The Fragrance Of The Soul -- The Learning Of The Fool

66/03/04 New York, Bhagavad-gita 2.11

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Prabhupada: So Krsna is, in this sen..., He's identified, that bhagavan. Bhagavan means that nobody can surpass His knowledge. Because I have already given the definition of bhagavan, that a personality who is in full, all the opulences -- wealth, strength, fame and knowledge, beauty and renunciation -- He is God. You see? So... Now, in this, at the present moment, when people are godless, I think, this definition is convincing. If you find out a personality that, one who has got in full all these opulences, He is God. Then it will be very difficult to present an ordinary man as God. You see? You'll find that in the Bhagavad-gita, when Arjuna was convinced that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead... But because in future others will have doubt about Krsna, he requested Krsna that "Will You show me Your universal form?" And Krsna agreed and showed him the universal form. That means in future any intelligent man, accepting a so-called God, may also ask him, "Just show something, that you are God." Without showing something, simply by false advertisement, one cannot be God. So whole mistake is that we do not know what is God. We consider God may be just like one of us. No. The God who is controlling such a huge affairs of universal administration, He cannot be, He is superconscious. That is superconsciousness.

Now, here, asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase [Bg. 2.11]. Now, the whole living existence is a very subtle thing. Now, this body, this body made of earth, water, fire, air, sky, this gross body; and behind this, there is another subtle body. That is mind, intelligence and ego. So when we give up this gross body, that subtle body carries me to another gross body. So when this, this body is lifeless, that body, subtle body, is not lifeless. Just like at night, when this gross body is asleep, the subtle body works. Therefore we dream. So subtle body carries to next life. And I have given in the introduction that how one man changes his body. Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. Now, the subtle body, I mean to say, mind, intelligence and ego, when these three things, psychic life, is absorbed in a certain kind of thought, the dying man gets a similar body in the next life. The, that we shall come when we make progress in the study of Bhagavad-gita. Just like the air passing over the rose tree carries the flavor of the rose, and the air passing over a filthy place carries the flavor of that filthy place -- the air is pure, but because it is passing over certain conditions, it carries the flavor -- similarly, the mind, intelligence and ego carries the flavor of our present activities to the next life. That is the subtle mystery of transmigration of the soul from one body to another. Now, if this, this life we purify just like rose, then next life we shall get a body which is full of flavor. If, if, if in this life, if we practice devotion of God, then next life is to become the associate of God. That cintamani-prakara-sadmasu... We are transferred to that planet. You see? These are simple things. The whole thing is in my hand. If I want to be degraded, I can prepare myself in this life for such degradation in the next life. And if we want to elevate ourself to the highest perfection of life, as to become one of the associates of God, we can prepare ourself like that. You'll find in the, in the advanced chapters, that yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah [Bg. 9.25]. Now, we are trying to go to the moon planet. Now, here, in this life, if cultivate ourself for the same thought, the moon planet... That means the moon planet, about moon planet, we have to hear, and we have to think that "I shall go in such and such place." Unless you hear, you cannot abide here. Just like our friend, Mr. Cohen, he has left for California. Now, so far I am concerned, I have no idea of California. Now, he has told me that after reaching there, he'll write about the description of the place. Now, suppose if, reading that description of the place, I think of going there, so I prepare myself, "Oh, I must go there." So just like I, I was describing that cintamani-dhama [Bs. 5.29], what sort of trees are there. And you were very much pleased that "I must go there." So we have to hear. Unless we hear what sort of God He is, what sort of God's place is, what is the mode of life there, we cannot be attracted. We cannot be attracted.

So here they say that gatasun agatasums ca. There are two, two sort of bodies in which we are now entered. Now, suppose this gross body appears to be now dead and gone, stopped, but one must know that subtle body has carried him to another body. So subtle body is not lost life. The life is there. So here Krsna says that either of the gross body or of... Subtle body has to be also left. When you get liberation, when you get liberation, that subtle body, that egoistic life, has also to be left. Now, at any condition, the body has to be left. So why one should cry for this body? Therefore Krsna says that "A learned man does not lament over this body." The whole question, that a soul is different from this body, the whole question is solved in one verse. You see? Gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah [Bg. 2.11]. "One who is actually learned, he does not, he has no concern of this body. He's concerned with the activities of the soul. So you are speaking of so many things that 'If these, my friends, die, the, I mean to say, their wives will become widow.' These are all... According to the bodily relation, you are speaking. And you are posing yourself just like a very learned man, but you are a fool number one because your whole conception is on the body. Your whole conception of argument with Me was on the body, but you are, you are posing himself just as if you are very learned man." So anyone who has got conception, the identification of this body, he's not a learned man. He's a fool. He may be, in the calculation of academic education, he may be B.A., M.A., Ph.D., DAC, or something like, doctors and..., but if he has got his identification with this body, he's not a learned man according to Bhagavad-gita. Not only according, according to whole Vedic literature. This is the first instruction. This is the... If we want to make progress towards spiritual advancement of knowledge, this preliminary knowledge we must have, that "I am not this body. I am not this body." This is the preliminary standing of spiritual knowledge. This is not advancement. This is simply A-B-C-D, ABCD of spiritual life. In the Bhagavata there is a very nice verse in this connection in which it is stated, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih [SB 10.84.13]. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke. Kunape means this bag, this bag made of three elements. Now, according to Ayurvedic medical system, this body is made of three elements: kapha, pitta, vayu.

Woman: Three elements?

Prabhupada: Yes. Kapha. Kapha means cold, coldness.

Woman: Common.

Prabhupada: Cough, cough, what do you call cough? Coughing. Yes. Kapha, pitta, vayu: "coldness, heat and air." Yes. Only these three things constitute this body. Therefore it is called a bag made of three elements: coldness, air and fire, heat. Heat, coldness and air -- this body's made.

Woman: What, what does coldness stand for?

Prabhupada: Coldness, you can take it for water, or secretion.

Woman: Water.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Woman: Yes. Water, fire and air.

Prabhupada: Water, fire and air.

Woman: That's better.

Prabhupada: Now, the Bhagavata says that yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke: [SB 10.84.13] "If anyone, he's identified with this body made of water, air and fire..." And yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke. This is a body made of three things. Now... And sva-dhih kalatradisu: "And if one thinks the issues, the by-products of this body as his own kinsmen..." Just like my children, my wife, my relatives, my father, my mother, my brother, my nation, my society -- everything is due to this bodily relation. And there are thousands of women loitering in the street of New York, and suppose I have got some ma..., bodily connection with you, I call you my wife. And because I have got bodily relation with you, all the children produced by you, they are my children. You see? So whole thing is... The basic principle is wrong, that "I am this body." Now, from the expansion of the body, the whole thing, the whole thing is false. Because I am not this body, so my expansion of body is also not I am. But whole world is going on on this false impression. The whole world is going on. The fight, the fighting between one nation and another nation -- because due to this body. So yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. "One who is identified with this body, which is made of water, fire and, water, fire and air, and the issues from this body as kinsmen and own men..." Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dha.., sva-dhih kalatradisu: "And," I mean to say, "attachment, attachment for such issues..." And bhauma-ijya-dhih: "And the land from which this body has grown up, that is worshipable." Now everybody is fighting for the land. "Oh, we are Indian." "We are Pakistani." "We are Vietnamese." "We are Americans." "We are German." The fighting, so much fighting is going on. The land, for the land. So land, land has become worshipable, so worshipable that one is sacrificed his valuable life for that land. You see? But the land is so dear, why? This body has become grown up from this land. So that is also there, the bodily connection.

So yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih [SB 10.84.13]. In the land... They have no meaning for God. Now, the Russian philosophy, they have no meaning for God, but they have every meaning for their land, for the land. So land has been identified as worshipable, and they're prepared to sacrifice anything for the land. So yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke: "One who is identified with this body and one who thinks the bodily offshoots as his own men, and the land from which the body has grown as worshipable," yat-tirtha-buddhih salile.

Yat-tirtha-buddhih salile. Now, in Christian world also, that the water of the Jordan River is sacred is considered. Similarly, Hindus also, when they go to some pilgrimage, they take bath on the sacred river. But one should know that going to the sacred place does not mean simply to take bath in that water. Real meaning of going to a sacred place -- to find out some intelligent scholar in spiritual knowledge. They are living there. To make association with them, to take knowledge from them -- that is the purpose of going to pilgrimage. Because in pilgrimage, holy places... Just like I, my residence is at Vrndavana. So at Vrndavana there are many great scholars and saintly persons living. So one should go to such holy places not simply to take bath in the water, but he must be intelligent enough to find out some spiritually advanced man living there and take instruction from him and (be) benefited by that. But he does not go. He takes simply bath and purchases some goods and advertises, "Oh, I have been to such and such pilgrimage." Well... yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13] and yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij janesv abhijnesu: "He has the attachment for pilgrimage, for taking bath only, but he has no attraction for the learned people there." You see?

So such kind of man is considered as ass. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. Go-khara. Go-khara. Go means cow or..., and khara means ass. So practically the whole world is moving as the civilization of cow and asses because the whole thing is identification with this... The center is this body, and expansion of the body, the attraction, whole attraction is there. Yes? You want to...?

Woman: Yes. In the Indian places known as sacred places...

Prabhupada: Sac... Yes.

Woman: ...isn't ...sacred places...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Woman: ...isn't it also a fact that there is more magnetism there because of the meeting of...

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Certainly.

Woman: ...saints and more people...?(?)

Prabhupada: Certainly. Certainly. Certainly. Therefore the place itself has got some magnetism. You see?

Woman: Yes. And when...

Prabhupada: Just like at Vrndavana, at Vrndavana... That is practical. Now here I am sitting, New York, a very great, the world's greatest city, so magnificent city, but my heart is always hankering after that Vrndavana.

Woman: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. I am not happy here.

Woman: Yes, I know.

Prabhupada: I shall be very happy to return to my Vrndavana, that sacred place. "But then why you are...?" Now, because it is my duty. I have brought some message for you people. Because I am ordered by superior, my spiritual master, that "Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge." So in spite of all my difficulties, all my inconveniences, I am here because I am in duty. I, I... That is my personal convenience, if I go and sit down at Vrndavana, I shall be very comfortable there. And I'll be, I'll have no anxiety, nothing of the sort. You see? But I have taken all the risk in the old age because I am in duty-bound. I am in duty-bound. So I have to execute my duty in spite of all my inconveniences. That is the idea.

So this is the whole thing, the whole basic principle of spiritual advancement of knowledge. One should first be convinced that he is not this body. He is not this body. Then other spiritual knowledge will begin. This is the basic principle. You'll find it. You'll find it in the Bhagavad-gita that this situation of spiritual life is called brahma-bhutah. Brahman. So

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

So the, unless one understands himself, he also cannot understand God also. In his, in his misunderstanding position... Now, what Dr. Mishra is teaching is very nice because he is teaching that "Just first of all you know 'What I am, what I...' " That's very good. But that "what I am" can be known from the Bhagavad-gita also, that "I am not this body. I am not this body." That knowledge, at least theoretically, one must accept, that "I am not this body." Now Krsna is describing that what is the position. I am not this body. That's all right. Now, actually, what we are? What we are? I'm not body. That's all right. Then what we are? Now, the next, next version is Krsna... We must always know that Krsna... Here it is said, bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan uvaca means that He has got so extensive knowledge that there cannot be any mistake. He's authority. He's authority. So whatever He says is right. Is right. That is the conception of bhagavan. Here it is not said, Krsnah uvaca. Because somebody may doubt Krsna, that "Krsna was a historical personality. Why you should be so much concerned with Krsna?" as is general view. But here it is said, bhagavan uvaca. And I have given you the definition of Bhagavan, that He is all knowledge. So whatever He will speak, Bhagavan, there cannot be any mistake. For ordinary persons, there are four, I mean to say, difficulties, four imperfectness. Just like we are ordinary man. We have got four imperfectness. What is that imperfectness? That we must commit mistake. We must commit mistake. Our constitutional position at the present moment is such that we are sure to commit mistake. Even greatest politician like Gandhi, he committed mistake, and so many great men, they committed mistake. "To err is human," therefore, it is called, that any, any man, however he may be great in the estimation of this world, he is sure to commit mistake. And another imperfection is that he is illusioned.

Woman: Illusioned.

Prabhupada: Illusioned. Now, illusioned you can see. Illusioned means taking one thing for another. That is called illusion. Just like in the desert, accepting the sand as water. That is called illusion. Similarly, every one of us who are identified with this body, he's under illusion. That is a false thing, but he has no knowledge. Even President Johnson, he's under illusion. Even the greatest scientist, he's under this illusion. So that, one is sure to commit mistake, and one is under illusion, and bhrama, pramada and vipralambhana... Vipralambhana means the tendency for cheating.

Woman: That is the fourth?

Prabhupada: That is the third. First is that one is sure to commit mistake, one is sure to be in illusion, and one is adapted to cheat others. Now, he is imperfect, but he wants to give knowledge to others. That is cheating. Everyone is imperfect, but he wants to give knowledge to others. Then you can ask that "You are also giving us knowledge?" No, I am not giving you knowledge. I am speaking Bhagavad-gita. I am giving you knowledge as given by Lord Krsna. It is not my knowledge.

Woman: But this is own interpretation.

Prabhupada: Eh? Not interpretation. It is reading.

Woman: One can cheat.

Prabhupada: I give you... Cheat. No, that is also in the definition of a conditioned soul. These four principles are there. It is not my manufactured thing. The, these are information from authoritative scripture, that a conditioned soul has four imperfectness. One imperfectness is that he's sure to commit mistake. He's illusioned, and he has got a tendency to cheat, and, above all, his senses are imperfect. So anyone who is above all these four imperfectness -- who never commits mistake, who is never illusioned, who never cheats others, and who has got perfect senses -- He is God. That is also another definition of God. He may not be... God is Supreme, God, but anyone who comes to this stage of life, he's liberated. He's lib..., as good as God. Yes?

Student: Do you say, eh..? (incomplete) (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.11 -- New York, March 4, 1966

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Simple Life With Krsna

Simple Life With Krsna Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 7.4 Mayapur, March 4, 1974 download  flash player   Take a test Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range  [Cc. Adi 7.4] Translation: "These five tattvas incarnate with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus the Lord executes His sankirtana movement with great pleasure."

Prabhupada: Tattva, Absolute Truth, I tried to explain last night. Tattva... Krsna has spoken about tattva in the Bhagavad-gita, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also there is statement of tattva, vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. Tattva, the truth, can be learned from the tattva-vida, one who knows. The Absolute Truth can not be ascertained by imaginative speculation. One has to learn the tattva from the tattva-vit. Therefore the tattva-vid vadanti. Vadanti means they explain, tattva-vit, one who is tattva-vit, he explains. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam. One who knows, he's not silent. He is to preach, he is to speak. Nowadays it has become a fashion to be mauni-baba, does not speak. So these are, may be very good device for professional business, but so far we are concerned, in the Vedic culture, the tattva-vit must speak. Sravanam kirtanam. The tattva-vit must hear from the authorized person; then he'll speak. That is nice. Otherwise there is no need of speaking. So those who have not heard from the authorized person, they may make a business by making himself mauni-baba. Tavac ca sobhate murkho yavat kincin na bhasate: "A murkha, a dull rascal, is very beautiful so long he does not speak." Because as soon as he speaks, then his knowledge, his learning, his capacity, his position, will be immediately exposed. So our parampara line... Prahlada Maharaja has condemned this system, mauni-baba. No. Our system is kirtaniyah sada harih, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching.

 

trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
 [Cc. Adi 17.31]

And Krsna also confirms this in the Bhagavad-gita: satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah [Bg. 9.14]. That is mahatma, always glorifying the Lord, Supreme Lord Krsna.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means this satatam kirtayanto mam: [Bg. 9.14] twenty-four hours we have to glorify. Krsna is unlimited, God is unlimited. So we have to chant, glorifying His qualities, unlimitedly. Srila Rupa Gosvami says that "How I shall glorify the Lord by chanting His name and pastimes? I have got only one tongue. If I could possess millions of tongues and trillions of ears, then it was possible to glorify the Lord to some extent." This is our business. You'll be surprised that my Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura... Sometimes Pandita Madanmohan Mahalabhya (?), a great politician, well-known political leader, he came to see him. So he inquired from my Guru Maharaja, "What are your activities?" So in describing his activities he said that "We have got six magazines, and out of them, one is daily, Nadiya Prakash." Those who are resident of this place might know. So he was publishing one paper daily, Nadiya Prakash. So Madanmohan Mahalabhya inquired that "You are publishing daily one paper about spiritual subject?" He said, "Yes, why not?" Now, he explained that this universe is only one of the millions universes. This small universe is one of the many, many. Many, many... We get information from the sastra, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-kotih [Bs. 5.40]. Jagadanda means this universe. And there are kotis, unlimited. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dealing, one devotee, Vasudeva Datta, he pleaded to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My dear Lord, You have come, You take away all the inhabitants of this earth, or within this universe, and if You think that they are so much sinful that they cannot be delivered, so You can transfer their sinful resultant action, sinful activities, unto me. I shall suffer." This is Vaisnava philosophy, that "Let others be delivered, and if they are unfit, sinful, all their sins may be transferred to me." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "You do not require to take their sinful reaction, but even without your transferring they can be delivered. But this is only one universe." And He compared that this universe is just like a grain of mustard in the mustard bag. Say, hundred kilos, kg., mustard bag, and there is one mustard seed. So this universe is like that. So many universes are there. So my Guru Maharaja explained that "This universe is only just like a grain of mustard seed among millions and trillions of universes, and in each and every universe there are millions and trillions of planets, and this earthly planet is one of them, and in this planet, the earthly planet, there are so many cities, and in each city there are so many daily papers, and each daily paper has got so many editions. So this is only one-fourth exhibition of God's creation. If in one city there are so many news, people can read, so from the three-fourth creation of the world, Vaikuntha-jagat, we can give so many news that we can overflood them with news. Unfortunately we have no customer." That is...

So this is the position. Kirtana. Kirtana, we can glorify the Lord twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours we have got at our disposal. We have got (not) only twenty-four hours, but unlimited. Ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. This is only one-fourth part manifestation of the whole creation. There is no limit of kirtana. That is unlimited. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction is that "Glorify the Lord continuously." Trnad api sunicena. And as soon as you begin kirtaniyah, real kirtana of Krsna, then you'll have many enemies. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally had many enemies. You know that in this spot there was persecution, religious persecution, by the then magistrate, Chand Kazi. His samadhi is still there. So, and we are also experiencing. Our only fault is that we are preaching the sankirtana movement, and there are so many enemies. You see? So that is possible. Even the father become enemy. Prahlada Maharaja, a five-years-old boy, and because he was chanting Hare Krsna mantra, his father became enemy. So you'll have enemies. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives us, warning us, that trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna: "You just become humbler than the grass." Just (as) you trample over the grasses, it does not protest. Not only you, so many people are going on the grasses, but they tolerate. So trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. And He has given the example, "tolerant than the trees." The trees are standing in one place. Scorching heat and cold and rains, they are all suffering, and the people taking their leaves, taking their branches, woods, cutting them, taking fruit, and still, the trees give you shelter. This is the example of tolerance. So trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna, amanina manadena. Everyone in this material world is very much fond of getting honor. Although he's not honorable, still, he wants to get honor. Although he is unfit, still, he wants. That is the material propensity. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "You give them honor. Don't ask for yourself any honor, respect, but others, you give them." That is the process of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching.
As Prabhodananda Sarasvati has explained,

dante nidhaya trnakam padayor nipatya
kaku-satam krtva ca etad aham bravimi
he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat
caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuraga

He says... This is the process of preaching: "My dear sir, I am falling down on your lotus feet and with folded hands and am flattering you thousand times, and I have taken one grass in my mouth to show my humbleness. So you kindly hear my one word." "What is that?" He sadhavah, "You are very great sadhu, but you have learned so many things," he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat. "This is my request, that whatever you have learned, so many things, kindly forget. Kick them out." "Then what shall I take?" Caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuraga: "Just become a servant on the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is my request." So we have to preach like that. Just flatter him, but request him that "You forget all these bogus things. Simply take to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your life will be successful," as it is... We have already... Tanhara caranasrita, sei bada dhanya: [Cc. Adi 7.2]. He's glorified because he receives... To become under the lotus feet of Sri "Anyone who takes shelter at the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he becomes glorified." Sei bada dhanya.

So our preaching should be like that. The Panca-tattva... Here it is said. We are discussing.

panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange
panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range
 [Cc. Adi 7.4]

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has got His associates. That is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti he su-medhasah
 [SB 11.5.32]

This is the method of worshiping the Lord Visnu. Yajna means to worship the Supreme Lord. Yajnaih sankirtanaih prayaih.

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

This is civilization, varnasrama. One must observe (in) the material world. In the spiritual world, of course, there is no such thing as varnasrama. That is pure identity of the soul. So there is no... So long we are in this material world there must be a scientific division of progress of life. That is Vedic system. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. This is called varnasrama-dharma. I have repeatedly said that people call us Hindu in India. Actually, "Hindu" word is not visible in any Vedic literature. This is the name given by the Arabians to the, this part of the world, on the bank of the Sindhu. From the Sindhu the word "Hindu" has come. So actually, our culture is varnasrama-dharma. Therefore sastra says, varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman [Cc. Madhya 8.58]. In the varnasrama-dharma, the ultimate goal is to worship Lord Visnu, whose name is Yajna. Out of many names of Lord Visnu, one name is Yajna, Yajna-purusa. So anything performed to satisfy the Supreme Lord, that is called yajna.

So other yajnas are not possible in this age, Kali-yuga, Kali-yuga. The only yajna, this sankirtana movement. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. If you want to perform yajna and if you are intelligent, su-medhasah... The two words has been used in Vedic literature: su-medhasah and alpa-medhasah. In the Bhagavad-gita this word has been used, alpa-medhasah, tad bhavati alpa-medhasam, in the matter of worshiping the demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]., antavat tu phalam tesam [Bg. 7.23] If you get some resultant action by worshiping demigod, that is antavat. Just like Hiranyakasipu. He got some benediction from Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma is not ordinary demigod. He's the... Amongst the demigods he's the head, pitamaha. So Hiranyakasipu wanted benediction from Lord Brahma to become immortal. So immortality is not possible. So Lord Brahma said that "I am myself not immortal. How can I give you? It is not possible." So Hiranyakasipu took indirectly, negative way, that "I shall not die this way, I shall not die this way, I shall not die this way," negative way. So he thought himself to be very intelligent demon. So even that benediction was given, but still, he was killed by Nrsimhadeva. So therefore, antavat tu phalam tesam. Even by tricks or by penance or austerities you take some benedictions from the demigods, even if you are awarded, that is described in the Bhagavad-gita, antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam [Bg. 7.23]. People want to be satisfied with little benefit, with little benefit. No, that is not our mission. We want the supreme benefit. Supreme benefit is that you are now entangled in the process of birth, death, old age and disease in the material existence. The real benefit is how to save yourself from these four difficulties. As Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, janma mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. We are embarrassed with so many difficulties, but real difficulty is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi: birth, death, old age and disease. So this Krsna consciousness movement is to give you ultimate benefit: no more birth, no more death, no more disease, no more old age. Always mind that.

So the greatest benefit. The greatest benefit is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu is offering. Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. This greatest benefit you can get if you develop your dormant love for Krsna. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

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

That is ultimate goal.
mam upetya kaunteya
duhkhalayam asasvatam
napnuvanti mahatmanah
samsiddhim paramam gatah
 [Bg. 8.15]

So we have to achieve the highest benefit, go back to home, back to Godhead. So for this purpose, Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Krsna has not only appeared Himself, but with His associates. They are called Panca-tattva. So here it is explained, panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange [Cc. Adi 7.4]. If you take guru, then there are six tattvas. But Caitanya personally has expanded, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. When you speak of Bhagavan, brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. When Bhagavan... Bhagavan means His paraphernalia. Just like when we speak, "Now the king is coming," it is not that king is alone coming. The king is coming with his minister, with his commander, with his secretaries, with his so many officers. So when we speak of Bhagavan, don't think He is alone only. No. Panca..., that Panca-tattva. When Bhagavan incarnates, He comes with all the associates, His sakti-tattva, avatara-tattva, prakasa-tattva. Many paraphernalia He comes. So here Caitanya Mahaprabhu, avatirna. Here it is said, panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange [Cc. Adi 7.4]. Caitanyera-sange... Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. So He must have His associates. Associates. That is Bhagavan. Just like in the Brahma-samhita it is explained, the beginning of understanding, how Bhagavan lives in the spiritual world

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.29]

Govinda is not alone. Govinda is associated with the surabhir abhipalayantam, many millions and thousands of surabhi cows. He tends so many cows. And laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam. We are flattering one Laksmi, goddess of fortune, but in the spiritual world, laksmi-sahasra-sata, many, many millions, Laksmis, goddess of fortune. Sambrahma-sevyamanam, with great respect. Here we are flattering one Laksmi, goddess of fortune, "Mother, give me some money," but there the Laksmis are flattering Krsna. That is Krsna's position. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam govindam adi-purusam.

So Krsna is never alone. Similarly, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is never alone. Narottama dasa Thakura sings, caitanyera sangi gane, nitya-siddha boli mane. Gaurangera, gaurangera sangi gane, nitya-siddha boli mane, sei yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa. That is the explanation of Narottama dasa Thakura. So either Krsna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whenever They appear, They appear with Their associates. So here Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared with Panca-tattva. Krsna-varnam tvisa-krsnam sangopangastra-parsadam, yajnaih sankirtana [SB 11.5.32]. He has appeared, these five tattvas. In our exhibition ground we have first placed these five tattvas: Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and Srivasa Thakura. Nityananda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Baladeva-tattva. Baladeva means who gives strength for spiritual advancement. Nayam atma pravacanena labhyo nayam atma balahinena labhyah. These are the Vedic injunctions. So without Baladeva's or Nityananda's grace, one cannot make advancement.

ara kabe nitai-canda karuna karibe
samsara vasana mora kabe tuccha ha'be

This is the grace of Nityananda Prabhu. Narottama dasa Thakura explains, ara kabe nitai-canda, karuna karibe. Narottama dasa Thakura is aspiring for the day when Nityananda Prabhu will be pleased upon him. Just like Jagai-Madhai was delivered by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, so we have to pray Nityananda Prabhu. He's very merciful. He's so kind, Baladeva, He gives spiritual strength. Then we can approach the Supreme Lord. Therefore we chant "Nitai-Gaura." This is the process. We cannot change this policy. Panca-tattva must be worshiped; otherwise wherefrom we shall get...? The spiritual master... Nityananda Prabhu is the spiritual master. Or spiritual master is the replica, representation, of Nityananda Prabhu. So when Nityananda Prabhu is pleased, then we become detached from this material attraction.

People, conditioned soul, means they have forgotten Krsna, and they are suffering, that's a fact. Tri-tapa yantana, adhibhautika. But because they are illusioned, they are thinking, "We are enjoying." This is called illusion. They are suffering, working day and night like an ass, and still, he's thinking that he's very happy. But he does not know that there is a life where there is no such thing as to work hard. Just like Krsna and Krsna's associates in Vrndavana, they are jolly, tending their cows, getting milk in the village, sufficient food, dancing with the gopis. That is life. No mill, no slaughterhouse, no motorcar. You see? No skyscraper building. Here see. So this is another philosophy, another philosophy: simple life, simple life with Krsna. Simple life we can live still, but we do not agree. If we live simple life, people will criticize, "Oh, this is primitive, primitive. What you have made advancement?" But they have no sense. Anyway... So if we really want relief from this materialistic way of life, then we should take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His sankirtana movement. Then our misunderstanding of existence will be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni [Cc. Antya 20.12]. And we have created a civilization which is blazing fire, blazing fire. Everyone, all politicians, even ordinary citizens, they are now suffering. The politicians cannot give them enough food. They simply take vote, and the price of foodstuff is increasing. This is a very precarious condition. It is called samsara-davanala, "the blazing fire of material existence." We may extinguish for the time being, but again... Davanala is used for this purpose. Nobody sets fire, but it takes place. That is called davanala. In the forest nobody goes to set fire, but it takes place by dealings. So when we deal in a different way than Krsna consciousness, then there will be fire immediately. This dealing will produce fire. That has come already. So this is the only remedy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's process:

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

So here is the statement, panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range. You take to this movement, chant and dance. All problems will be solved.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.4 -- Mayapur, March 4, 1974

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Our Hospital Can Stop Death

Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 1.15 Dallas, March 4, 1975 download  flash player   Take a test Nitai: "Glory to the all-merciful Radha and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me." Prabhupada: jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater gati mat-sarvasva-padambhojau radha-madana-mohanau  [Cc. Adi 1.15] This is the surrendering process of the author, Kaviraja Gosvami. Before beginning to write Caitanya-caritamrta, he submitted himself to the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. (aside:) That child may be... So he is submitting that Radha-Madana-mohana... Those who have gone to Vrndavana, they have seen the temple of Radha-Madana-mohana. That was established by Sanatana Gosvami, the first disciple of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana Gosvami established this Madana-mohana temple, and Rupa Gosvami established that Govindaji's temple, and the Jiva Gosvami established Radha-Damodara temple. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami established Radha-Ramana temple. In this way, in Vrndavana there are seven temples authorizedly established by the Gaudiya-sampradaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya. Later on, many big, big kings and zamindars, landlords, they also established many temples, big, big temples. And altogether, there are five thousand temples in a small city like Vrndavana, and thousands of men go to see the Deities in every temple almost every day, and especially during the four months Sravana, Bhadra, Asvina, Karttika: July, in July, August, September, October. So Vrndavana is always crowded by many pilgrims, and anyone who goes there, immediately he feels spiritual consciousness, especially nowadays. So the Gaudiya Vaisnava especially... Gaudiya Vaisnava means the followers of... [break] ...Mahaprabhu. There are four Vaisnava sampradaya originally: from Lord Brahma, Brahma-sampradaya; and from Lord Siva, Rudra-sampradaya; and from goddess of fortune, Laksmi, Sri-sampradaya; and from the catuh-sana, four kinds of sanas, Sanat Kumara, Sananda, like that. So the four sampradaya is coming from time immemorial. So we belong to the Brahma sampradaya, the Gaudiya-sampradaya. Sampradaya means just like there are political parties, but their aim is to develop the country, nation's interest, although... Just like in your country there are political parties, Democratic parties. What other parties? Devotees: Republican. Prabhupada: Huh? Republican. Although they are party, their aim is how to develop the country. Similarly, these Vaisnava sampradaya, although they appear to be a separate party, but their aim is how to serve Krsna. So don't think the party means some opposite party. No. Everyone has got for the advanced devotee to serve the Lord in a particular way so that the Lord may be more satisfied. That is their intention. Sometimes we also have some parties in the temple: someone wants to dress the Deity in a way, another wants to... Of course, they are not transgressing the rules and regulation, but still, everyone wants that "I shall serve the Lord in this particular way." We cannot change the original rules and regulation, but there is variety. We are not impersonalist. Every person has got to serve the Lord in a particular way, and that is allowed. The central point is Krsna. So although there are parties, if the central point is Krsna, so there is no dissension. It is a competition, that "My Godbrother, my Godsister, is serving such a way. She is so well versed in this art. Why not try myself to do something?" This is variety. That is not this ordinary party strife if we make Krsna the center. So on the whole, for the Gaudiya Vaisnava, means the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Especially in Bengal, there are many thousands followers, Bengal and Orissa. They are mainly followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and you will find in Vrndavana, Navadvipa, many Bengali Vaisnavas, followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are living there very, I mean to say, austerity, following austerity, no very much careful about the bodily maintenance. But they are living. They have practically no income, but still, they do not go away from Vrndavana. Similarly, Kaviraja Gosvami also took shelter of Vrndavana under the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Therefore he says, mat-sarvasva-padambhojau: "The lotus feet of Madana-mohana is my everything. I have taken shelter of Madana-mohanaji. That is my everything." That is Vaisnava feeling. They think the lotus feet of Krsna as their only possession. But that is the greatest possession. What this material possession will do? One who has taken possession, at least one who is allowed to take possession of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana, is not very easy thing. If Krsna gives him the facility... Krsna is prepared. How? Simply by service, one can easily become in possession of the lotus feet of the Lord. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [Brs. 1.2.234]. We cannot bring in possession the lotus feet of the Supreme Being. That is not possible. But if we render service, He gives the allowance, "Yes, you can be under My shelter of feet." Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore teaches us to pray to Krsna just to become one grain of the dust of His lotus feet. ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam visame bhavambudhau krpaya tava pada-pankaja- sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya  [Cc. Antya 20.32, Siksastaka 5] This should be the prayer to the lotus feet of the Lord, not for any material benefit. That is not very good idea. We should not approach the Supreme Being some material benefit. Material benefit is already there. Everything is arranged by the Supreme Lord for everyone's necessities of life. There is no question about that. Just like if a person is in the prison house, that prisoner has no problem for his material necessities. The government has arranged already for his eating, sleeping and, if he is sick, medical help. That is not problem. The problem is that he has become criminal by transgressing the laws of the state. Now he should become a very good citizen and come out of the prison house. Then he is happy. Similarly, in this material world, so far our material necessities are concerned, it is already arranged. There is no question of becoming anxious for getting our material necessities. It is already arranged by God.

Therefore Narada Muni says in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,

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

Narada Muni advises, through Srimad-Bhagavatam, says, that "You, you have got this human form of life. Now you have no necessity for finding out where is your food, where is your shelter, where is your sex satisfaction, where is your defense. This is not your problem. You should try for that thing, means the thing which will give you relief from these material necessities of life." That is the advice. We are mistaken. We are... In this morning walk we saw that such a big nation, but the problem is food problem. Early in the morning at six o'clock, they are going to work. They are going to work. Why? Now, for finding out the necessities of life. So what is this civilization? Early in the morning, six o'clock... According to Vedic civilization, one should rise early in the morning and chant Hare Krsna, perform mangala aratrika, worship the Deity. This is the morning business. But the richest nation of the world, they are going to work at 6:30 for earning their bread. Is it very good progress of life? And the whole day they will have to work. Not only here, everywhere, for earning their daily bread, they have to go fifty miles, hundred miles away from home, and every city, in India also, the same thing, in Bombay. They are coming hundred miles off and hanging in the daily passenger railway, very serious condition. And it is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that a human being at the end of the Kali-yuga will have to work... They are already working like an ass, and actually they will have to work like an ass simply to get their bread. The progress will be this. And not only that, the foodstuff, especially the sattvika foodstuff like fruits and vegetables, milk, rice, wheat, sugar, these things will be not available -- completely stopped. So gradually we shall make such advancement. I have seen practically. I went to Moscow, and at least for us, it was very difficult to live there. There is no rice supply. There is no wheat supply. Very rarely... No vegetables, no fruit, some rotten fruit like raspberry and... So at least for us it was very difficult. Of course, milk is available and flesh. Oh, that you can have, as much as you like.

So that is not human life. Human life is... Here it is described, just Kaviraja Gosvami's, mat-sarvasva-padambhojau radha-madana-mohanau. Our only asset should be the lotus feet of Krsna along with Radharani. Madana-mohana. Krsna is so beautiful that He is more attractive than the Cupid. Madana-mohana. Madana means Cupid. Cupid is supposed to be the most beautiful person within the universe, but Krsna is still more beautiful. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham [Bs. 5.30]. That is described in the sastra. And when Krsna was present, we know from the sastra or from the evidences that Krsna was attractive to so many gopis. The gopis were the most beautiful women, and Krsna was attractive to them. So just imagine how much beautiful was Krsna. Not only to the gopis; there were 16,108 queens of Krsna. Therefore His name is Krsna. He is attractive to everyone. Jayatam suratau pangor mama. So why He should not be attractive to fallen souls like us? So that is the position of Krsna.

Therefore, Kaviraja Gosvami, being attracted to Madana-mohana, he is offering his prayer, jayatam suratau pangor. Pangor, pangoh means lame man; one cannot walk. At least, one cannot walk very swiftly. So jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater gati. He is placing himself as manda-mati. Mama manda-mater gati. Manda, this word, means bad or slow. So every one of us in this material world, we are all bad because... Why bad? Now, because we accepted this material body. Just like in the prison house, all the prisoners, they are bad. Why? Because they have accepted their home in the prison house. Therefore the conclusion is they are all bad. Maybe degrees of difference, but they are all bad. Similarly, anyone who is living in this material world, beginning from Lord Brahma down to the small insect or ant, who are struggling in this material world... Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. Krsna said that "These living entities within this material world, they are My part and parcel" or "They are My sons." In another place He says, aham bija-pradah pita.

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

So Krsna has got relationship with everyone because He is the supreme father, and we are all His part and parcel. Just like son, even in this material world, he is the part and parcel of the father or the mother, similarly, we are actually part and parcel of Krsna, and Krsna is sad-aisvarya-purna. He is the richest, He is the most famous, He is most strong, all-powerful, all-beautiful. Everything He has got. And we are sons of that Krsna. So father's property is enjoyed by the sons. There is no... That is the law. It is not artificial. Then why we are poverty-stricken? Because we are condemned. Condemned. That we should understand. Therefore everyone, intelligent person, should understand that anyone who is in this material world, he is condemned. It doesn't matter what he is. Therefore our first business is how to get out of this conditional life in the material world. That is human consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness. So our business is to take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. That is our first business, not this "This is our business, where to find out my food, my bread, and get up early in the morning and running to the office or to the working place." This is not civilization. This is not civilization.

Therefore he says that "I am a lame man." Mama manda-gati: "I am very slow, so I take shelter of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana." That is our business. The Krsna consciousness movement is teaching all over the world this philosophy, that your first and foremost business is to become Krsna conscious. There is no question of so-called economic development, sense gratification. No. These are not important things. There are many missionaries, they open hospitals or similar philanthropic activities, but we never do that. So many friends advised me to open some hospitals, dispensaries. Oh, I flatly said that "We are not interested in the hospitals." There are so many hospitals. So people who are interested in hospitals, they can go there. Here is spiritual hospital. The disease is the other hospitals, they cannot stop death, but our hospital can stop death.

Devotees: Jaya! Hari! Hari!

Prabhupada: This is our hospital. We are therefore not interested with this kind of hospital. Our this hospital is treating the materially affected patient to get out of his four kinds of miseries: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9]. One type of disease is to take birth; another, death; another, old age; another, disease. So we want to stop. This is not our normal condition of life. Because we living entities, soul, we are spiritual. Our identity is that we are eternal. It is not that because my body is annihilated, therefore I am finished. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. This is the instruction. The living entity, the soul, is not destroyed after the body being destroyed. The body is destroyed. It is being destroyed every moment. From scientific point of view we are changing our blood corpuscle and another body like the, what is called, film. One after another picture, one after, one after, one after, and when they are displayed, it appears one. But it is not one. There are so many pictures. They put into the machine, and when they work together, it appears that the man within the picture is moving. Actually, that movement is combination of many pictures. Similarly, we are growing. We are not growing, but we are changing body.

Therefore Krsna says, dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara, tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. We are becoming... We are seeing that "My child is growing." It is not growing; it is changing body just like the film spool. But because it is displayed in a very scientific way, we are seeing that "My child is growing." It is not growing. The actual fact is the child is a soul, and the soul is changing every minute the body. That is real understanding. Krsna says, authority says, dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara, tatha dehantara-pra... [Bg. 2.13]. Dehantara-praptih means accepting another body. So the child is speaking in one way now; so when he will get another body, a young man's body, he will speak in a different way. The dog is barking because it has got a different body, and a scientist speaking in a different way because he has got a different body. Similarly, every one of us, because we have got different types of body according to my desire, we are acting differently. So if we come back again to the spiritual platform, then we will not work differently. We shall work concomitantly. Everyone will agree with everyone. That is spiritual platform. But unless we come to the spiritual platform -- we remain on the bodily platform -- we shall speak differently. And as soon as we come to the spiritual platform, then we shall speak in one item only, how to serve Krsna. This is the process.

So those who are too much materially affected, their progress is very slow. Especially in this age. In this age the symptoms of the human beings is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that prayena alpayusah.

prayena alpa ayusah
(kalav) asmin yuge janah
mandah sumanda-matayo
manda-bhagya hy upadrutah
 [SB 1.1.10]

This is the condition at the present moment. This is called Kali-yuga. The first symptom is: our span of life is very short, decreasing. With the advancement of Kali-yuga, our duration of life is decreasing. Everyone knows that. My father lived so many years, my grandfather lived so many years, but it is certain I am not going to live so many years. And then my son is not... Gradually, it is reduced. Reducing, reducing, reducing. By the end of Kali-yuga, the duration of life from twenty years to thirty years will be considered very, very old age, very, very old. If a man is living for twenty-five years, he will be considered a very grand old man. Yes. That is coming gradually. So therefore it is said, manda, manda. Manda means everything bad or everything slow. Duration of life is bad, then their activities also very bad, always sinful activities. Mandah sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10]. And if somebody is little anxious to take shelter of somebody for spiritual advancement, then he will accept some bogus thing, sumanda-matayo, some bogus incarnation of God, some bogus yogi, some bogus... They will take sumanda-matayo, will not come to the real.

Real... Here it is said that mat-sarvasva-padambhojau radha-madana-mohanau. One should take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. Instead of taking shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, he will take shelter of the lotus feet of some bogus. That's it. They are called manda-matayo, manufacturing something new: "This is our process of religion." They do not know that religion cannot be manufactured. Religion is eternal. Religion... Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Religion means the law given by God. The God is eternal; therefore His law is eternal. So how we can manufacture? You cannot manufacture religion. God is eternal, and His law is also eternal. Therefore God personally comes, and He says that "You have manufactured so many religions, but that is not religion. You give it up. You give them up." Sarva-dharman parityajya: [Bg. 18.66] "Give up all this nonsense." Then what should be my religion? Mam ekam saranam vraja, that's all. This is eternal religion. Mam ekam: "Only unto Me." The religion is very simplified, but still, people are... Because mandah sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10], they have got some nasty ideas, they manufacture different types of religion. Religion is one. That is eternal. God is one. That is eternal. Take anything, like gold. Gold is gold, always gold. Millions of years ago the what was gold, the metal, the same metal is still there. You cannot say, "This is Hindu gold," "This is Muslim gold," "This is Christian gold." Gold is gold. Similarly, God is one. You cannot say, "This is Hindu God," "This is Muslim God," "This is Christian God." God is one, and eternal. Therefore religion is one, eternal. That is Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. God is one. You are also one because you are part and parcel. But you have created your struggle for existence because you are thinking otherwise without Krsna consciousness. Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. Because you have created different types of mind, different types of desires, and you are trying to fulfill it, that is called struggle for existence. Otherwise you are existing eternally, and your consciousness is one: think of Krsna. But because you are doing not, not doing that, therefore there is struggle. That is maya. That is maya. Otherwise there is no question of struggling. Everything is there, plain and simple.

So that is Krsna consciousness movement. We are preaching that God is one and to think of God is also one and to become obedient servant of God, that is also one. Not that you have to become a different servant, I have to become different ser... Everyone is servant originally. So we accept to serve God. Then our religion is there; our fulfillment of desires are there. Therefore the author said, mat-sarvasva-padambhojau: "That is my everything. To take shelter of Radha-Madana-mohana, that is my everything. I have no other desire." This is Krsna consciousness.

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesam
 [SB 10.14.58]

 This is the solution. To take shelter of the padambhojau of Radha-Madana-mohana, that is the solution of all problem. And for a person who has taken shelter of the lotus feet, samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam... Pada-pallavam. His lotus feet is compared with the lotus flower. The lotus flower has got petals, and the petal is just like in the shape of a boat. Everyone has got this experience. If you take the shelter of this boat, then we can cross over the ocean of material world very easily. You require some boat to cross over some watery span. So here, if you take one boat and if you want to cross the Pacific Ocean or Atlantic Ocean, it is very difficult. It may not... The boat may not go up to the end. But if you... Samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam. If you take shelter of the lotus petal boatlike of... What is that lotus flower? Samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh. Murari, Murari means Krsna. If you take shelter of the boat of the lotus feet of Murari... What is that feet? Mahat-padam. Mahat-padam means the whole universal creation, the cosmic manifestation, is also resting there. It is not only a small thing. Mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh: "And who is famous very piously." Then what the result? Bhavambudhir vatsa-padam. Bhavambudhih means the great ocean of material existence. We are struggling here, trying to swim. That becomes vatsa-padam. Vatsa-padam. Vatsa means calf. So you have no experience. In our country, the, in the... The calf walks, and the hoof makes some hole, and there is some water also. So as it is not difficult to cross that water, similarly, the whole material ocean become like that hole of the calf's hoof. In this way you can cross over this material ocean and go back to home, back to Godhead. Why I shall go there? Because here, padam padam yad vipadam [SB 10.14.58]. Here, in every step there is danger. Why shall you live here? Take this boat and go, cross the material ocean, and go back to home, back to Godhead. This is the philosophy. Therefore our Kaviraja Gosvami is saying, mat-sarvasva: "Everything. This is my everything. I take shelter of You."

Thank you very much.

Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam Lord Brahma was praying to Krsna to please protect him because he had to associate with so many vicious living entities.

Prabhupada: That everything will be cured if you kindly hear. That's all.

Devotee (1): What if we're going on sankirtana or something like that, how can we be sure that we won't fall down, we won't overendeavor? How can we be sure that we're not pushing ourselves too much?

Prabhupada: You will feel sure as you make progress. Just like when you are eating, hungry, as you feel satisfaction and hunger satisfied, you can know yourself. [break]

Devotee (2): How can we repay you?

Prabhupada: You don't require to repay. (chuckles) I am not giving you anything. It is Krsna's property. You repay to Krsna. Chant Hare Krsna and He will be repaid. [break] Nobody can repay. That is the... Therefore it is better to remain always obliged. That's all. That's all right? Chant Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.15 -- Dallas, March 4, 1975

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Krishna's Touch

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.26 Mayapur, March 4, 1976 download  flash player   Take a test Pusta Krsna: Translation: "O my Lord, O Supreme, what is my position because I am born in a family which is full of the hellish material qualities of passion and ignorance? And what to speak of Your causeless mercy, which was never offered even to Lord Brahma and Lord Siva and the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, because You never put Your lotus hand upon their heads, but You have done so on my head." Prabhupada: kvaham rajah-prabhava isa tamo 'dhike 'smin jatah suretara-kule kva tavanukampa na brahmano na tu bhavasya na vai ramaya yan me 'rpitah sirasi padma-karah prasadah  [SB 7.9.26]

This is the position. Prahlada Maharaja, humbly submitting, because he is Vaisnava, that "What is my position? My position is that I am born of rajas-tamo-guna." This birth takes place according to quality we acquire. Just like I was rebuking that toilet. This is so nasty, tamo-guna, and if I have no response to such tamo-guna place, that means I am also of that quality. Just like fire and fire, there is no reaction, but in fire and water there is reaction. Between fire and fire there is no reaction, but fire and water there is reaction. Similarly, sattva-guna -- sattva-guna, there is no reaction. Tamo-guna -- tamo-guna there is no reaction. It is... In English it is called incompatible. When different qualities, there is reaction, chemical reaction, acid and alkaline. Acid and acid, you mix; there is no reaction. But acid and alkaline, if you mix, there will be effervescence immediately. So karanam guna-sango asya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. If one is developing tamo-guna, then, if he becomes, he becomes a pig next life, there is no reaction. He'll be very glad that "I am pig," "I am dog." There is no reaction. But if one is sattva-guna, then he cannot tolerate. Immediately obnoxious: "Oh, such a nasty condition." So I am very sorry there was no reaction in such nasty toilet room. And you are getting sacred thread, the quality of brahmana, sattva-guna. It is very regrettable. Nobody reacted.

So this is the position, that unless we...

tada rajas-tamo-bhavah
kama-lobhadayas ca ye
ceta etair anaviddham
sthitam sattve prasidati
 [SB 1.2.19]

We have to curb down these rago-guna, tamo-guna; otherwise there is no improvement. If a person in Krsna consciousness is found, no reaction in rajo-guna, tamo-guna, then he's a dull stone. It is not improving. It is simply showbottle. So showbottle will not act help, Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah. This prescription is there. If one develops Krsna consciousness, then it is to be understood that he has surpassed sattva-guna, the brahminical qualification. Why we offer sacred thread to a person who is coming from very, very low family? Because it is to be understood by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, by following the regulative principle, he has already come to the platform of sattva-guna. But if it is a false thing, there is no need of second initiation. There must be. One must come. This, our process, is "Don't do this. Do this: Chant Hare Krsna mantra sixteen rounds, and don't do this -- no illicit sex, no meat-eating." That means he's becoming purified. He's becoming purified from the rotten condition of rajo-guna and tamo-guna. But if he does not, then there should be no second initiation. This should be the rule.

So, so Prahlada Maharaja is claiming. He's not neither in rajo-guna, tamo-guna, sattva-guna. He's Vaisnava; he's transcendental. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. He's on the brahma-bhutah stage, on the spiritual platform. Otherwise how Krsna touching? Krsna is param-pavitrah. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. He cannot touch a rajas-tamas-bhava. No. That is not possible. When Lord Nrsimhadeva touched his head, either by His touching he's already purified, or because he's purified, therefore Lord touched his head. This is the conclusion. So he is purified, but as a Vaisnava, he is placing himself in the platform of rajas-tamo-bhavah [SB 1.2.19]. The whole world, at least in this age, Kali-yuga, these two qualities, mostly tamo-guna, and little rajo-guna, that's all, but no sattva-guna. No sattva-guna. Therefore people cannot understand what is Krsna consciousness. They cannot understand. Rajas-tamo-bhavah, ceta etair anaviddha. Therefore we have to purify ourself. The prescription is there, very simple thing, to become purified, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. If we simply recite all these mantras... The Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, all these slokas, they're all mantras, just like as good as Hare Krsna mantra. There is no difference. So if we hear... That is the prescription given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we are trying to introduce this. Our so many centers, we are inviting people in so many ways so that they can hear. This class is meant for that. It is not that everyone will understand each word, but simply if he hears, it will be beneficial, the mantra. Simply if one hears Hare Krsna mantra chanting, he'll be purified. If he hears this mantra, a verse from Bhagavad-gita, a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, attentively, even he does not understand the meaning, the purport, still, he'll get benefit. That is the way. So we must hear.

So Prahlada Maharaja is saying, rajah-prabhava: "My dear Lord, Isa, my, this body, I have got this body from father and mother. They belong to the low-grade family." Suretara. Sura itara. Sura means high-class family, demigods, brahmana. That is called sura. And itara means low grade. So suretara-kule: "Because I am born... because everything is being done very perfectly by the laws of material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Prakrti, nature, is working. If you develop a kind of quality... There are three qualities: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So if you develop sattva-guna, then your body gradually will be sattva-guna-ized. Sattva-guna, the goodness... The body will be purified and become good. Good, bad, and via media, three kinds. So that is the process. Krsna consciousness movement means everything is being gradually developed into goodness. And at last, to surpass goodness... Here in this material world the goodness may be contaminated with the other qualities, but in the spiritual world it is so good... It is called suddha-sattva. There is no contamination, there is no tinge of rajo-guna and tamo-guna. That is spiritual quality. So Krsna consciousness can be possible in perfectness when we are above the quality of goodness. Above. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. One who has surpassed the three qualities and has come to the spiritual platform, then it is called cinmaya. Cit means spiritual, and maya... These word, mayat-pratyaya, these are used when it is in great extent, in large quality. That is mayat. And vikarat. Vikara means transformed. Just like gold. Pure gold, you transform into a finger ring -- this is also gold. This is called vikararthe. Gold has become now a ring. And another meaning is that suppose it is made of iron or other base metal, but it is covered with gold, large quantity. That is called adhikarthe because a quantity of gold is there. That is not all gold, but there is gold, covered. So in two meanings, the mayat-pratyaya is there. So similarly, cinmaya. Cinmaya means if you cultivate spiritual knowledge in large quantity, then your body is no more material. It is spiritualized. Cinmaya. Therefore great saintly person's body, after demise it is not burned; it is buried, samadhi, because it is cinmaya. So adikarthe mayat-pratyaya and vikararthe... So a Vaisnava, his body is cinmaya, is cinmaya body.

So Prahlada Maharaja says that "My body is in large quantity this rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So it is not possible for me to approach You, My Lord. Because You are suddha-sattva and I am in the material contamination, how it is possible that You shall touch my head? It is simply Your causeless mercy." This is appreciation. "Otherwise how it is possible? You cannot touch this nasty quality of rajo-guna, tamo-guna. My body is made by my father and mother. They belong to the nasty rajo-guna, tamo-guna quality. So it is not possible that You'll touch my body, but You have done it. You have placed Your lotus hand on my head. It is simply Your causeless mercy. Otherwise I am not fit for this. So, and I... You are so merciful that this mercy You did not offer to Lord Brahma even." Brahma is supposed to be the supreme creature within this material world, Brahma. He's the first created creature, and he's called Svayambhu. He's not born of any material father and mother but directly came through the lotus stem which is growing from the navel of Visnu. So he's not ordinary person. He's not ordinary person. He's not... Therefore he's known as Svayambhu. We are not svayambhu. We are begotten by father and grown up by mother. We are not self-sufficient. But Brahma is called Svayambhu because he is not born of any material father and mother. So "He did not get this mercy. Although Brahma's position is so exalted, still, my Lord, he did not get this opportunity."

Na brahmano na tu bhavasya. Bhava means Lord Siva. Lord Siva's position is also very exalted, more than Brahma. Lord Siva is in between Lord Visnu and living entity. We are living entity. So Lord Siva is not ordinary living entity. Brahma is ordinary living entity, but very pious, exalted. But Lord Siva is more than Brahma. "So he also could not get this mercy." Na vai ramaya. Ramaya means Laksmi, the goddess of fortune. (S)he always remains with Narayana. She is not... She's... Her position is more than Lord Brahma or Lord Siva. She is Narayana in a different energy only. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir ahladini saktih. She is the manifestation of the pleasure potency of the Lord. The Lord has got unlimited potencies, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. So one of the potency is Radharani or Laksmi or Sita. They are equal. There is no difference. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir ahladini-saktir asmat. These loving affairs between Radharani and Krsna or Narayana and Laksmi or Sita and Rama, they are both of them the same. One is potency; another is potent. That is the difference, potent and potency. So "Such Rama, the goddess of fortune, she also could not get this compassionate mercy or causeless mercy." So he's feeling proud that "You are so affectionate to Your devotee." Therefore Lord's name is bhakta-vatsala. He can offer to His bhakta any position, more than Himself. Just like mother Yasoda. She is bhakta, and Lord has given her the position for punishing Him. Mother Yasoda is threatening Krsna that "Krsna, You were very naughty. Now I shall bind You." So Krsna, out of being afraid, was crying. So Krsna has given the position to the bhakta that "You chastise Me. I'll accept it." This is bhakta's position. This is Krsna's causeless mercy. He can do that.

So Prahlada Maharaja is appreciating that "I am worthless. I have no qualification." That should be the position of the bhaktas always. Never we should think that "I have become a big bhakta." No. Caitanya-caritamrta author says humbly, purisera kita haite muni se laghistha: [Cc. Adi 5.205] "I am lower than the worm in the stool." Does it mean that he is actually? No. But he's feeling like that. An advanced devotee, they're always so humble and meek, they always think of himself as worthless. And still, the Lord is so kind and favorable. That is His causeless mercy, that "I am not qualified, I am not worthy of this facility." This is the humbleness. Kvaham rajah-prabhava isa tamo 'dhike 'smin. "Not only I am influenced by rajo-guna, but mostly, seventy-five percent, I am infested with tamo-guna." Adhika. Akhika means "in larger quantity." And there is no question of sattva-guna. Adhika 'smin jatah sure... "Otherwise why I am born in this family?" That is the test. Now they are... By force they are trying to be equal. Of course, in this age everyone is sudra. That is an... Otherwise lowborn means this differentiation of different low qualities. By nature it will give. I have several times explained that as you infect a certain type of contaminous disease, you get that, you suffer from that. So the brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, then antaja, (?) candala, mean, so many, kirata, huna, pulinda, pulkasa, abhira, sumbha -- so many, low-grade, low-grade, low-grade, low-grade, low-grade. Then why this low-grade birth? That is due to this karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. In the Bhagavad-gita it says. It is due to our association with low-grade qualities.

Therefore the human life should be very cautious that we may not be contaminated by low-grade qualities. There are so many rules and regulations, but it is very very difficult to follow. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended, just to remain purified, "Chant Hare Krsna." Harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva [Cc. Adi 17.21]. You cannot... Otherwise you cannot purify. So kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. We should always chant Hare Krsna mantra. Then we'll gradually be spiritualized, cinmaya, spiritualized. Then our life will be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.26 -- Mayapur, March 4, 1976

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.