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6 Jul 76 , Washington

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Prabhupada:

 

sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam
sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam
dadati sva-padantikam

[When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?]

This movement is sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared on this earth five thousand years ago in Bengal, Navadvipa, to spread this Krsna consciousness, although this movement is not new. This Krsna consciousness movement was started by Krsna Himself. Apparently the Krsna consciousness movement was started by Krsna Himself in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra five thousand years ago, and He said that "This Krsna consciousness movement I spoke to the sun-god long, long years ago." Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. This is avyaya. Avyaya means which is never diminished or destroyed. Vyaya means which is destroyed, and Krsna says this yoga system... This is yoga system: bhakti-yoga. Yoga means to connect, to add, yoga. So at the present moment we are almost disconnected. Not exactly disconnected; forgotten our relationship with Krsna, or God. God means Krsna, and Krsna means God. So in the human society there are many different types of yoga system just to reconnect our relationship with Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita they are explained differently, karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, hatha-yoga, dhyana-yoga, bhakti-yoga. All of them are yogas, but there are different stages. Yoga means to connect or to link up with the Supreme Absolute Truth. Now suppose he is in the topmost platform. So everyone is trying to go there. Mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah. Krsna says, "Everyone is trying to come to Me, but..." Just like the person who's on the top floor. So the staircase is one. Somebody has crossed ten steps; somebody has taken, crossed twenty steps; somebody has crossed hundred steps; but one has to go, to fulfill, say, one thousand steps. There are different yoga systems. Everyone is trying to go to the topmost platform, mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah. This is a fact.

So in the Kali-yuga especially, to come to the highest platform of yoga perfection step by step, it is little difficult. Actually, to practice yoga, one has to undergo so many austerities, penances, rules, regulations. That is all described in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, how yoga should be practiced. It is recommended that yogis should sit down in a secluded place, sacred place. So in India, still, those who are actually yogis, at least those who are trying to follow the yoga system... Real yoga system means dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yoginah, those who are yogis, they sit down in a secluded place, alone. The yoga practice is not possible in a fashionable city. That is not possible. It is to be executed alone. Still you'll find in India, many places-Hardwar -- there are many yogis, they are sitting alone. They have nothing to do with this material world, and dhyanavasthita, and not only for one, two, three years, but for many hundred years. Still many yogis come during Kumbhamela. Their age is three hundred years, four hundred years, five hundred years old. It is possible. It is possible. By exercising the breathing, one can prolong his life. That is called samadhi. If you can stop your breathing, then you enhance your duration of life. That is possible. Therefore you'll find the picture of the yogis, they are controlling the breathing. Because everyone has got a destined breathing period by superior arrangement. So if you don't spend your breathing, then you prolong your life. If you can remain in samadhi, don't breathe, then... Just like if you have got a bank balance, one thousand dollars. If you don't spend it, then the one thousand dollar is there. Or out of one thousand dollars, you spend one. Still you have nine hundred ninety-nine. So the yoga practice is to control the breathing period. And this breathing can be controlled if you can control your sense pleasure. Otherwise it will not be possible. Especially sex. Everyone has got experience. While sex life one enjoys, the breathing is very heavy. Very, very heavy. So he loses the balance of his breathing period. Therefore the first practice of yoga is yoga indriya samyamah, to control the senses. That is all described in the Bhagavad-gita, Sixth Chapter.

So this yoga system was possible in the Satya-yuga, I mean to say, possible for the mass of people. If one or two persons practices yoga, the practice is there, the system is there, but it is not possible for the general public. It is not possible. So in the sastra we find, krte yad dhyayato visnuh [SB 12.3.52]. Real yoga system, I've already explained, that yoga indriya samyamah, or by meditation to see the Supreme Lord always within the heart. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. In trance, you'll find yogi picture, their trance, they are in meditation, completely silent, stop breathing and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, within the heart. This is actual yoga system. But it was possible to be executed in the Satya-yuga. Satya-yuga means when people used to live for one hundred thousands of years. That was possible. Just like Valmiki Muni. He executed yoga system for sixty thousand years. Because he was to live for one hundred thousands of years, so it was not very difficult to engage oneself for sixty thousands of years. But that is not possible in this age. Therefore sastra says,

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
 [SB 12.3.52]

Kalau, in this Kali-yuga, when people are very, very fallen... Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. They are very unfortunate also, and manda-bhagya, and although unfortunate, they are disturbed by so many external factors. So it is very difficult to execute yoga system or yajna system, sacrifice. It is very costly affair. Or even arcana, temple worship, it is also very difficult, because people are not very much interested even, worshiping the Deity in the temple. In India there are thousands and thousands of temples, temple or mosque or church, at the same time, for offering prayers, obeisances to the Lord. People are losing interest in that arcana-marga. There are many temples I have seen, there is no caretaker. People are losing interest. Many temples. They are open; a dog is living within the temple and passing stool. I have seen it.

So people are gradually losing interest in temple worship even, what to speak of yoga or offering sacrifices. Everything is now finished. Therefore kalau tad dhari-kirtanat. This is prescribed in the sastra. That system was introduced by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because other system will not be successful in this age. May be successful in one or two cases, but not for the general mass of people. Therefore sastra recommends... There are different incarnation of God, but one incarnation is there, it is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other places also, in Upanisad and Mahabharata. These are approved Vedic scriptures. So the Vedic knowledge is summarized in the Vedanta system, Brahma-sutra, everything done by Vyasadeva. And in order to protect the sanctity of Vedanta... Because there are so many foolish persons, they are distorting the purpose of Vedanta-sutra; therefore Vyasadeva, under the instruction of his spiritual master Narada, he personally wrote a commentary on the Vedanta-sutra. This is Srimad-Bhagavatam. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced these two things -- sankirtana and Srimad-Bhagavatam. And Srimad-Bhagavatam means the expansion of Bhagavad-gita. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita you'll find, at the last stage, Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. And Srimad-Bhagavatam also begins from that point. Srimad-Bhagavatam gives introduction, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. All cheating type of religious system kicked out, projjhita. Projjhita means just like you sweep over the floor, and all the dust, you throw it away. That is called projjhita. Prakrsta-rupena ujjhita.

So this system, one system, to accept the real principles of religion. That is, Krsna also explained. It is explained by Krsna, that Krsna came, appeared. Why? What is the purpose of Krsna's appearing? Sometimes they argue, atheist class of men, that God cannot come. Why God cannot come? God is your father's servant, that He cannot come? You are ordering? If He cannot come, how He is God? God can do everything. Why you say that God cannot come? He is not under your rules and regulations. Then He is not God. God can come. God says, "Yes, I come!"

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
 [Bg. 4.7]

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
 [Bg. 4.8]

So why God cannot come? So when God says, "Yes, I come for this purpose. This is My mission..." Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati. What is that glanir? Glanir means discrepancies. Not, the principles of religious..., when it is not executed properly, that is called glanir. So what is dharma? A simple definition is given: dharmam tu saksat-bhagavat-pranitam. Dharma means the law given by God, that's all-three words: God and His words. So if we do not know who is God, if we do not know what is His order, then we are lost. If we do not know God and if we... Just like if we do not know what is the government and if we do not know what is the order of government, then what is our position? We'll commit every step some mistake, and we shall suffer. So we must know what is dharma and... A cat, dog cannot understand dharma, but a human being is supposed to understand dharma. Lawbooks are made for the human being, not for the cats and dogs. "Keep to the left" or "Keep to the right," the signboard is there in the street. Or the red light is there, blue light is there -- for whom? For the human beings, not for the cats and dogs. The cats and dogs may disobey; there is no criminality on their part because they are cats and dogs. So there is law of God, there is God. If human being does not know what is God and what is the law of God, then he's no better than the cats and dogs. He must know. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19].

So that law is being instructed by the God Himself. That is Bhagavad-gita. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati [Bg. 4.7]. Dharma-samsthapanarthaya. So Krsna did not come to establish some sectarian religious system. That is not God's system. God is for everyone. God is not for the Hindus, for the Muslims, for the Christians, or anyone. God is for everyone. He is for animals, trees, plants, aquatics, insects, everyone. Because He claims, Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

sarva-yonisu kaunteya
sambhavanti murtayah yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita
 [Bg. 14.4]

Krsna is claiming. Actually, that is the fact. If you study only this verse, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah. There are so many forms of life, beginning from grass. That is also life. The grass is coming from the earth, the trees are coming from the earth, the animals, four-legged animals, they are eating grass, they are forming semina, they are discharging the semina, and the animal species of life are coming. We are eating, either eating the animal or the vegetable, we are also begetting children. The origin is from the earth. Tasam brahma mahad yonir. Mahat-tattva. So we can see practically that these things are there, so many different varieties of life. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sankhyakah. They are all living entities. Aquatics, nine hundred thousand forms of life within the water, jalaja nava-laksani, everything accurate. Sthavara laksa-vimsati, the trees, plants, they are standing, sthavara. That is very great punishment. Those who are very, very sinful, they have to take birth as trees and plants and stand up for thousands of years. Material nature's punishment. A small ant, it can move, but a big tree cannot move. That is punishment. Just like in our childhood we were being punished by the teachers, "Stand up on the bench." So it is like that.

So in this way Krsna, or God... If you simply study this line, that so many living entities are coming out of the earth, either water or land or air or anything. They are coming out. So they are offspring and material nature is the mother, Krsna says that. Sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah, tasam mahad yonir-mahat-tattva [Bg. 14.4]. Yoni, mother. So where is the father? The children are there, the mother is there, the next inquiry should be, "Where is the father?" That is natural. Without father, the mother is sitting with the child, nobody can say the child has no father. If somebody says that "I do not see the father. How I can believe?" that is foolishness. You believe or not believe, you see or not see, there must be father. This is the conclusion. This is theory, that this world is going on, everything is coming out of the mother earth, then there must be father. And that father is present, aham bija-pradah pita: [Bg. 14.4] "I am the father."

So it is our misfortune that we do not recognize the father. So it may be, "How can I recognize my father?" Ask you mother. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. All Vedic literature will say, "Here is father." Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].

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

So we'll find in every Vedic literature, Krsna is the supreme father. When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, in the Tenth Chapter you will find, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan purusam sasvatam adyam [Bg. 10.12]. And he also confirmed that "I am accepting You like this, param brahma param dhama [Bg. 10.12]. So people may be in doubt because I am Your friend. So they may say, 'Out of friendship, regard or affection, out of sentiment, he is speaking like that, that Krsna is the supreme person, param brahma.' " But Arjuna immediately rectifies this impression, that "Not only myself, but great authorities like Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, they are also affirming." Vyasadeva is authority. Veda-vyasa, he is the giver of Vedic knowledge. So he is accepting. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam he is writing, ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. He has given description of the incarnation of God, then he concludes that "All these incarnations, they are part and parcel or plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the name which I have mentioned as Krsna, that Godhead, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, He is the Supreme Original Personality of Godhead." That is Vyasadeva's... So we have to accept. And Arjuna also says, svayam caiva bravisi me, "You are also personally speaking that mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7], 'There is no more superior authority than Me.' " So this is confirmed.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to find out the supreme father. Supreme father. That is the sum and substance of this movement. If we do not know who is our father, that is not a very good position. At least, in India, it is a custom, if somebody cannot say his father's name, he is not very respectable. And it is the system in the court that you write your name, you must write your father's name. That is Indian, Vedic system, and the name, his own name, his father's name and his village name. These three combined together. I think this system may be prevalent in other countries, but India, this is the system. The first name his own name, the second name his father's name, and the third name is the village or the country where he is born. This is system. So father's..., we must know the father. That is Krsna consciousness movement. If we remain forgetful of our father, that is not a very good position. And what kind of father? Param brahma param dhama [Bg. 10.12]. The richest. Not the poor father who cannot feed his children. It is not that father. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. That father is so rich that He alone is feeding millions and millions and trillions of living entities. In Africa there are hundreds and millions of elephants. He is feeding them. And within the room there is a hole, there may be millions of ants. He is also feeding them. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). These are the Vedic information.

So human life, this is meant for understanding who is father, what is His law, who is God, what is our relationship with Him. This is Vedanta. Vedanta does not mean talk some nonsense and no relationship with the father. Srama eva hi kevalam. If you do not know who is your father...

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

This is not wanted. And Krsna says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. So you become Vedantist, that's very nice. In the beginning of Vedanta it is said that the Absolute Truth is that from whom everything comes. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is beginning. Now the human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth, jijnasa. One should inquire what is the Absolute. That is human life, to find out the Absolute Truth. So the next sutra immediately says that Absolute Truth is that who is the source of everything. And what is that everything? Two things we find: animate and inanimate. Practical experience. Some of them are animate and some of them are inanimate. Two things. Now we can expand the varieties. That is another thing. But two things are there. So these two things, we see there is a controller above these two things, the animate and inanimate. So we have to inquire now whether the source of two things, animate and inanimate, what is the position? The position is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah [SB 1.1.1]. The original source of everything is abhijnah. How? Anvayad itaratas carthesu. If I have created something, I know everything, all details, anvayad, directly or indirectly, I know. If I manufacture something... Suppose if I know some special cooking, then I know all the details how to do it. That is the origin. So that origin is Krsna. Krsna says, vedaham samatitani: [Bg. 7.26] "I know everything -- past, present and future." Mattah sarvam pravartate. Aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. According to creation theory... Not theory, fact. Brahma visnu mahesvara. So these are the principle devatas. So Visnu is the original. Aham adir hi devanam. The creation, first Maha-Visnu; then from Maha-Visnu there is Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Garbhodakasayi Visnu there is Ksirodakasayi Visnu, expansion of Visnu, and from Him, Brahma comes. Brahma is born out of Garbhodakasayi Visnu on the lotus flower, then he gives birth to Rudra. This is the explanation of creation. So Krsna says aham adir hi devanam. He's also origin of Visnu because, from the sastra we say, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. The original Personality of Godhead is Krsna. And the first expansion of Krsna is Baladeva. Then from Him this Catur-vyuha, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha, like that. Then Narayana. From Narayana, the second Catur-vyuha, and from the second Catur-vyuha, Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu. In this way you have to learn the sastras. You'll find that actually, as it is said in the sastra, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. And Krsna says, aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. And Arjuna accepts, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So we have to accept sastra. Sastra-caksusat: you have to see through the sastra. And if you learn sastra, then you'll find krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to present to the human society the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is Krsna consciousness movement. So we started this movement in 1966, registering it. Our Rupanuga Prabhu has already explained. So take this movement very seriously. The same, Krsna, started within the historical, five thousand years ago. And He started this movement with Arjuna as His disciple. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He revived again the same movement. He is Krsna Himself. And that is going on. Don't think that this is a manufactured movement. No. It is the authorized movement and confirmed by the authorities. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. There are mahajanas mentioned in the sastra. So be fixed up in the Krsna consciousness movement and try to understand Krsna. We have got so many literatures, authorized literatures. And make your life success.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Tenth Anniversary Address -- Washington, D.C., July 6, 1976

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Fifth Class Education... First-class Population

"Fifth Class Education... First-class Population"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.22
Chicago, July 6, 1975

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Nitai: "That fallen brahmana of the name Ajamila was giving trouble to all other men by forcibly arresting them, cheating them by gambling with weighted dice, or by directly plundering someone. Thus he used to earn his livelihood to maintain his family by giving trouble and pain to others."

Prabhupada:

bandy-aksaih kaitavais cauryair
garhitam vrttim asthitah
bibhrat kutumbam asucir
yatayam asa dehinah
 [SB 6.1.22]

Bibhrat. Bibhrat kutumbam asucir yatayam asa dehinah. Bibhrat, we have to maintain our body. This is called bibhrat. That is necessary. We have got this body in this material world. This is not spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is no necessity of maintaining the body. The body is spiritual. As we have got here in this material world, to maintain this body I require to eat, I require to sleep, I require to satisfy my sense, and I require to defend -- the four necessities... Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. And spiritual body means these four kinds of bodily demands, nil, no more. That is spiritual life. That means no eating, no sleeping, no sex, and no defense. The six Gosvamis in Vrndavana, they practiced it. (sic:) Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau **. They conquered over sleeping, eating, mating, and defending. Nidra means sleeping, ahara means eating, vihara means sex. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. Conquered.

So this is the advancement of spiritual life. When we conquer over these things, that means we have come to the spiritual platform. So, so long we have got this material body, it is not possible, but try to minimize. Try to minimize. Therefore Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami... He was very rich man's son. His father's income, five hundred years, ago was twelve hundred thousand rupees. So now, you know, the exchange is... What is the exchange today? It is at least five hundred times increased. Anyway, that Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, when left home... His father and uncle was very strictly observing. He was given very nice beautiful wife and very beautiful house. But he was not very much satisfied. He wanted to join Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So his father was very strictly keeping guard, that "This boy may not go out." Just like some of your parents do. (laughter) So... But this cannot be checked. So Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, after all, by some tricks -- after all, he was very intelligent, rich man's son -- he went away to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And his mother was advising to his father that "Why don't you handcuff this boy?" So his father was saying that "I have already handcuffed him with such beautiful wife and such beautiful residence, and he has opened this. Now what this material handcuff will do?" So anyway, he left father's home and approached Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was in Jagannatha Puri, and he was intrusted to Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's secretary, to take care of him.

So he was practicing this thing, how to conquer over eating, sleeping, mating, and defense. It is a long story. Perhaps one who has read Caitanya-caritamrta... So at last, when he was living at Radha-kunda, he was taking every alternate day a little quantity of butter. That's all. Nothing else. So it is possible. When he left home, his father sent four men, and with arrangement that he would get four hundred rupees. In those days four hundred rupees meant at least twenty times. What is the four hundred rupees, twenty times?

Devotee: Eight thousand.

Prabhupada: Eight thousand rupees for his personal expenditure. So he was utilizing that money by inviting sannyasis of Jagannatha Puri. There were many sannyasis. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also being invited. So after a few days, there was no invitation. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired His secretary that "Why Raghunatha does not invite?" So he replied that "He refused to take his father's contribution." So Caitanya, "Oh, it is very nice." It is not that "Money will come from home, and I shall become a renounced order of life." No. He understood that "I have left my home. Why shall I take money from my father?" He refused.

So in this way Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, one of the six Gosvamis, very important devotee, he used to live. He used to eat every alternate day, not daily. One day starving, and the next day, a little butter. But he was observing his regulative principles, taking thrice daily bath and offering dandavat, what is called? Counting, numerical. Just like we count twenty-five rounds minimum, so Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was also chanting by counting. Similarly, he was offering dandavat. You offer dandavat, the same way. That is also counting. Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. Sankhya-purvaka, keeping a strength, a numerical strength, just like we are advised at least sixteen rounds. So these things were going on. Not that because he was taking little butter alternate day, he lost his strength. No. The strength was all right. So the fasting means if you don't feel weak, then you fast. Not that you imitate Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. That is not possible in the beginning. But it is possible if you practice, if you practice. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau catyanta-dinau ca yau sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasani-krtau **. So everything is possible. But that is advanced spiritual life. It is no use imitating a higher authority, Haridasa Thakura. Just like he was chanting not sixteen rounds, but 164 rounds. So that is not possible. Gradually, sanaih sanaih, gradually, we have to practice.

So, so long we are in this material world, not in the spiritual world, still we have to live very honestly. Then there is hope for raising oneself to the spiritual platform. So here... Yesterday we have discussed, ajamilah namna kascid dvijah. Dvija, a brahmana. Dvija is not still brahmana. Dvija means he is initiated, dvija, means second birth. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. By reformatory method one is initiated for the second time or second birth. Then he is educated by the Vedic literature. Just like we have got so many books. After initiation, one become bona fide student to study all these Vedic literatures. Then he become vipra. That is brahminical stage. Veda-pathad bhaved viprah. And not only simply reading, but when he realizes what is Brahman, then he is brahmana. Not easy, the stages. Veda-pathad bhaved vipro brahma janatiti brahmanah. This Brahman is impersonal Brahman, and still, you have to go above. When... Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti [SB 1.2.11]. In the beginning, Brahman realization, impersonal. Then, as you gradually increase, then Paramatma realization. That is meditation. That is meditation. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. The yogis, by meditation, they observe the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu within the heart. That is yoga system perfection. And above that, there is personal realization, Bhagavan. So when you realize the Personality of Godhead, then you become a Vaisnava. This is gradual steps.

So this dvija, as soon as he contacted a prostitute... Prostitute, unchaste, pumscali. Another name is pumscali. Those who are, I mean to say, moved by another person, they are called pumscali. They become captivated by another person. So they, another name is prostitute. So this dvija, although he was initiated to make further progress to become brahmana and Vaisnava, in the middle, he contacted one prostitute. Young man, he became a victim. Therefore kascid dasi-patih, contacted and remained as husband, wife, or friend. So by the contact of this prostitute, the result was nasta-sadacara, he became lost of all gentle activities. Nasta-sadacara. Sadacara means... Sat means gentle, and acara means behavior, gentleman's behavior. What is that gentleman's behavior? That we teach, that "You don't take meat, don't have illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, rise early in the morning, take bath, chant Hare Krsna, attend mangala-aratrika." These are called sadacara. So on account of his contact with this prostitute, although he was born in a brahmana family and he was reformed up to the point of initiation, he fell a victim. And as soon as he fell victim to that prostitute, nasta-sadacara. Dasyah sam... Why sadacara, why he should lose? Dasyah samsarga-dusitah. Because he is associating with this prostitute, therefore the next sequence is that he should be bereft of all gentle behavior.

Therefore to create a first-class man, it requires great endeavor. It is not that you go to a school, colleges, and learn and smoke and do all nonsense, and you become elevated. It is a fourth-class, fifth-class... The modern educational system is producing not only fourth... Fourth class is also gentle, fifth-class, sixth-class. Fifth-class, sixth-class... The education means... What is the education? What is the symptom of education? That is described by Canakya Pandita, matrvat para-daresu. The first educational symptom is that except one's own wife, any woman is mother. This is the first symptom of education. Matrvat para-daresu para-dravyesu lostravat. And other's property and money is just like garbage in the... Not very many years, say, about hundred years ago... You have heard the name, the Kashmir state. The Kashmir state was so strict, if somebody had stolen others' property and it is proved, the thief's hands will be cut off. Still, I think, in Arabia there is. This is a strict law. So if some golden ornament is lying on the street, out of this fear -- and people were simple at the time -- they will not touch. Exactly like garbage they will not touch. It was lying on the street. The law was that nobody should touch. If some golden ornament is there, the actual proprietor, he will come and pick it up. You do not require to assist him also, taking, "I shall..." No, you cannot touch. If you touch, your hands will be cut off. So if one learns this habit, that others' property, others' money is just like garbage, nobody touches... Matrvat para-daresu para-dravyesu lostravat, atmavat sarva-bhutesu. And one who thinks like himself sarva-bhu..., all living entities. What is that? If I prick you, then you feel some pain, so why should you prick others? This is called atmavat. What you feel yourself... If somebody cuts your throat, do you feel very happy? No. Then why should you cut throat of others, other animals or human beings? So these three things, Canakya Pandita has said that this is, if one has learned these three things, he is learned. Not that he has got a university degrees, no. Matrvat para-daresu para-dravyesu lostravat, atmavat sarva-bhutesu.

So this is gentleman; this is educated, culture. So this man, Ajamila, as soon as he became fallen down from the sadacara, gentleman's behavior, the next stage is this, bandy-aksaih kaitavais cauryaih. One must earn his livelihood. But he has fallen down to the sixth grade. First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or lower than that, everyone must have his means of livelihood. So what is the means of livelihood of the first-class man? That is said, pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. First-class man means brahminical class. Their occupational duty is first of all he must become a very learned scholar in the Vedic literature. Veda-pathad bhaved viprah. He must become a learned scholar. And after becoming a scholar, it is not that that he will enjoy himself the knowledge. No. He will distribute the knowledge. This is one, that first-class man, or the brahmana, first of all he must become a learned scholar... If he is not scholar, what he will, nonsense he will teach? So the first position is that he must become a learned scholar. And the next business is to teach others, to make disciple. Formerly even fifty year or sixty years ago in India a brahmana would not accept anyone's service. Because whatever he has knowledge, he would sit down anywhere, underneath a tree or in the corridor of somebody, and he will invite the village small children, and they will go, and he will teach little grammar, little mathematics, gradually. And the children will bring from their father and mother. Somebody will bring rice. Somebody will bring dal. Somebody will bring something. So he had no necessity of making any contract, that "You give me so many dollars. Then I shall teach you." No. Free. Free education. In this way India was free education. So pathana-pathana yajana-yajana.

Then next business is brahmana should be a devotee, worshiping Deity, either Visnu or sometimes other demigod. So yajana-yajana. He will personally do it, and he will teach others how to worship. Pathana-pathana yajana. And his livelihood -- by voluntary contribution; whatever people will give, that's all right. People used to give brahmana. So pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. A brahmana would receive... People were very honest, that "This man is teaching our children. He does not charge. This man is teaching me how to worship, how to become well behaved." So they have no scarcity, enough. So he would simply use as much as he required; balance he will give in charity. Not that keep in stock for tomorrow. No. That is not brahmana's business. Whatever is come today, I use it for my necessities of life, and balance, I give to the poor or somebody else, somebody else, somebody..., or make some festival. So pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. So we require some income for our maintenance. So this was the brahmana's business. There is no question of doing some business or making some profession or going to the office or going to the factory. This is not brahmana's business.

Then ksatriya, next, second-class man. So what is his livelihood? His livelihood: to take tax. The ksatriyas were entrusted certain villages, that "You look after these villages, that the people are becoming well behaved." So ksatriya's business was to see whether brahmana is actually acting as brahmana, a ksatriya actually acting as ksatriya. This was the ruler's business to see. And to see that nobody is unemployed, nobody is a devil's workshop. Because if you have no business, no occupation, then your brain will plan something. This plan is cauryam and cheating. They had no opportunity to plan all these things. So ksatriya's income is to take some tax. What is that tax? Not in money. But people are engaged in agricultural work, so whatever he has produced, he gives twenty-five percent to the ruler. That's all. That includes income tax, this tax, that tax. No more tax. "Take. Whatever I have got, you take twenty-five percent." So this is ksatriya's occupation, second class.

And the third class, vaisya. Vaisya means produce food grain, krsi, agriculture, not produce food in the slaughterhouse. No. Slaughterhouse, even the sixth-class, seventh-class men... They did not know how to produce food, how to live. That means the aborigines in the jungle. They were hunting one animal, then eating, not that civilized nation, organized slaughterhouse. Oh, how horrible it is. If you want to eat an animal, then you go to the jungle, kill one animal, and eat. The government is not going to maintain a slaughterhouse for you. You see? This is the civilization. So our eatables should be food grains -- krsi-go-raksya -- and milk. Krsi means by agriculture process you can produce fruits, flower, vegetables, then rice, wheat, and pulses, and you have got milk. Then where is your want, scarcity? This is civilization. Meat-eating is meant for the sixth-class, seventh-class men who does not know, who remain naked, and they can neither produce food neither cloth in the jungle. It is for them. They also were not very much expert to maintain a slaughterhouse. When you need, you can kill one lower animal, not cow. The cow is not available in the jungle. You can have some deer or some boar. So these unimportant animals were killed by them. That is the sixth class, not the first class, second class, third class, fourth class. No. And the fourth-class man who could not utilize his brain as first class, second class, third class, then he becomes fourth class -- his business: to help, worker, these higher three classes.

So in this way everyone must have his means of livelihood. And I have already described that this is the way of livelihood. First-class man, this is livelihood. Second-class man, this is livelihood. And third-class man, this is livelihood. Fourth-class man... And below the fourth-class man, means fifth-class, the fifth-class man, the jungle man, by hunting, like that. But this class of man, that they do not accept any of these livelihood means, but they cheat you, cheat you. That we will find now, so many cheaters in big, big cities, and so many pickpockets, so many thieves, rogues, and now the present society is perplexed, "Crime, Why and What to Do?" You are maintaining sixth-class, seventh-class men. Your education is meant for that. Why you are afraid of crimes now? This is the result. Now enjoy the result. As you reap so you..., as you sow, so you reap. Therefore this movement is specially meant for making first-class, second-class men at least. Or even third class, fourth class. But what is this? You are producing sixth-class, seventh-class, tenth-class men, and you expect that there will be no crime, people will be happy, it will be peaceful? That is not possible. If you want to be happy, peaceful, then you must take this movement, Krsna consciousness, and try to create at least a group of men first class. Just like we are doing that. People will see their behavior, their character, their mode of life, and at least they will be attracted.

So this man, Ajamila, on account of his association with a prostitute... That is illicit sex. Sex means with married wife. That's all. So this is the first falldown. Then he lost his all gentle behavior, and then he came to this platform, bandy-aksaih kaitavais cauryaih. So as soon as one become fallen down from the standard of gentle life, they must take to this profession. There is no other alternative. You cannot check it. This is natural falldown, one after another. So, bandy-aksaih... What time up to? Up to 7:30? It is finished. Eh?

Brahmananda: The curtain closes in ten minutes.

Prabhupada: Anyway, so bandi. Bandi means now especially in the United States, nobody goes out at night. No gentleman goes out at night. In our Brooklyn temple nobody goes out at night. Just see. America is so advanced in civilization, and the result is that one cannot go on a street at night. In India it is so poverty-stricken. Still, even in villages, they are freely moving, man, woman, at dead of night. They know there is no danger. Still, although they are so poverty-stricken now... You will be surprised that in 1942 there was an artificial famine created by the government. People suffered starvation, and poor men, they died out of starvation. But there was no report of stealing. No report. One American gentleman went there, "If this is the condition in our country, there would have been revolution. And these people do not even steal others' properties, dying starvation." Lonely man is going. He will arrest him, "Give me whatever you have got. Otherwise I will kill you." So this is bandi.

And next business was gambling, dice playing, bandy-aksaih. Everything was there. It was... Of course, these historical incidences, and, some thousands and thousands of years ago happened. But because it is material world, these things were there at that time also. Now it has increased. Kali-yuga means it has increased. The same thieves, cheater, everything were there at that time. It was rare incidences. But now it has become daily affair due to the Kali-yuga. So his business was kaitavaih. Kaitavaih means cheating. Cheating. Now what kind of cheating? The cheaters will round, surround one man, and he says, "Have you seen some gold lump falling down? I have seen. One is lost." Then another man will come, "Sir, I have got this gold lump. If you pay me something, I will give you." But that is not gold, actually, but he creates a situation that "Somebody lost his gold lump. Now he has got. He wants to sell me. All right, I give you ten rupees. Give me." (laughter) This is called kaitavaih. I know some things. (laughter) So bandy-aksaih kaitavais cauryaih, and then direct stealing.

So these kind of profession is garhitam, abominable. This is not human civilization. But this has become a common thing. Garhitam vrttim. Vrttim means occupation. So if you become first-class man, you have occupation, that pathana-pathana yajana. If you are second-class man, you have got your occupation. If you are third-class man, the krsi-go-raksya. If you are fourth-class man, then serve other. If you are fifth-class man, then go to the jungle and hunt some animal and eat. Then these persons, they, cheating, stealing, these are the occupation of the tenth class, eighth class, like that. This is not honest. So if you produce such tenth-class and eighth-class and seventh-class men, then how you can expect without crime in the society? That is not possible. So we should know that this is the defect of civilization, that by education, by practice, by examples we are simply creating eighth-class, tenth-class of men, so there cannot be any peace. Therefore the human society must take this Krsna consciousness movement and teach people at least how to become second class, third class, if not first class. But there must be first-class men, second-class men. Then everything, social affair, political affair, will go very smoothly, without any trouble. Otherwise you have to meet with this class of profession, stealing, cheating, and so on.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.22 -- Chicago, July 6, 1975

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