is not my business," then you are out of maya. "This is not," ma-ya.

So here the Yamadutas are analyzing whether Ajamila is pious or impious. The Visnudutas asked them to explain what is dharma and what is adharma. "You have come here to arrest this person, to take away with to the yama... So you are servant of Dharmaraja. Now explain what is dharma and adharma." Dharma means which will bring me again to my original, constitutional position, and adharma means which will take me down and down from my original, constitutional position. This is the test of dharma and adharma. I am eternal part and parcel of God, so my dharma is to render service to God and go back to home, back to Godhead. This is my real business. So adharma means I forget my relationship with the Supreme Lord and I go down and down just to become up to the worm in the stool. This is called adharma. There are so many varieties of life. Why? This is due to difference of dharma and adharma. Those who are trying to take the principles of dharma, they are being elevated to the higher, higher, higher, higher, higher, up to back to home, back to Godhead. And those who are not accepting... Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah [Bg. 14.18]. Jaghanya, they do not know how to live, just like animal, less than animal. Animal has got also sense. The modern civilization is less than animal. Animal does not kill its own son. The human being is killing his own son.

So this is the position. And this is not at all good. It is suffering. We are purchasing suffering more and more. The laws of God or laws of nature, they are very strict. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. You cannot avoid the stringent laws of the material nature. If you violate, then you will suffer. If you follow, then you will be elevated. That is stated, vartamanah anyayoh kalah. This suffering or enjoying -- there is no enjoyment-suffering, so this is past, present and future. I am suffering or enjoying in this body. Then I am manufacturing another body for the future. And that manufacturing of future depending on the influence of kala and the material modes, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. In this way I am implicated. That they do not know. Vartamanah anyayoh kalah gunabhijnapako. Those who are learned, they can understand why this man has become like this or why the animal has become this. Guna-jnapa. Guna, according to guna. There are three gunas, and mix it then it becomes nine, then mix it, it becomes eighty-one. Guna-jnapakah. It is not that every different types of body and living entities have come by chance. This is nonsense. There is no question of chance. Everything is being carried or being conducted by the three modes of material nature. Guna-jnapakah. Evam janma anyayoh. As I have got this body according to guna, similarly, anyayoh, in the future we shall get different types of body according to guna. Evam janmanyayor etad. But all these -- based on dharma and adharma. The principle is dharma and adharma, our occupational duty according to modes of material nature.

Just like a pig. It is very much fond of eating stool. So if you want to ask, "Why this animal is fond of eating stool?"... So dharma adharma jnapaka, because in the past life this living entity practiced tamo-guna, no discrimination of eating... Tamo-guna means no discrimination. Eating... We have got four businesses in this life, so long we have got this material body: ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca, eating, sleeping and sex and defense. These are primary business of the body. So why there are different types of eating, different types of sleeping? Why different types of mating, sex intercourse, and different types of defense? It is due to different qualities of the nature. A dog is happy sleeping on the street. A man does not want to sleep on the street. He wants to sleep in a nice apartment. Why this difference of...? According to guna. A dog enjoys sex life on the street without any shame, but a man has got some social convention. So he does not do so. But now they are coming, improving, that "There is no harm if there is sex on the street. Why we should have apartment?"

 

So these are all due to different infection of the guna. Tamo-guna means shameless, tamo-guna. Rajo-guna means lusty desire. And sattva-guna means knowledge, to see things as they are. So just like here in the temple, we are cultivating sattva-guna, or more than that, above sattva-guna. Above sattva-guna. It is said in the sastra that to live in the forest is sattva-guna. Sattva-guna, people have got tendency to live in a secluded place, solitary place, without any disturbance. That is sign of sattva-guna. And to live in the cities, big, big cities, skyscraper building, this is rajo-guna. And to live in the brothel, in the liquor shop, in the slaughterhouse, this is tamo-guna. Sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. But to live in the temple is transcendental. Transcendental. It is above sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, to live in temple. Therefore we are introducing this Krsna consciousness movement so that the persons who are in Krsna consciousness, living in the temple according to the regulative principles, they are above all these sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. That is wanted. Nistraigunya. Traigunya means three gunas, and nih means negative. Nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. That is our aim, that although we are in this material world, by this Krsna consciousness process we shall live above these three gunas. These three gunas cannot touch me. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. Who? Mam ca vyabhicarini bhakti-yogena ya sevate. Anyone who is engaged in pure devotional service avyabhicarini, not mixed up, whimsical, regularly, as they are ordained, as they are prescribed. So if anyone is engaged in such transcendental loving service of the Lord, then his position is: he is above the three gunas. He is not...

So these Yamaduta superficially saw that "This man, Ajamila, is a first-class sinful man, and he has to be taken to Yamaraja. He has simply committed adharma." But the Visnuduta has come because he is now freed from all material contamination, because at the end of his life he chanted the holy name of Narayana. So that is... If it is possible, so much advantage of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if you constantly keep yourself engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord, there is no possibility of your being touched by maya. This is the position. Vartamanah anyayoh kalah gunabhijnapakah. Gunabhijnapakah. Anyone who is intelligent, who can understand what this man is, which quality he belongs to... This is education. This is learning, to understand what is the position of this particular... The general definition is given, urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha madhye tisthanti rajasah, jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gac... [Bg. 14.18]. You can... Any person who has studied sastra, and he is in the sattva-guna, to him it is..., everything is there. He can understand what is this man, what he is going to be and what he was, past, present, future, everything. Why? How one can understand past, present, future? Through the sastra. Sastra-caksusah. There are still astrological calculation in India called Brghu-samhita. If you consult Brghu-samhita, immediately they will give you your past, present and future. Immediately they will give. The astrology science is so perfect. What you were in the past life, what you are at the present and what you are going to be, these three things they can be known.

vartamanah anyayoh kalah
gunabhijnapako yatha
evam janmanyayor etad
dharmadharma-nidarsanam

So we have to follow the principle of religion; otherwise we are misguided. Just like a child has to be sent to school to understand, to become learned scholar. It is compulsory, not that I may send my child to school or if I like, I don't send. No. It is compulsory. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. This is Vedic injunction. If you want to be learned fully, especially if you want to learn the transcendental science, gurum eva abhigacchet: "One must go to a guru." Guru -- the spiritual master as well as the teacher also, guru. So he must att..., he must go to a guru. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. And going to guru, what you have to do? Pranipatena. You have to fully surrender. Pariprasnena. After surrendering, then you can enquire, you can put question. Otherwise, it is illegal. If you do not accept anybody as guru, then don't put question before him to waste his time and your time. This is the process. First of all find out whom you like to accept as guru. Then put question. But sometimes we have to talk with persons who is not student: outsider. That is preaching work. But sastra says that one should approach a guru, and with surrender he would ask him, and guru will talk with a person who is surrendered. Otherwise, there is no necessity of talk, because he will not accept. One who has come to challenge the guru, so he will simply waste time. He will not accept. But a disciple who has surrendered, he will accept. Therefore talking is recommended between guru and disciple, not outsider. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. This is essential. And guru trains the disciple according to the Vedic principle. Therefore there are division of varna and asrama.

So these are very scientific things. The whole world is unaware of these scientific things, this animal civilization; and this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to elevate to the standard of human being.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.47 -- Dallas, July 29, 1975

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"This Movement Appeals Directly To The Soul"

71/07/29 Gainesville, Bhagavad-gita 7.1


Prabhupada: Where is my spectacles?

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

Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, speaking about the topmost form of yoga system. In the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita He has explained the general hatha-yoga system. Please remember that we are preaching this Krsna consciousness movement on the authority of Bhagavad-gita. It is nothing manufactured. (dog barking) (pause) Whose dog? He may go away. So this bhakti-yoga system is authorized, and if you want to know about God, then you have to adopt this bhakti-yoga system. Because in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita it is concluded... [break] ...he who is always thinking of Krsna within himself.

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
[Bg. 6.47]

When Krsna recommended the yoga system, astanga-yoga system... Astanga means eightfolded different states of elevation: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, samadhi, like that. Dhyana, dharana. So the first step of yoga system, as recommended by Krsna, the supreme authority, is one has to select a very secluded place and sacred place. The astanga-yoga meditation cannot be performed in a fashionable city. It is not possible. One has to first of all select a nice place, sacred place. In India, therefore, those who are very serious to practice yoga system, they go to Himalaya, Haridwar. That is also Himalaya. Very secluded place. They remain there alone, and very restricted process of eating, sleeping. There is no question of mating. So those rules and regulations are very strict, and unless you follow, simply if you make a show of gymnastic, that is not perfection of yoga. Yoga means indriya-samyama, to control the senses. If you allow your senses unrestrictedly and if you make a show of yoga practice, that is not successful. It will never be successful.

So you have to select a nice place, sacred place. Then you have to sit right angular and you have to close your eyes half, not full, and see on the tip of your nose. You cannot change your asana. There are so many rules and regulations which is not possible at the present moment. What to speak of at the present moment, even five thousand years ago, when circumstances of the world was different... And a personality like Arjuna, who was talking with Krsna face to face... Just imagine what is his position. Arjuna belonged to the royal family. He was a great warrior and intimate friend of Krsna and constantly living with Him. He, after hearing this process of yoga, astanga-yoga, he said, "My dear Krsna, it is not possible for me." He flatly said, admitted that "For me, these rules and regulation and practice and controlling the mind is not possible." He flatly denied.

So we have to think, five thousand years ago a personality like Arjuna, he expressed his inability to practice this astanga-yoga system, and what to speak of us? Therefore the conclusion is that in this age when people are very short-living... At least, in India the average duration of life is thirty-five years. In your country it may be more than that, but actually, as your grandfather lived for one hundred years, you cannot live. The things are changing. Especially the duration of life will be reduced. There are prediction in the sastras. In this age the duration of life, people's sentiment for becoming merciful, brain substance, in so many ways they are being reduced. They are not so powerful. So the duration of age is very small. We are always disturbed, and practically we have no knowledge about spiritual science. For example, that in this university... Not only in this university -- there are hundreds and thousands of universities all over the world -- there is no department of knowledge where the science of the soul is taught.

Actually, we are all spirit souls. In the Bhagavad-gita we understand,

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

We are transmigrating from one body to another, exactly like in our present life. Just like all of us present here, we had a body, a small baby body. Where is that body? That body is gone. So far I am an old man. I remember that I was a small baby. I still remember when I was about six months old I was lying down on the lap of my eldest sister, and she was knitting, and I was lying down and playing. I remember. So it is possible for everyone to remember that "I had a small body, then that I had a boy's body, then I had a youthful body. Now I am in this body." So where are those bodies? The body's now gone. It is a different body. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. Similarly, when I give up this body, then I'll have to accept another body.

It is very simple to understand. As I have changed so many bodies, not only childhood, babyhood, boyhood, youthhood. According to medical science we are changing body every second imperceptibly. So this process, that the soul is permanent... Just like I remember my babyhood body or childhood body. I am the same person, soul, but I have changed so many bodies. Similarly, when ultimately I shall change this body, I shall have to accept another body. This simple formula is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Everyone can think on it. And there must be some scientific research. Recently I got one letter from a doctor in Toronto. He suggested there is body..., there is soul. I had some correspondence with him. Actually this is a fact. The soul is there. There are so many proofs. Not only in the Vedic literature, but even ordinary experience. The soul is there, and the soul is transmigrating from one body to another. This is going on, but unfortunately there is no serious study on the subject matter or department of knowledge in the universities. This is not very good.

Actually, this human form of life is meant for researching this: athato brahma jijnasa. The Vedanta-sutra says. This human form of life is meant for searching out about Brahman, or the spirit, Absolute Truth. So the yoga system means that brahma-jijnasa, to search out the Brahman principle within this material body. Matter and spirit. So that searching out, as recommended in the Bhagavad-gita by Krsna Himself... And Arjuna said that "The system You are recommending, or the hatha-yoga system, is not possible for me." But Krsna assured him that Arjuna was the greatest of all yogis. He, I mean to say, pacified him by saying that "Don't bother because you are unable to practice hatha-yoga system, you are not a yogi. You are the best yogi. You are the best yogi." Why? He gave this formula, that yoginam api sarvesam: [Bg. 6.47] "Of all different types of yogis..." There are hatha-yogi, jnana-yogi, dhyana-yogi, bhakti-yogi, many, karma-yogi. There are many yogis. But Krsna said, "Of all the yogis, the one yogi who is constantly thinking of Me within himself..." Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana. Mad-gata. Krsna says mad-gata. Means "simply upon Me, Krsna." Antar-atmana, "within the heart." Sa me yuktatamah: "He is the first-class yogi."

Now who can think of Krsna always within himself? That is also very easy to understand. If you love somebody, then you can think of him always within yourself. Otherwise it is not possible. If you love somebody, then naturally you'll think of him always. That is described in the Brahma-samhita:

premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.38]

Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena. One who has developed love of God, or Krsna... When I speak of Krsna, you should understand "God." Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena [Bs. 5.38]. Another name of Krsna is Syamasundara. He is blackish like the cloud, but very beautiful; therefore His name is Syamasundara. So in this verse of Brahma-samhita it is said that the santah, saintly person, who has developed love for Syamasundara, Krsna... Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva [Bs. 5.38]. Sadaiva means always, constantly. Santah sadaiva hrdayesu. Hrdayesu means within the heart. Actually, when one comes to the point of samadhi in yoga system, he thinks of Visnu form of the Lord within the heart without any stopping. That is called samadhi. He is absorbed in the thought of Visnu within the heart.

So Krsna, Syamasundara, is the original Visnu. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Aham sarvasya prabhavah [Bg. 10.8]. Sarvasya means including Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara. Everyone. Aham sarvasya prabhavah. So He is the original Visnu. According to sastra, Vedic literature, He is original Visnu, Krsna, then His first expansion is Baladeva. Baladeva expansion: Sankarsana. Sankarsana expansion: Narayana. Narayana expansion: Visnu, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi, Ksirodakasayi. These are statements. So Krsna is the original Visnu, Syamasundara.

So this is the perfect system. Mad-gatenantar-atmana. "Anyone who is thinking of Krsna always within himself, he is first-class yogi." If you want perfection in yoga system, don't be satisfied only by practicing a course of asana. You have to go further. Actually, the perfection of yoga system means when you are in samadhi, always thinking of the Visnu form of the Lord within your heart, without being disturbed. Therefore the yogis go in a secluded place, and in samadhi they... Controlling all the senses and the mind. You have to control the mind, control the senses, and concentrate everything on the form of Visnu. That is called perfection of yoga. And after that, there are other siddhis, asta-siddhi-anima, laghima, prapti.

So actually this yoga system is very, very difficult. It may be possible by some solitary man, but for the general mass of people it is not possible. The general mass of people, that is recommended in the sastra that

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Cc. Adi 17.21]

There is no other alternative. Nasty eva, nasty eva. There is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative. Three times. Three times means yoga, jnana, and arcana. Yoga system as it was recommended in the Satya-yuga, krte yad dhyayato visnum, that is yoga -- always in meditation of Visnu. That is called yoga. Krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih [SB 12.3.52]. And in the Treta-yuga, by performing great sacrifices, yajnas. And in the Dvapara-yuga, by temple worship. Kalau tad dhari-kirtanat: in the Kali-yuga, this age...

The present age is called Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga means the age of quarrel and disagreement. Nobody agrees with any other man. Everyone has got his own theory; everyone has got his own philosophy. So therefore it is called Kali-yuga. And if I don't agree with you, you fight with me. Therefore it is called Kali-yuga. So this is the only method recommended in this age: kalau tad dhari-kirtanat. Simply by chanting the holy name of God, one can attain perfect self-realization, which was attained by the yoga system in the Satya-yuga, which was attained in the Treta-yuga by performing great sacrifices, and which was performed in the Dvapara-yuga by large-scale temple worship. That thing can be attained by the simple method hari-kirtanat. Hari means the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kirtanat -- by glorifying Him. This is the method recommended in the sastras. And Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He appeared in a town which is known as Navadvipa. It is about sixty miles northern side of Calcutta. People still go there. We have got our temple, center there. It is also a sacred pilgrimage. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared there, and He started this sankirtana movement, mass sankirtana movement, without any discrimination. And He predicted that this sankirtana movement would be spread all over the world and the Hare Krsna mantra would be chanted in every village, town on the surface of the globe.

So in pursuance of the order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, following His footsteps, we are trying to introduce this sankirtana movement, Hare Krsna, and it is coming out very successful. Everywhere. I am especially preaching in the foreign countries. All over Europe, America, Japan, Canada, Australia, I am traveling. Malaysia. And anywhere I have introduced this sankirtana movement -- we have got different centers, about sixty centers -- they have been received with great pleasure. Just like you saw these boys and girls. I have not imported them from India, but they have taken this movement very seriously, and they will take it, because it appeals to the soul directly. We have got different status of our life. Bodily concept of life, mental concept of life, intellectual concept of life and spiritual concept of life. So actually we are concerned with the spiritual concept of life, athato brahma jijnasa. If you are allured by the bodily concept of life, then we are no better than these dogs and..., cats and dogs. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. If we accept that "I am this body," then we are no better than the cats and dogs, because their concept of life is like that.

When we understand that "I am not this body...," As Krsna wanted to impress upon Arjuna in the beginning of His teaching of Bhagavad-gita: "First of all try to understand what you are. Why you are lamenting in the bodily concept of life? You have to fight. Certainly you have to fight with your brothers and brother-in-laws and nephews, other side. And you are lamenting. But first of all understand whether you are body or not." That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita. He tried to make him understood that you are not body. So these instructions were not for Arjuna. For everyone. We have to first of all learn that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul." Aham brahmasmi. That is Vedic instruction. And as soon as you come to this point, if you are firmly convinced that you are not this body, that is called brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20] stage, Brahman realization stage. That is knowledge, real knowledge. Knowledge, advancement of knowledge for eating, sleeping, mating, that is animal knowledge. The animals also, the dog also knows how to eat, how to sleep, how to mate and how to defend. So if our education is only on these points... The dog is eating according to his nature, but we are also eating in a nice plate, nicely cooked food in a nice table, but the principle is eating. That is not advancement, that "I am eating in a better plate in a better place than the dog; therefore I am advanced." But you are eating, that's all. Similarly sleeping. You may sleep in a very nice apartment, six story building or 102nd story building; a dog is lying on the street. But when he sleeps and when you sleep, there is no difference. You cannot know whether you are sleeping in a skyscraper building or on the ground, because you are dreaming something else which has taken you from your bed. You have forgotten that "My body is lying there on the bed, and now I am flying in the air," dreaming. So this sleeping method, if you improve, that is not advancement of civilization. Similarly mating. The dog has no social custom. Whenever there is another she-dog, he mates on the street, and you may do very silent in a secret place, but the mating is there. But people are learning how to mate like dog. So in this way defending. A dog has also his defending measures. He has got teeth and nails. He can defend himself. And you might have atom bombs. But the measure is defending. That's all.

Therefore sastra says that human life is not meant only for these four principles of life, bodily demands. There is another thing. That another thing is brahma-jijnasa. Athato brahma jijnasa. A human being should be inquisitive to learn what is Absolute Truth. So that education is lacking. Therefore without this brahma-jijnasa education, brahma janatiti brahmanah. According to Vedic civilization, a brahmana is learned. Pandita. A brahmana is called pandita because brahmana means one who knows Brahman. Brahma janatiti brahmanah. Therefore he is called pandita. In India the brahmana is addressed as pandita. Pandita means a brahmana is expected to know Brahman; therefore he is brahmana. Not by birth. Brahma janati. Janmana jayate sudrah. By birth everyone is sudra, fourth-class man. Janmana jayate sudrah samskarad bhaved dvijah. And when he's reformed by the purificatory process...

There are dasa-vidha-samskara, ten kinds of purificatory process. When one undergoes all these processes and at last comes to the spiritual master who gives him sacred thread as recognition of his second birth... Dvija. Dvija means second birth. One birth by the father and mother, and the other birth is by the spiritual master and Vedic knowledge. That is called second birth. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. At that time he is given chance to study and understand what is Vedas. Veda-pathad bhaved viprah. By studying very nicely all the Vedas, one becomes vipra. Then, when he actually realizes what is Brahman and his relationship with Him, then he becomes a brahmana. And above that situation, when from Brahman understanding, impersonal Brahman understanding, he comes to the platform of understanding Visnu, Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he becomes a Vaisnava. This is the process. That is the perfectional process. Krsna therefore says in the Bhagavad-gita, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. "Anyone who knows Me in truth," what happens to him? Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti: [Bg. 4.9] "Such persons, after giving up this body, do not come back again in this material world to accept a material body." Then what happens to him? Mam eti: "He comes to Me, back to home, back to Godhead."

So this Krsna consciousness movement is directly giving people how to understand Krsna. Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. Tattvatah, in truth. So we are giving Krsna knowledge based on this authorized scripture, Bhagavad-gita, Vedas. Vedas means knowledge. And what is the... Vedanta means the ultimate end of knowledge. What is that end of knowledge? That is Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. By all the Vedas, the ultimate conclusion should be Krsna. Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. This conclusion comes after many, many births. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan. After culturing knowledge for many, many births, when actually one becomes wise, then bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate, he surrenders unto Krsna. How he surrenders? Because he knows, vasudevah sarvam iti: [Bg. 7.19] Vasudeva, Krsna is everything. Whatever we see, it is simply a manifestation of the energy of Vasudeva. One must be convinced on this fact, and then he becomes a devotee. Prapadyate. Krsna therefore advises that you understand or not understand, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "Simply surrender unto Me."

So what Krsna taught in the Bhagavad-gita, we are teaching the same thing without any different manufactured ideas. That is our Krsna consciousness movement. And it is open to everyone. The process is very simple. We have got our center here. If you want to take advantage of this movement, you are welcome. You'll be happy.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (applause)

Prabhupada: If they have got any questions.

Hrdayananda: Are there any questions? Please feel free to ask any questions you like.

Prabhupada: All right. Have chanting. (kirtana) (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 7.1 -- Gainesville, July 29, 1971 University of Florida

"Become Brahmana -- Twice-Born"

66/07/29 New York, Bhagavad-gita 4.12-13


Prabhupada:

kanksantah karmanam siddhim
yajanta iha devatah
ksipram hi manuse loke
siddhir bhavati karma-ja

People, they are naturally following leadership, but they do not want to follow the leadership of Sri Krsna. Because they want immediate relief from the miseries of this world. They do not want a permanent solution of all miseries. Krsna, if we accept the leadership of Krsna, then in this very life we can make a solution of all the miseries of material existence.

But instead of following the leadership of Krsna, we accept leadership which is also indirectly the leadership of Krsna, but it is misrepresented because on account of contamination of this material nature. Material nature is inferior or lower nature. Constitutionally, we are following the leadership, but we want immediate, temporary relief for our miseries. We do not want permanent solution of all miseries. That is the defect of our life. But here is a chance. If we follow the leadership of Krsna, then we make a solution of the whole miseries. Kanksantah,

kanksantah karmanam siddhim
yajanta iha devatah
ksipram hi manuse loke
siddhir bhavati karma-ja

Karma-ja means those who are acting here on the line of fruitive activities. Suppose... You have experienced that there are so many political leaders. They follow some particular leader, and they capture the governmental machinery, but after some time they are taken away from the scene. Just like in our country, recently, within one year, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he's also shifted away, Shastri is also shifted away. In your country, the President Kennedy is also shifted away. We do not take into account that after shifting this position, again we are going to enter into the miserable life of material existence. If we do not make a solution in present life, then we are again going to enter.

Suppose in this life I am elected to be the president of this great state, United States of America, and if my next life I become an ordinary citizen or even an animal... There is no guarantee what I shall become in my next life. That depends on my work because the whole body is given by the material nature. It is not made according to my order supply. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. You are given a chance to act here, but according to your act, it will be judged, what you are going to have in your next life. That is your problem. No, don't make this life of fifty years, sixty years, or seventy years, or hundred years, as all in all. You have got a continuous life of transmigration from one body to another. It is going on. You must know that.

Now here is a chance to stop this nonsense of transmigrating from one body to another and suffer the material miseries. Here is a chance. And how that chance you are going to utilize? That we have already discussed. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. If somebody simply studies critically the transcendental nature of Krsna, the transcendental nature of His activities, simply by knowing this, the benefit will be that tyaktva deham, after quitting this body, you are not again going to have such a material body, but tyaktva deham punar janma... [Bg. 4.9]. Punar janma means you are not going to take your birth again in the womb of a mother of this material nature.

So just believe it. It is standard. It is accepted by all the great stalwart scholars and acaryas of repute. Just like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, great scholars and acaryas. They have accepted it. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We have to follow the footprints of great saints and sages, those who have achieved success by this indication of Bhagavad-gita. Don't follow your whims. Take the standard advice. Just try to become Krsna conscious. Just try to understand Krsna, what is Krsna. And the result is that after leaving this body, you are no more going to accept any material body, but you enter into the spiritual kingdom and you have your spiritual body which is eternal, full of knowledge and blissful. This is the chance.

So Krsna says... Although the chance is there, people, out of foolishness... Exactly this very word has been used in the Seventh Chapter.

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
[Bg. 7.15]

He has used very strong words, that persons who are miscreants, do not care for vice or virtue, never mind -- they don't care which is vice and which is virtue -- such persons, duskrtina, those who are always engaged in vicious work, and those who are foolish... Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. Naradhama means lowest of the mankind. And mayayapahrta-jnanah, and one whose knowledge is deluded by the external energy. These people, they do not take the shelter of Krsna. They do not like, although the opportunity is open for everyone. But we may not be like the miscreants, foolish, and lowest of the mankind. Let us become intelligent.

Krsna consciousness is not very difficult job. It is the easiest and the highest, topmost type of yoga system. In the Twelfth Chapter, you'll find it explicitly stated that one who [is] always in devotional service of Krsna, he is the first-class yogi. One who is always constantly in Krsna consciousness, he is the first-class yogi. And that is also stated in the last verse of the Sixth Chapter also, and it is accepted by great scholars and acaryas. So here is an opportunity. It is very simple, very simple -- simply thinking of Krsna. Satatam cintayantam visnum. Smartavyah satatam visnur vismartavyo na jatucit. Always, simply if you think that Hare Krsna, if you think simply Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, that is sufficient, even if you do not go into the Bhagavad-gita, if you do not go in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, simply as you are chanting. Krsna has given us the ear, and Krsna has given us the tongue. No expense, no difficulty. You haven't got to go to college and take degrees to become Krsna conscious. It is easy for the rich, for the poor, for the learned, for the fool, for the black, for the white, for the rich, for the poor, everyone. There is no distinction because[?] Krsna is for everyone.

Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. In the lower nature, everyone thinks, "Oh, I am greater than you." The Hindus think, "Oh, we are greater than Muslim." The Muslim thinks, "We are greater than the Hindus." The Christian thinks that "We are greater than the Jews." The Jews thinks, "We are greater than..." This is material conception. But for Krsna there is no lower or higher. Every living being -- His part and parcel. He comes here to claim every one of you, "Come on. Come on, My dear sir. Why you are suffering here? It is not for you. Take this chance." Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7].

So Krsna consciousness is so nice, but one who does not care for it, they are satisfied by some temporary relief, and they take to other courses. They do not take the leadership of Krsna. Kanksantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah. Iha devatah means these material gods. Material gods means their existence is so long this material world.

Just like here we have got the president, the governor and so many big, big officers. But suppose, somehow or other this whole planet or the whole thing is gone, destroyed -- because we can expect destruction every moment, bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19] -- then the whole thing, I mean to say, the president and the governor, everything is gone. Iha devatah. So we are taking shelter of this material world, something big, but that will not exist with the annihilation, with the dissolution of this material world. Everything will be dissolved. Everything will be... So we have to take the leadership of the Supreme. Then it will be the largest perfection, the greatest perfection of life.

Now, Lord Krsna says, karmanam, karmanam siddhim. How in the material world people are working? He is analyzing the process of different occupation. What is that?

catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasah
tasya kartaram api mam
viddhy akartaram avyayam
[Bg. 4.13]

The Lord says that catur-varnyam, four castes or four divisions of human society. You have heard that there is caste system in India. There is caste system in India. There is caste system in India. Sometimes Indians are criticized by the outsiders that they have caste system. But here the Lord says the catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: "This caste system is created by Me. This caste system is created by Me, how?" Guna-karma-vibhagasah: "According to quality and according to work." That division in the human society, according to quality and according to work, is there in everywhere, everywhere in the world, not only everywhere in the world, but everywhere in the universe. God's creation cannot be stopped.

God's creation cannot be stopped. Just like in God's creation there is sun, there is moon, there is seasonal changes, nobody can stop this, similarly the catur-varnyam, according to quality and karma, that division prevails all over the universe, not only in India but also in your country also. In your country also.

And what are the divisions? Now, what are the guna and karma? The guna, the quality. There are three qualities. In the material world, there are three qualities: the quality of goodness, the quality of passion, and the quality of ignorance. And either human being or animal or demigods or American or Indian, everywhere these qualities are working. So some of them are in the modes or quality of goodness, and some of them are in the quality of passion, and some of them are in the quality of ignorance. Those who are in the quality of goodness, they are called brahmanas, or the intelligent class of men. In Sanskrit language, because intelligence, intelligence does not mean to know, to have some knowledge of the material things. Intelligence means to know about the spiritual world also. That is intelligence.

Because as you know that I am combination of matter and spirit... I am spirit, and I am now entangled in this material body. I am spirit, consciousness. As soon as I am out of this body, I can distinguish or... I cannot distinguish because I will go away. You can distinguish that "Now this real Swamiji's spirit is gone; the Swamiji's material body is here." So it is very plain thing. Therefore we should not only have perfect knowledge of this matter, but we should have perfect knowledge of the spirit also, if we are actually intelligent. Therefore the brahmanas... Why they are called brahmanas? Brahma janati iti brahmanah. Brahmin, it is English transcription. But real word is brahmana, brahmana. And wherefrom this brahmana word comes? Brahma janati iti brahmanah. That means one who knows the spirit, the spiritual. One who has got complete knowledge of the spiritual world, he is called brahmana.

How one becomes brahmana? Now you will find distinctly that catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: [Bg. 4.13] "The four divisions of qualitative divisions is set by Me according to quality and karma." Never says, "according to birth," you will find. "According to birth," it is not said here. Although in India it is now misrepresentated that a brahmana's son is trying to designate himself as brahmana, but according to Bhagavad-gita, that is not sanctioned. Bhagavad-gita says, "according to quality."

Now, just like here is a qualified lawyer, Mr. Goldsmith. He is lawyer. Now, because he is lawyer, his son cannot claim that "Because my father is lawyer, then I am also lawyer." How he can become? The son also must be qualified lawyer. He must pass the bachelor of law degree, examination. Then he can be lawyer. So similarly, here Krsna says... Don't misunderstand the Indian caste system as hereditary. No. It is, according to Vedic literature, it is according to the quality.

And what is that quality? Janmana jayate sudrah. Janmana jayate sudrah: "Anyone who takes his birth, by his birth he's a sudra." Sudra means the lowest, in the lowest order. Everyone. Even if he is born in the family of a brahmana, he is to be considered as a sudra, janmana, by birth. And perhaps some of you know that the brahmanas, the ksatriyas and the vaisyas, they are called dvija. Dvi means twice, and ja means birth. Twice-born. Twice-born.

The bird is also called twice-born. Why? The bird birth is first of all in the egg. The egg is fermented. Then the real bird comes out. Therefore bird is called in Sanskrit language also dvija, twice-born. Similarly, a man, unless he is twice-born, he is a sudra. Twice-born. How is that twice-born? Because by birth anyone, everyone has got some father and mother because without father and mother, there is no question of birth. So the beast has also got father and mother, and the bird has also father and mother. Similarly, a human being has also got father and mother. So this birth, by father and mother, is not sufficient for becoming a dvija. He has to take his birth again.

So janmana jayate sudrah samskarad bhaved dvijah. Birth. Birth is not all, everything. The culture, samskara. Samskara means culture. One has to take his birth, rebirth, by culture, by education, by knowledge. That is called cultural birth. So unless one is in the cultural birth, he is to be considered the lower grade person, or the sudra.

So therefore the system in the, according to varnasrama-dharma, that not only by birth, before birth, when the father and mother is going to be combined to beget a child, there are cultural samskaras or reformatory measures. How much carefully these things are. They wanted first-class son, not sons like cats and dogs, first-class son. So there is some samskara. There is some purificatory measures, which is called garbhadhana-samskara. Garbhadhana means pregnancy, the cultural ceremony before making the mother pregnant. And it is enjoined, you will find in the Bhagavata, that any family, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas and vaisyas, if they give up this garbhadhana-samskara, birth-giving ceremony, then that family turns immediately to the classification of the sudras.

So nowadays, at the present moment, this cultural program... I am speaking of India and everywhere. There is no such cultural program. That cultural program, that program to beget nice children, the whole program is, we must know, the whole Vedic system is to give the human life the greatest chance of self-realization and get free from these material miseries. That is the whole program. It is not... The Vedic culture does not mean that we shall be like cats and dogs, simply eating, sleeping, mating and defending. No. The human society is a systematic program to give everyone the chance of getting free from this material miseries.

Just like every state is supposed to be welfare state. Every citizen of that state should be happy, should be prosperous. There should be no anxiety. I do not know if every state is taking care of the citizens in that way. People are always full of anxieties. They are creating situation that everyone is full of anxiety. This material world is made so that it is full of anxiety. Whoever is in the material world... Even the bird, you will see, when it is taking some grains, he is also full of anxiety. He is looking like this and that, "Oh, somebody is coming or killing me." So this is the nature.

So human society, human society is so arranged that the people, the members of the human society, should be free from all anxiety. Therefore we require good citizens, good father and mother, good system of government, and pious, virtuous, cooperation between God and nature. Everything will be helpful for my spiritual realization, for my self-realization. If I am full of anxiety, how can I make progress in spiritual realization? It is not possible. Therefore it is the duty of the state, duty of the father, duty of the teacher, duty of the spiritual master to give chance to the small children to develop in such a way that he becomes fully realized spiritual soul at the end and so that his miserable life in the material existence is over. That is the responsibility.

In Bhagavata you will see that Rsabhadeva says that "One should not become the spiritual master, one should not become the father, one should not become the mother, one should not become the husband, who cannot give relief from these miseries of material existence. It is the husband's duty also. Because the wife is under the protection of the husband, he has got so much responsibility.

Woman class and children class, they are taken in the same category. They require protection. They require protection. That is the Manu-samhita. Na striyam svatantratam arhati. Women should be under the protection. They should be given all protection. So the system of taking... Just like the Hindu system is... Just like a girl. Before attaining the age of puberty, she is handed over to a suitable boy to take charge before she gets youthful energy.

So this is the system of varnasrama-dharma. This is the system. The whole idea is that everyone should be given the chance of being liberated in this very life. No more waiting for again for further, another life. Who knows that I am going to be human being again? It may be by freaks of nature I become a cat, a dog, a cow, an animal.

Now we are very much enthusiastic to become good nationals. Suppose I am American, a very good national. Now, after death, suppose that if I become a cow. Then even I am national of this country, oh, I am destined to be sent to the slaughterhouse. You see? So we should not take the risk of next birth. In this life, in this birth, we should make a permanent solution of all miseries. That is Krsna consciousness. Let us become Krsna conscious in this very life and make a solution.

Now, this catur-varnyam, this plan of catur-varnyam, Lord says... You should always remember that this material creation, whole material creation... There are unlimited number of universes and, I mean to say, planets in each universe. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti. Jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagad-anda means this universe, and koti means hundred millions. Hundred millions. Not exactly one hundred millions, but numberless.

yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-
kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam
tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.40]

So this material world is created. It is created for temporary existence. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19], you will find in the Bhagavad-gita, "This material manifestation is temporary." May be for millions of years, but it is temporary.

And why this temporary material world is created? Just to give the rebelled, I mean to say, living entities who are averse to God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, to give another chance for developing, for developing. So if we miss this chance, then again, when this material world will be dissolved, oh, we do not know how many millions of years we have to become unconscious. We shall remain in the unconscious, sleeping stage. Then again there will be creation. Then again our body will be created, and... So these are very subtle laws. We should not miss. We should be very much serious about this life.

So the whole program is made: catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg. 4.13]. So by birth one is supposed to be the lowborn. Janmana jayate sudrah. Sudra means without any culture. The man who has no cultural life, he is called a sudra. And those who are cultured, they are called dvija. Dvija means twice-born. So one has to take his birth twice. He should not be satisfied simply by taking birth by the father and mother. One should be anxious to take his twice-born, to become twice-born, brahmana. But that chance is... Don't think that you cannot become a brahmana. You can become a qualified brahmana provided you abide by the qualification of a qualified brahmana. Just like to become a lawyer it is not, I mean to say, limited to a certain section or to a certain person. Anyone who takes the qualification of a lawyer, he becomes a lawyer.

Similarly, here Lord says, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: [Bg. 4.13] "According to quality and karma, these catur-varnya, four classes or four castes or four classes of division of the human society, is created by Me." So brahma janati iti brahmanah. If you want to know Brahman... Because that is the prerogative of your life, human life. Vedanta-sutra says, athato brahma jijnasa. Athato brahma-jijnasa: "Oh, here is the chance for inquiring about Brahman." Athato brahma jijnasa. Now we should take the chance to become a brahmana. As soon as we begin to inquire about Brahman or the Supreme Brahman, Krsna, then my process of becoming the brahmana begins.

You know that the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas, they have got the sacred thread. You have seen. I have got the sacred thread. This is, of course, not very valuable. It is... (chuckles) It is made of cotton. But this is a badge. This badge is given to a person who is twice-born, who is twice-born.

So anyone can become twice-born. There is no hindrance. You will find in the Bhagavad-gita,

mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
[Bg. 9.32]

kim punar brahmanah punya
bhakta rajarsayas tatha
[Bg. 9.33]

kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranasyati
[Bg. 9.31]

So it is a chance we should not miss. You can become brahmana. There is chance. We should not be satisfied that "I am born in America, so I am great. I am born of a great nation." That's all right. You are born of a great nation, that's all right. But next cultural birth, to become a dvija, twice-born, is awaiting. Lord Krsna says, "Yes. I give chance to everyone to become dvija." Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Never mind wherever he is born.

Now the human society, everyone thinks that "He is low; I am big." Everyone thinks. In his own consideration he thinks, "I am the biggest. I am the big; he is lower." That is everywhere. But Lord Krsna is not considering who is bigger. He says, "Even who is considering that ‘I am lowborn.' " Because if everyone says that I am lowborn, it is propaganda that "You are lowborn. You are lowborn," so I think, "Yes, I am lowborn." Dasa cakre bhagavan bhuta.(?)

Just like there was a clique. There was a brahmana. His name was Bhagavan. So he had some enemies. So the enemies, ten enemies, they sat down in ten places, and wherever he was passing, "Oh, you have become ghost! You have become ghost!" "Oh, how I have become? I am living. How I have become ghost?" Next post he goes, he also says, "Oh, you have become ghost! You have become ghost!" In this way, when he passes ten posts, he thinks, "I might be, I have become ghost. Otherwise everyone says I have become ghost." So dasa cakre bhagavan bhuta.

So if everyone says I am lowborn, I am lowborn, so I also think I am lowborn. But I am not lowborn. Aham brahmasmi. I am brahmasmi. I am spirit soul. I am born of Krsna. Krsna is my father. Take like that. Think like that. That is twice-born. That is twice-born. So Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya: [Bg. 9.32] "Anyone who takes shelter of Me, never mind what he is... Never mind he is. He may be lowborn, he may be a sudra, he may be woman, he may be whatever he may be." Te 'pi yanti param gatim: "He can also go to My kingdom."

So our duty is to become twice-born. Just by culture, by Krsna consciousness, let us take another birth. Let us take another birth. Then you will be recognized brahmanas. Brahma janati. As soon as we know Krsna, you are brahmana. Never mind whether you are born in America or Czechoslovakia or any other place. Doesn't matter. So try to become a brahmana. Here is a chance.
But how to become a brahmana? Simply by purchasing two cent worth this thread and getting on the body? No. There are qualities, karma. You have to act like a brahmana, and you have to acquire the qualification of a brahmana. Then you can become a brahmana. There is no impediment. Never mind wherever you were born. That doesn't matter.

So here is... Bhagavad-gita is giving a chance to everyone to become brahmana or be qualified person who knows Brahman and who is preparing himself for the next birth in the spiritual kingdom. He is called brahmana. Catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg. 4.13]. Now, the Lord says, tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam: "Although I have created this system, still, I am not there. I am not there." Why? Because Krsna is neither brahmana nor sudra nor ksatriya or anything, anything of the material world. He is transcendental. When we go to Krsna with spiritual body, we also become like Krsna in transcendental body. That chance is given here. So just it is our duty, everyone.

Lord Caitanya, He is Krsna Himself. He appeared as a devotee of Krsna, but He never said that "I am Krsna." But from Vedic references we understand that He is Krsna. But the same mission. The Krsna's mission and Lord Caitanya's mission is the same. How it is same? Krsna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He said that "You surrender unto Me," and Lord Caitanya said, "You surrender unto Krsna." The same thing. Lord Caitanya said...

What is the philosophy of Lord Caitanya? Lord Caitanya says, aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam ramya kascid upasana vraja-vadhu-varga-virya kalpita, srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam prema pum-artho mahan sri-caitanya mahaprabhor matam idam tatradarah na parah. The philosophy of Lord Caitanya is that Krsna is the only object of worship. And as Krsna is object of worship, similarly, His place, Vrndavana, Vrndavana-dhama. Those who have visited India. Vrndavana-dhama, still, if you go to Vrndavana without knowing about Krsna, you will at once feel Krsna consciousness. It is such a nice place. So that Vrndavana-dhama is also worshipable.

And ramya kascid upasana vraja-vadhu-varga-virya kalpita. Now, Krsna was worshiped by the damsels of Vrajadhama. Lord Caitanya recommends, "That is the highest, topmost grade of worship because that was pure love." The damsels of Vraja loved Krsna so much, without any return. That's a sublime thing. So He recommended, "That is the highest form of worship."

Ramya kascid upasana vraja-vadhu-varga-virya kalpita, srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam: "And Srimad-Bhagavata is the spotless Vedic literature." Because Srimad-Bhagavatam is full of Krsna consciousness only. That's all. Just like this Bhagavad-gita is full of Krsna consciousness. It is the preliminary study of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The last word of the Srimad-Bhagavad-gita is that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You give up everything. You just surrender unto Me," Krsna said. One who accepts this philosophy -- "I accept Krsna as vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah" [Bg. 7.19] -- then for him Srimad-Bhagavatam is the postgraduate study.

And srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam prema pum-artho mahan. Now we are searching. We are searching our self-interest. Everyone is busy of his own interest, but they do not know what is real interest. They do not know what is real interest. The real interest is to invoke the dormant love of Krsna. That is my real interest. That dormant love for Krsna is there in every one of you.

Don't think that because I am born in India, therefore I have got love of Krsna within my heart dormant or manifested. No. That dormant love of Krsna is within you also. Krsna is neither foreign to you or foreign to me. He is for everyone. Therefore love of Krsna is there permanently, but it is covered. Simply it has to be invoked.

And what is this process of invoking? This is the process. Just like we are discussing, we are chanting, and we are reading Bhagavad-gita, we are reading Srimad-Bhagavatam. This association will help us. This association will help us to invoke that dormant Krsna consciousness. So if we at all want...

You will be interested in hearing a story. Not story. It is actual fact. One of my Godbrother who is no longer in this world... His name was Bhaktisaranga Goswami. He went to London. Just as I have come to your New York, he went to London and he formed a society also there in which Lord Rolandcey[?], the Marquis of Zetland... He was formerly governor of Bengal during British period, and in our childhood, when we were college student, in boyhood, I saw him. He is very interest in India philosophy. He's a Scotsman but very interested. Lord Rolandcey. So that Lord Rolandcey, he was very kind enough to become the president of that society my Godbrother organized in London. So Lord Rolandcey and that, my Godbrother, is talking. So Lord Rolandcey asked him, "Well, Swamiji, can you make me a brahmana?" "Yes, why not? Yes, why not? You can become a brahmana." "So what are the conditions?" My Godbrother said, "The preliminary four conditions." "What are these conditions?" "Now, striya-suna-pana-dyuta yatra papas catur-vidhah: You cannot have any illicit connection with woman, you cannot have any intoxication habit, you cannot indulge in gambling or unnecessary sporting, and you cannot live on animal food." Lord Rolandcey replied, "It is impossible. It is impossible." (laughs)

So these things, these four principles, preliminary, if we actually want to be a brahmana, then we have to take care of these four principles of life just to become a brahmana. Yes. Then everyone can become a brahmana. There is no bar. And whoever becomes a brahmana, he knows what is Brahman. And Krsna is Parambrahman. Parambrahman. You'll find in the Tenth Chapter. He is addressed by Arjuna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan: [Bg. 10.12] "By studying Bhagavad-gita I now understand that Krsna, You are Parambrahman." Param dhama: "You are the shelter of everyone." So He is Parambrahman. So anyone who becomes a brahmana, he first of all knows what is Brahman -- brahma-jijnasa -- the Supreme, the Absolute Truth. And the Absolute... One who knows Absolute Truth and enters into further, postgraduate study, he understands Krsna. And as soon as he understands Krsna, then his next life in the spiritual world is guaranteed.

So this is the process of Krsna consciousness. This is the simple process introduced by Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya also supported this philosophy of Krsna, that anyone is eligible for going back to the kingdom of Krsna. This simple process. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita. We have discussed that simply by knowing the transcendental nature of Krsna, we become eligible for entering into His kingdom, simply by knowing. So try to know. Try to study what is Krsna.

And do you know what is the recommendation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He said that

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

That means "It doesn't matter whether he is a householder or a swami, renounced order, or a brahmana or a sudra or a lowborn, whatever he is. That doesn't matter. If he knows the science of Krsna, he is a bona fide spiritual master, if he simply knows the science of Krsna." This is catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma [Bg. 4.13]. It is the quality.

Just like if I go to a medical man or a lawyer, we go there for his qualification. We don't ask him, "Well, sir, are you Christian? Are you Jew or Indian or American or a brahmana?" No. We are concerned with the qualification. It doesn't matter what he is. He may be an American, he may be an Indian, he may be Christian, he may be Jew, he may be Hindu or Mohammedan. Doesn't matter. He's a practiced medical practitioner, so he's a qualified man. I have gone there for my treatment.

Similarly, Lord Caitanya also says the same thing, and Krsna also says the same thing. Never it is, He is stressing on birth. Birth is no consideration. Nobody is responsible for his birth. He may be lowborn but what is that? Or he may be highborn. That doesn't matter. But when he comes out from the womb of the mother, he has got his own responsibility. He has to advance his cultural life in Krsna consciousness. That is his responsibility. That is his responsibility. Of course, father, mother, state, teacher, friend, they can help us, but ultimately, the responsibility lies with me.

If I want to enter into the kingdom of God, or Krsna, if we want to be Krsna consciousness, there is no impediment. There is no impediment. Ahaituky apratihata. In the Bhagavata says that if one wants to cultivate the Krsna consciousness, it is without any cause and without any impediment. Because it is transcendental subject matter, it does not depend on any material condition, on any material condition. There is no consideration of material impediment. So it is open for everyone. Catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg. 4.13]. That is a chance given, that you can become a brahmana, you can become a great devotee of Lord Krsna, and you can become the spiritual master of the world. That is the... And I think you should take seriously.

I am old man. If you, some of you at least understand this science and take up this science, you become future hope of the, this country or the world. That is my request to you, that you should take this chance and become a spiritual master for all the people.

Thank you very much. Now let us have some questions if you want. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.12-13 -- New York, July 29, 1966

"Relief From Today's Hell"

73/07/29 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.41-42



Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

sankaro narakayaiva
kula-ghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy esam
lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
[Bg. 1.41]

Translation: "When there is increase of unwanted population, a hellish situation is created both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. In such corrupt families, there is no offering of oblations of food and water to the ancestors."

Prabhupada: Sankaro narakayaiva. When there are unwanted children, then the family tradition, the family obligation, they are all forgotten. At the present moment, nobody knows that after death there is life, and still such life is connected with the family, the forefathers and the descendants. Nothing of this science is known at the present moment. More or less, exactly like animals. That's all. An animal has no such feelings of connections. Simply the number of days he will eat. He will eat, sleep, have sex life and die, that's all. This subtle regulation of family connection is unknown at the present moment, and still they are very proud of advancement of knowledge. So unwanted children, as we have discussed in the previous...

Pradusyanti kula-striyah. If the woman, kula-striyah, family... Family woman and prostitute are different. Still in India, the uncontrolled woman, or there is a class of prostitutes. They are not family women. But kula-striyah, family women, they have got so many obligations. There is a verse that svargapta-kama-moksaya dhara samprati hetuta. Dhara means wife. Wife can help one to be elevated to the heavenly planets, and dharmartha-kama, to become helpful in the matter of advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge: dharma; artha, economic development; kama, satisfying the husband for sense gratification; dharma artha kama; and moksa also, also for salvation. The wife is so important. If there is chaste wife, she can help the husband in these four principles of life, dharma artha kama moksa, dhara samprati hetuta. If we can train up nice wife, or the society trains the girls to become nice wife, she becomes a great source of energy to the husband. Dharma-artha-kama-moksah dhara sampra.... And if they are polluted, they become source of the sankara, varna-sankara.

The exact example of varna-sankara is the hippies at the present moment. All over the world, not only in the Western countries but in India also. So the population, hippie population means sankara population. So increase of such population means narakayaiva, naraka, hellish, hellish condition of life in this life, also in the next life. At that time, to live, actually we have practically seen in recent years, especially in Calcutta, it has become a hellish life. The population, the younger generation, is so polluted, so contaminated, that you cannot safely walk in the street. Anywhere, the young boys they can encircle you and rob you. You cannot say on. The police cannot help, the government cannot help. So these unwanted children, without being trained up in the varnasrama system, they become the cause of hellish life in this life also after death. After death according to Vedic regulations, pinda-udaka, pinda, offering Visnu prasada and water at least once in a year it is required by the family members. And according to Vedic culture, there is one month fixed up in a year when all people will offer pinda and udaka to the forefathers. Tarpana, tarpana. Week or fortnight, for one fortnight. So the idea is that if the forefather in the family has not achieved a proper life... Sometimes due to sinful activities, too much attachment, a man becomes ghost. Ghost, there is ghosts. Bhuta preta pisaca. Not only this life, demonic life, but after death also, there are ghostly lives. They do not get this gross body. They remain in the subtle body, mind, intelligence, and ego. Due to their gross sinful life, they are punished by not getting a gross life. Because without getting a gross life, we cannot enjoy. With mind, I cannot enjoy rasagulla. I must have the tongue, I must have the hand, fingers, I can pick up, then... In the mind, I may think of eating or collecting rasagulla, but actually I do not get the taste. So gross body is required, because every living entity in this material world, they have come to enjoy. Krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare pasate maya tare japatiya dhare. This is the beginning of our material life. When we forget to render service to Krsna, immediately we get a material body offered by the material nature.

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

So this gross body is required for enjoyment. Spirit, spiritual body is also very subtle, and the astral body, or subtle body, is also very subtle. The gross body required. So on account of one's severe sinful life, he does not get this gross body. Therefore the lupta-pindodaka-kriya. Taking for granted that some of my forefathers have become ghostly life and has not got the gross body, so by this pindodaka... Pinda means offering prasada of Visnu prasada. Still in India there is a place Gaya. There is Visnu temple, and it is a custom all Hindus... Nowadays, they do not go. They do not believe even. They have given up everything. Due to unwanted children, they don't care for it, what is family, what is pinda-udaka. Simply eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy, that's all. But you see 5000 years, Arjuna... Arjuna was not a brahmana, neither a sannyasi. A grhastha, householder, and a, in royal order. He's on the battlefield. He's not a Vedantist. But just see how his knowledge is perfect. This is Vedic culture. One may not be a brahmana. Brahmana is very advanced. Satya sama dama titiksa. But even ksatriyas, they are also so advanced, so advanced we can see that he is hearing Bhagavad-gita from Krsna in the battlefield. How much time you can spare in the battlefield? The talk took place between the two soldiers when he was just going to throw his arrow. Sastra sampate. Just we going to... He became very compassionate: "Krsna, I have to kill my own kinsmen." And he's describing. He's describing, "What kind of sinful activities I am going to do." So just try to understand how much people were advanced. These Bhagavad-gita talks took place between Krsna and Arjuna in the battlefield just on the verge of his beginning the battle. So how much time he could spare? Utmost, half an hour. Not more than that. So within half an hour, this Bhagavad-gita was taught to Arjuna, and he could understand it, and then he agreed to fight. Yes, nasto mohah smrtir labdha, karisye vacanam tava. [Bg. 18.73] How much advanced he was in education and learning, just imagine. At the present moment they are reading Bhagavad-gita years after years, big, big scholars, big, big theologians and... But they cannot understand. After reading Bhagavad-gita, they are accusing Krsna as immoral. One professor in Oxford University, he is a student or professor of Bhagavad-gita, has written book. Now his conclusion is that Krsna is immoral. That means he could not understand Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita cannot be understood by any demon or third-class man. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna said to Arjuna that: "I am speaking to you the same Bhagavad-gita, science of God, which I spoke millions of years ago to the sun-god, because the parampara is lost and I have picked up you because bhakto 'si me priyo 'si, you are very dear friend and bhakta."

So Bhagavad-gita is not meant for the demons or the abhaktas. The first condition is that he must be a devotee of Krsna. Then it will be revealed. Otherwise it is not possible. Naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavritah [Bg. 7.25]. Na mam duskrtino mudha prapadyante naradhamah. These things are there. So if one is devotee of Krsna, he can understand Bhagavad-gita very easily. Just like Arjuna understood within half an hour. Others, they cannot understand. In one sense, the people at that time were so educated, advanced, that they could talk about the Absolute Truth and understand within half an hour, one hour. There was no need of books in those days. People were so sharp memoried. Once heard from the spiritual master they'll never forget. With the advancement of Kali, so many things will reduce. One of them is the memory will be reduced. People will be weaker. There will be no more mercy. The brain will not be so powerful or sharp. These things are described. So we cannot even imagine what kind of brain Arjuna possessed. Another thing, this Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. And the Mahabharata was written for stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocarah. Stri, woman, stri, sudra and dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu means a person born in high family, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, at least brahmana, ksatriya, but he's not qualified brahmana or ksatriya. He's called dvija-bandhu, the friend of the twice-born. The brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, they are twice-born. One birth is father and mother; another birth is by the spiritual master, by Vedic knowledge. The Vedic knowledge is mother and the spiritual master is the father. So the second birth. Therefore, they are called dvija, twice born. So dvija-bandhunam, those who are not actually twice born but born in the family of dvijas. Therefore they are called dvija-bandhu, "not dvija, friends of the dvijas." Dvija-bandhu. One may become a friend of the dvija. One may become a son of a high-court judge, but that does not mean he's also high court judge. But now they are taking: "Because my father is brahmana, therefore I am brahmana." No. That was not accepted. Your father may be brahmana, but if you are not qualified brahmana, you cannot be called a brahmana. You can be called dvija-bandhu. So this Mahabharata was written: stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti gocarah. Woman and dvija-bandhu and the sudras, it is very difficult for them to understand the Vedic literatures directly, because they have no advanced knowledge or education. Therefore the same thing. The Vedic knowledge was described in the Mahabharata. Because it is history. Everyone is interested to read history. So through history, the Vedic knowledge was imparted. Therefore, Mahabharata is called the fifth Vedas. There are four Vedas, Sama, Yajur, Rk, Atharva. And Mahabharata is fifth Veda. They are meant for this stri, sudra, dvija-bandhu. So Bhagavad-gita is within the Mahabharata. So actually it was meant for the less intelligent class of men. But, at the present moment, the highest intelligent class of men cannot understand. Just see the difference. Formerly, 5000 years, this was meant for the less intelligent class of men, and we have deteriorated so much that the so-called highest intelligent class of men cannot understand this Bhagavad-gita. And he is posted as the professor in the Oxford University.

So this class of men are leading the society. The third-class, fourth-class men, they are leaders. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. So now we are talking with so many big, big persons, guests, coming daily. But actually, we can see how much the third-class, fourth-class men, practically blind, they are leading the society. That we can understand. Therefore, the social order is... Just like Arjuna is describing here, sankaro narakayaiva kula-ghnanam kulasya ca. Who knows this? Who knows this science, that sankaro narakayaiva, if you produce unwanted hellish condition? Who is caring for that? The world is in hellish condition, we can perceive, but they are trying in a different way. They want to remain demons; at the same time, they want to become leaders. So at the present moment, comparing the social status 5000 years ago... According to Darwin's theory, 5000 years ago, men were uncivilized, uncivilized. Now this literature is written by uncivilized men. Just see. So highly intellectual writings, they were uncivilized. Now they have become civilized. That is Darwin's theory. We are now making progress. So Arjuna said that patanti pitaro hy esam lupta-pindodaka-kriyah. Pindodaka. In Calcutta, there was a big scientist. His name was Sarpisirat. He was speaking in a, he was atheist number one, he was speaking that: "This pindodaka, by offering pinda, prasada and water, it will go to my forefather. So just give me to eat downstairs whether I can eat upstairs?" This reasoning. But he does not know that how much there are different types of eating. They do not know there is eating in the subtle body also. The ghosts also, they eat. But the method is different. So even a big scientist speak like that, then how the ordinary people...? Yad yad acarati sresthah, lokas tad anuvartate. If the so-called advanced in education they speak so irresponsibly, naturally, others will follow. Therefore, at the present moment, the whole generation is covered with ignorance and darkness. No clear knowledge. And without clear knowledge, whatever we do... Just like in darkness, whatever we act, that is simply embezzlement. That's all. It is not very correctly understood. Therefore we have no correct knowledge, no correct activities, and, and the result is narakayaiva. So you can read next verse.

Pradyumna:

dosair etaih kula-ghnanam
varna-sankara-karakaih
utsadyante jati-dharmah
kula-dharmas ca sasvatah
[Bg. 1.42]

Translation: "Due to the evil deeds of the destroyers of family tradition, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated."

Prabhupada: So jati-dharma. Jati, nowadays it has been taken as "national." But here, jati-dharma means...Just like one is born in brahmana jati, ksatriya jati, vaisya jati, sudra jati. So each jati, they have got different types of responsibilities. So when the unwanted children, irresponsible children, they do not follow any more the tradition, the family tradition, or jati-dharma, so they create a class of population in the varna-sankara. So everything becomes topsy-turvy, hellish condition. And actually it has so happened. Now there is no more jati-dharma. Everyone is engaged somehow or other to fill up the belly. Formerly, formerly there was stricture. The brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas, these three higher castes, there were certain restrictions. The brahmana would not do this or the brahmana must do this. So that is called jati-dharma. A brahmana cannot accept service from anywhere. I have discussed many times. A ksatriya also cannot. And vaisya cannot. Only the sudra can become servant of others. Paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam. So, at the present moment, nobody can observe the strict rules and regulations, that "I am born in a brahmana family. I cannot accept anyone's service." Then you will have to starve. Because he has no brahminical capacity... By education, by culture, he's a sudra, although falsely he's claiming that he is a brahmana or ksatriya. So his jati-dharma, family tradition, family rituals, everything is lost due to this unwanted children. Unwanted children make everything topsy-turvy. So Arjuna is visualizing all the future calamities. But there is one remedy. It is a fact that jati-dharma we have lost. No more we can be called strictly following the jati-dharma. No more can one present himself strictly as a brahmana or ksatriya. Everything is lost now, by the influence of Kali-yuga. And varna-sankara. So there is only one remedy, only one remedy. That is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto:

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkara nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
[SB 11.5.41]

We must admit that we have created hellish condition of society by producing unwanted children, and disobeying the jati-dharma or kula-dharma. That one has to admit, everyone. So what is the remedy? Only remedy is to surrender to Krsna. Krsna is canvassing that: "Even you can give up your jati-dharma, but simply surrender unto Me. I shall give you protection."

There is another verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: tyaktva sva-dharman caranambujam harer. Sva-dharma. Sva-dharma means jati-dharma. So I may be born in a brahmana or ksatriya, so I have got sva-dharma. A ksatriya or brahmana has got his own regulative principles. So Bhagavata, Narada says, Bhagavata says and Narada says that if one has given up his jati-dharma..., because Krsna is asking: sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Sarva-dharma means this sva-dharma, jati-dharma, or so many other dharmas man created for the nice keep-up of the society. Just like we create even in the modern world so many rules and regulations. Take for example that one must keep to the left. Just to keep order in the society. There are so many things. So jati-dharma, kula-dharma is also like that. Spiritually, it has no value. It, it can help one to be elevated on the spiritual platform. But spiritual advancement does not depend on this jati-dharma or kula-dharma. It does not depend. Even without following the rules and regulations of jati-dharma and kula-dharma one can become advanced in spiritual life. Ahaituki apratihata. If one is serious to become Krsna conscious, then all these material impediments cannot check him. Anyone can become. Sat, sat sva-paco... There is a... What is called? Mantra-tantra-visarada, avaisnavo gurur na syat vaisnavah sva-paco guruh. One is very expert in jati-dharma, but if he's not a Vaisnava, if he's not a devotee of Lord Visnu... Vaisnava means visnur yasya devata one who has accepted... There are many demigods, devatas. So sometimes they are advised that: "If you want this result, then you worship this demigod." Just like it is said that if you want a beautiful wife, so you worship Uma. Uma, the wife of Lord Siva, she is very beautiful. So similarly, if you want learning then you worship such and such demigod. If you want money, then you worship such and such demigod. These are there, I mean to say orders in the Vedic literature. But if you want to get relief from this material condition of life, then you have to take the shelter of Visnu, Vaisnava. Or the sastra says even if you have got other desires to fulfill, still you become Vaisnava. That is the last instruction. You don't require to worship other demigods. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is said kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajanty anya-devata [Bg. 7.20]. If one is bewildered on account of lusty desires, they go to different demigods for begging some benefit. So they are hrta-jnana. Hrta-jnana means lost of intelligence. If Krsna is the Supreme, so suppose if you want some material happiness, can He not give you? He can give you also. So why should you bother about other demigods? Therefore, it is said kamais tais tair hrta-jnana. If Krsna is the Supreme Lord, so if I have got some desires, material desires... Actual bhakti means minus all material... Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. One must be freed from all material desires. But even if you have got some material desire, still you can take shelter of Krsna. You don't require to take shelter of other demigods. So that is the last instruction in the Vedic literature.

akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udaradhi
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param
[SB 2.3.10]

Akama means devotee. Devotees have no desire. They have got desire just to become devotee of Krsna. That is natural desire. If the son desires that: "I shall be obedient son of my father," that is natural desire. Or the son desires that: "I shall depend on my father, and I shall be happy," that kind of desire is natural desire. Similarly, if one desires that: "I shall become a devotee of Lord Krsna," that is natural desire. But when I desire to lord it over the material nature and forget my service to Krsna, that is called vasana. That is material desire, abhilasa. So we have to give up these material desires. Then it is bhakti. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnanam karmady anavrtam anukulyena krsna... [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11].

So even if we have violated the jati-dharma and kula-dharma... That is a fact. We have done so. There is no denying this fact. Every one of us, we have done that. Then what is the next duty or remedy? Because we have violated everything. So that, for that purpose, in the Bhagavata gives you direction. Here is the verse: devarsi-bhutaptam nrnam pitrnam. Pitr, pitr pindodaka-kriyah. So we are obliged to offer pinda and water to the pitrs. But here is an, what is called, an outlet. Devarsi, we are indebted to the devatas. Rsis, we are indebted to the great sages. Devarsi, devarsi bhutanam. We are indebted to so many other living entities, bhutanam, and nrnam. We are also indebuted to the human society. Nrnam, pitrnam. We are indebted to the pitrs, forefather. Pitrnam. So na kinkara nayam rni ca rajan. One becomes freed from the servitude of all these personalities, devarsi-bhutapta nrnam pitrnam [SB 11.5.41]. How he can become? Sarvatma yah saranam saranyam. One who has fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, saranyam. Saranyam means here is the real place where one can surrender fully. Others, if I surrender to a cats and dogs, what he will help me? Therefore they are not saranyam. But, by mistake, if they take shelter of such cats and dogs, what benefit they will get? Therefore saranyam, the worthwhile surrender is to the lotus feet of Mukunda. Therefore it is said, sarvatma yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartum. We have got so many duties, but in this age, we have lost everything. Therefore, our only duty is to surrender unto the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krsna. That will save us. Krsna says -- it is not story -- Krsna says aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. "I know that you have violated your family tradition, your past regulations, everything you have done for which you are to be punished, sinful activities, but I give you assurance, if you surrender unto Me, then aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. I shall give you deliverance from all the reactions of sinful activities." Therefore at the present moment, because we have lost all culture, we have done so many sinful activities, if we want to be saved, it is, the only remedy is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, and thus become saved.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973