Devotion Is Action Without Designation

Devotion Is Action Without Designation

72/11/01 Vrndavana

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Pradyumna: (reading:) "...as given by Rupa Gosvami in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, can be summarized thus: his service is favorable and is always in relation to Krsna. In order to keep the purity of such Krsna conscious activities, one must be freed from all material desires and philosophical speculation. Any desire except for the service of the Lord is called material desire. And philosophical speculation refers to the sort of speculation which ultimately arrives at a conclusion of voidism or impersonalism. This conclusion is useless for a Krsna conscious person. Only rarely by philosophical speculation can one reach the conclusion of worshiping Vasudeva, Krsna. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita itself. The ultimate end of philosophical speculation, then, must be Krsna, with the understanding that Krsna is everything, the cause of all causes, and that one should therefore surrender unto Him. If this ultimate goal is reached, then philosophical advancement is favorable, but if the conclusion of philosophical speculation is voidism or impersonalism, that is not bhakti."

Prabhupada: There is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: vasudeva-para veda vasudeva-param jnanam vasudeva-param gatim. So unless one is led to the conclusion vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19], jnana-vairagya-karma, anything that you are trying to achieve, if it is not targeted to the realization of Vasudeva, then it... Srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. That is the conclusion of Bhagavata. Whatever you do, the ultimate goal should be realization of Vasudeva, Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. All Vedic conclusions should be ultimately to realize Vasudeva, Krsna. Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. This realization is achieved after many, many births of philosophical speculation, mystic yogic exercise or fruitive activities. Koti-karmi-madhye eka jnani srestha. To become karmi is the third-class stage of life. One has to make progress further, so that one may become self-realized, brahma-bhutah. So out of many, many karmis, one jnani, or one who has realized his identification, he's better. And out of many millions of jnanis who are trying to realize his self by philosophical speculation, brahma-jnana, so one mukta, or liberated soul, is better. And out of many thousands of liberated souls, it is said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is very rare to find out a pure devotee of Krsna.

The conclusion is, a pure devotee of Krsna is picked up out of many, many liberated persons. Mukta-sangasya jayate. Krsna realization, bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam, mukta-sangasya jayate. Bhagavat-tattva, the truth, the Absolute Truth, which is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam. Tattva means truth, and that is Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti [SB 1.2.11]. Brahman realization is not all. One has to go further. Paramatma realization -- one has to go further. When one comes to realization of Bhagavan, sad-aisvarya-purna-bhagavan-Bhagavan means full will six kinds of opulences, person, sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1] -- that is ultimate goal of life. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. Such kind of mahatma is very rare. That is the verdict of all Vedic literature, and confirmed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: koti-mukta-madhye durlabha krsna-bhakta. Krsna bhakta, a pure devotee of Krsna, is very rarely to be found out amongst the muktas, amongst the liberated souls. Others are trying to become liberated, but a Krsna-bhakta is above liberation. Pancama-purusartha. People are busy for dharma artha kama moksa [SB 4.8.41, Cc. Adi 1.90]. Some of them are busy to become religious. Of course, without religious life, there..., there is no human society. Dharmena hina pasubhih samanah. Unless a society takes to religiosity, it is not human society. Therefore we see any civilized human society, there is a kind of religious system. It doesn't matter whether it is Hinduism, Christianism, or Buddhism, or Muhammadanism, but there must be a religious system. Without this system, that human society is not considered as human society. That is animal society. In the... Even I understand that in America the Red Indians, who are supposed to be not civilized, they had also a religious system. So maybe a perverted form of religious system. Similarly, in India also there are primitive races in the jungles, they have also... Religious system means approving the authority of some Supreme Being. That is religious system. So in the animal society there is no such conception that "There is God. We have got some relationship with God," what is that relationship. This type of discussion cannot be present in the animal society. So dharma artha kama moksa. Generally religious system is taken for improving social and economic condition. Artha. Artha means economy. Artha is required for sense gratification. We require economic development for our sense gratification. And when one is completely satisfied, then he can cultivate about spiritual realization, moksa, apavarga.

So dharmasya apavargyasya arthah na arthaya upakalpate. So dharma is not meant for developing economic condition. That is secondary. But dharma is meant for ultimate goal of liberation. People do not know that. People are not educated that what is the ultimate goal of life. Still, they take to religious life as a compromise between the contending elements, that "We must live peacefully under religious system." The aim is how to live in this material world peacefully. Sometimes religion and God is conceived in that way, that is, "If we have some conception of God, then we shall be moral, we shall be peaceful. Otherwise, there is no need of presenting God in the society." There are so many different opinions, different philosophers, different religious system, according to the modes of nature. But actually every system must be targeted towards realization of Krsna, or God. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. That is Bhagavata-dharma. Bhagavata-dharma means realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prahlada Maharaja recommended culture of this Bhagavata-dharma from the very beginning of life: kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha [SB 7.6.1]. That is the success of human form of life, to execute Bhagavata-dharma. The, the process... And dharma, as we have several times explained, dharma means the codes of Bhagavan. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19].

So this Krsna consciousness movement is directly touching the point. Not step by step. There is no time.

 

 In the Kali-yuga there is very little time to go step by step. Otherwise, there are twenty different types of religious scriptures, vimsati-prakasa, dharma-sastra. So who will read, and who will try to understand? There is no time. Prayena alpayusah kalau asmin yuge janah. People who are very short-living and they are not very enthusiastic for self-realization. Manda. Even they, somebody becomes interested in self-realization, they accept some wrong path. Mandah sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10]. They have got different matah, opinion or path. And the so-called swamis, they also support that "Whatever opinion you have got about religious system, that is all right." Yata mata tata patha. But actually, the fact is different. The fact is that one should take simply to the devotional path, bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55]. If you are actually serious to know God, or Krsna, then you must take to this process of devotional service. Without this you cannot understand. Not through karma, not through mystic yogic exercises, but through devotional service. Bhaktya mam abhijanati, yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. That is clearly stated in the Bhagavad... But people do not know it. Anartha upasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje. Bhakti-yogam, execution of bhakti-yoga, is the means of anartha upasama, subduing the anarthas. Material life means we have accumulated some unwanted things. Just like this material body -- this is also not wanted. But somehow or other, we have developed this, and as we have got this material body, we have got so many material necessities of life. So it is not that abruptly we have to give it up. But by yukta-vairagya, everything, the material activities, dovetailing with Krsna consciousness, it becomes gradually purified, and we come to the final stage of understanding Krsna. That is our success of life. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Karma, or fruitive activities, are sometimes understood to be ritualistic activities. There are many persons who are very much attracted by the ritualistic activities described in the Vedas. But if one becomes attracted simply to ritualistic activities without understanding Krsna, his activities are unfavorable to Krsna consciousness. Actually, Krsna consciousness can be based simply on hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. Described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam are nine different processes, besides which, everything done is unfavorable to Krsna consciousness. Thus one should always be guarding against falldowns."

Prabhupada: So we should directly take to the nine different processes of devotional service, sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. That we are stressing specifically every time, that hearing about Krsna is very important. Sravanam. As it is described in the Bhagavatam, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. Srnvatam. Simply hearing, srnvatam, those who are hearing... Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also recommended, sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. One may stay in his position as a brahmana, as a ksatriya, as a vaisya, or as a sudra. Everyone can hear about Krsna. This assembly which we are holding, there is no such thing that only the brahmanas will come here, or the ksatriyas will come here. Anyone can come and hear about Krsna. That is the process of Krsna consciousness movement. We try to invite everyone, from every corner of the world, to hear about Krsna. And that is becoming successful also. Simply by hearing about Krsna -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- and reading Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, simply talking about Krsna, they are becoming successful. So we should take... In the Kali-yuga it is very difficult to go step by step. It is not possible. Therefore by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the easiest path has been recommended:

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

Actually, we cannot accept various paths for self-realization. That is not impossible. Sometimes, because we give stress directly to accept this devotional service, people are not very happy that we do not give any importance to the process of jnana and karma and yoga. We do not condemn, but they're very difficult. The yogic process... Especially in Western countries, they are very much fond of the word yoga. We are therefore publishing this book, Krsna Consciousness Is the Topmost Yoga. Actually it is so. So the yoga system or the jnana system or the karma-kanda system, we do not make them null and void, but it will be very much slow form of progress. It will take long, long time. Neither it is possible to execute yoga system or karma system very properly in this age. Therefore the best contribution to the people of this age is Krsna consciousness. Immediately take to... Directly take to Krsna and your life will be successful. Krsna also says, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. The yoga system, karma system, jnana system, they may be taken as different types of religious path, but Krsna recommends -- not only at the present moment, but eternally He recommends -- five thousand years ago, He said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. "I'll give you protection," aham tvam sarva-papebhyo. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Srila Rupa Gosvami has also mentioned in this definition of bhakti the word jnana-karmadi. This karmadi, or fruitive work, consists of activities which are unable to help one attain to pure devotional service. Many forms of so-called renunciation are also not favorable to Krsna conscious devotional service."

Prabhupada: Yes. Karma... Rupa Gosvami has directly recommended, anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Actually, we find so many yogis, jnanis, karmis, they cannot understand even what is the benefit of this Krsna consciousness movement. Because we say directly, "You take to devotional service," sometimes they are not satisfied. But what can be done? This is the process recommended. And we are preaching through the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that this process of Krsna-kirtana..., param vijayate krsna-sankir..., sankirtanam.

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prapti-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam
 [Cc. Antya 20.12]

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's blessings, param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. So go anywhere and everywhere, chant Hare Krsna mantra, and you'll become victorious. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's blessings. It is not our invention. And practically we are getting result. All over the world, our only means is to chant Hare Krsna mantra. Recently we have become victorious, very recently in Melbourne. You know, our men were being arrested and prosecuted. But one, the chief clergyman, archbishop, he has recommended that "These people are very nice people, God conscious. Don't give them trouble." Yes. And the government has stopped harassing. Now we are free to move on the street and go anywhere. This recent news we have got from Melbourne. Madhudvisa Maharaja has sent this news. Similarly, we were harassed in London also, and other places. In USA also. San Francisco. I do not know whether we were harassed in New York, but more or less... And in Japan also, they are talking that "You become bona fide religious organization. Otherwise you cannot come on the street." So although there is harassment by the governing agents, still we are coming out successful. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. All glories to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana! Practically. So you stick to this principle, go on chanting Hare Krsna mantra anywhere it is possible, and you'll be victorious. That is the blessings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Believe in it and you'll be successful. Yes. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Srila Rupa Gosvami has also quoted a definition from the Narada-pancaratra as follows: 'One should be free from all material designations and must be cleansed of all material contamination by Krsna consciousness. He should be restored to his pure identity, where he engages his senses in the service of the proprietor of the senses.' So when our senses are engaged for the actual proprietor of the senses, that is called devotional service."

Prabhupada: Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Bhakti, devotional service, does not mean inertness. Not simply sitting down or meditate. It is activity, engaging all the senses. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam. Hrsika means these senses -- not these senses, but purified senses. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Just like pranair arthair dhiyah vaca. Prana, life; artha, riches, money; dhiya, intelligence; and vaca, speeches. So everyone using... Just like for national cause people are engaging life, they are sacrificing life. So many, for attainment of independence in India, so many Indians gave up their life. Pranaih. So many people gave up their everything. We know during national movement, Mr. C. R. Das, a great leader of the Congress group, he sacrificed everything. He was a big, very big lawyer, barrister. He sacrificed his profession, he sacrificed his life -- everything. So as we are sacrificing everything for attainment of some so-called national independence, the same thing, if we sacrifice for Krsna, then our life becomes successful. Pranair arthair dhiya vaca sreya-acaranam sada.

So it is not inactivity. Caitanya Mahaprabhu or his followers, they were not inactive. They were acting. This Rupa Gosvami, he was so active that he could not sleep at night even for more than one and one half hour. They retired from the material activities. He was minister. He gave up his job and joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu in old age. He came to Vrndavana not to live a retired life, but a very active life.

nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau
lokanam hita-karinau tri-bhuvane manyau saranyakarau
radha-krsna-padaravinda-bhajananandena-mattalikau
vande rupa-sanatana raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Here is, sitting, Sri Gosvamiji. He's coming from Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. So all these six Gosvamis, they were not inactive. They were always active. As we are active in the karma, karmi life, so bhakti life is also activity. It is not sitting down idly or gossiping. One must find out some job to serve Krsna. That is bhakti life. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Sevanam means activity. Sevanam does not mean sit down idle, inert. No. As soon as seva... Seva means activity. One has to preach, one has to write, one has to do this, do that, cook, offer the prasadam, everything. Seva, activity.

So that activity and karmis' activity, there is difference. The karmi's activity is on upadhi. "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian." With this upadhi, we are acting. But bhakti means without upadhi. Sarvopadhi-virnirmuktam. Activity without upadhi. Working not as American. Working not as Indian. Working not as Hindu. Working not as Muslim. That is sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. If we think that "I am Christian," "I am Hindu," "I am American," that is with upadhi. When we purely think that "We are...," or "I am servant of Krsna. My only business is to satisfy Krsna," that activity is called bhakti. If I become interested in some party, that is not... Sometimes people criticize these American and European devotees, that they think that "They are American devotee; we are Hindu devotee. There is difference." This is not bhakti-marga. This is upadhi. Why you should think yourself as Hindu? Why you should think of others who have come from America as American? That is less intelligent. Krsna-bhakta... Vaisnave jati-buddhih. If one thinks of Vaisnava as belonging to this class, this nation, he has no vision. Naraki. That is called naraki-buddhih. Vaisnave jati-buddhih arcye siladhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. If we think the Deity as made of stone and made of wood, arcye sila-dhir; gurusu, nara-matih, if we accept spiritual master as ordinary human being; vaisnave jati-buddhih, and if we take a Vaisnava as belonging to America or Europe or India... No. They are transcendental. Neither the Deity in the temple is stone, neither the spiritual master is ordinary human being, nor the Vaisnava belongs to any caste. This vision is perfect vision. When you come to this vision, that is bhakti. Tat-paratvena nirmalam. A bhakta has to become purified. Tat-paratvena, being dovetailed with the service of tat, om tat sat. Tat-param. This is the process of devotional service. One should not be designated "I am this," "I am that," "I am that." No. The world should unite. This Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that one should forget that he's Indian or Hindu or Christian or American or Indian. Everything should unite as servant of Krsna. That is bhakti-marga. Unfortunately, they distinguish between American Vaisnava and Indian Vaisnava: brahmana Vaisnava, sudra Vaisnava. No. A Vaisnava is Vaisnava. Visnur asya devatah iti vaisnava. One who has accepted Visnu as "my Lord," he has no designation. A Vaisnava has no such distinction. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170].

So this is the sutra given by Narada. Tat tenaiva vinirdiset [SB 7.11.35]. So we must follow the path of mahajana, the instruction of the acarya. Then we can become purified. And unless we are purified, there is no question of pure devotional service. Sa bhaktah prakrtah smrta. If one does not want to become advanced, if one does not want to become purified, then he remains a prakrta-bhakta. Prakrta-bhakta means executing devotional service under the instruction of spiritual master and the regulative principles of sastra, but he's still on the platform of material understanding. That is called prakrta-bhakta. A prakrta-bhakta cannot understand how another bhakta is transcendental. A prakrta-bhakta cannot understand that Vrndavana is always transcendental. Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami has discussed this point in his Tattva-sandarbha, that we cannot accept any manufactured ideas. Because everyone is defective by the four defects of material life, we have to accept the version of Vedas, Puranas. He has tried to establish Puranas as Vedic supplementary. Others, they reject Puranas out of the Vedas. But Jiva Gosvami established. All the Gosvamis. Just like Rupa Gosvami has given, sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratriki-vidhim vina, aikantiki harer bhaktir utpatayaiva kalpate [Brs. 1.2.101]. It is utpata, disturbance. If you do not follow the principles of sruti, smrti, purana, pancaratriki-vidhi... Just like we were discussing this point, sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is pancaratriki-vidhi. So if we do not follow these principles... Without following these principles, the so-called devotional service, Hari-bhakti, utpata, simply disturbance, simply a disturbance. Therefore we have to follow the principles laid down by the Gosvamis, Sad-gosvamis. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. And then our attempt will be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 1, 1972

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Simple Living

Simple Living

Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.10
Vrndavana, November 1, 1976

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Pradyumna: "O My sons, you should accept a highly elevated paramahamsa, a spiritually advanced spiritual master. In this way, you should place your faith and love in Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You should detest sense gratification and tolerate the duality of pleasure and pain, which are like the seasonal changes of summer and winter. Try to realize the miserable condition of living entities, who are miserable even in the higher planetary systems. Philosophically inquire about the truth. Then undergo all kinds of austerities and penances for the sake of devotional service. Give up the endeavor for sense enjoyment and engage in the service of the Lord. Listen to discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and always associate with devotees. Chant about and glorify the Supreme Lord, and look upon everyone equally on the spiritual platform. Give up enmity and subdue anger and lamentation. Abandon identifying the self with the body and the home, and practice reading the revealed scriptures. Live in a secluded place and practice the process by which you can completely control your life air, mind and senses. Have full faith in the revealed scriptures, the Vedic literatures, and always observe celibacy. Perform your prescribed duties and avoid unnecessary talks. Always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, acquire knowledge from the right source. Thus practicing bhakti-yoga, you will patiently and enthusiastically be elevated in knowledge and will be able to give up the false ego."

Prabhupada:

hamse gurau mayi bhaktyanuvrtya
vitrsnaya dvandva-titiksaya ca
sarvatra jantor vyasanavagatya
jijnasaya tapaseha-nivrttya
 [SB 5.5.10]

So this is called regulative principle. In the previous verse, it was recommended that karmanubaddho drdha aslatheta. This attachment, karmanubaddha, for this material world, everyone is busy -- we have discussed many times -- from morning till late at night, and night also, they are busy. Big, big factories, they are working day and night, one shift, other shift. That has become the criterion of civilization. Formerly it was less, because this ugra-karma... These factories means ugra-karma, unnecessarily severe, hard work. Unnecessarily. We have seen in Detroit, they are manufacturing one Ford, manufacturing Ford, simply wheels of the motorcar. Huge stock wheels. And somebody is manufacturing tire, huge stock of tire, and they are giving estimate: "Up till now, so many millions of tire we have manufactured." Well, you know all this. It is in your country. And then there are so many motor parts, there are three thousand small parts. So big, big factories, they are working to manufacture the parts of the motorcar, different parts of the motorcar, day and night working. And ultimately, they are preparing one car, and people are using huge quantity of cars. This is called karmanubaddha, unnecessary, ugra-karma.

Transportation is required, but we see from Krsna books that the inhabitants of Gokula... There was a meeting headed by Nanda Maharaja's young brother, Upananda, and all the villagers, they assembled together. They discussed that "Our Krsna is being repeatedly attacked by the asuras, and it has become very troublesome. So let us leave this place." They are villagers. They thought it wise that "Because we are in this village, some of the demons, they are coming and disturbing." So they are villagers... Immediately Nanda Maharaja agreed, "All right, let us leave this place." So immediately, they transferred the whole village with their possessions, cloth or something, everything, within one hour. And they transported by the bullock cart to Nandagrama. That means, the idea is the whole village was transferred from one village to another within very short time. So the transport is required, the transport by bullock carts. The bulls are there. They can be used for transport. Or the asses, they can be used for transport. But... And the camels can be used for transport. There are so many animals. So advancement, and big, big kings, royal families, they have got their transport service by keeping elephants and horses. They can get on the back of the horses and get yourself there. So nature's arrangement, God's arrangement is there. Transport is required in the human society, but you can utilize so many animals for your purpose. But at the present moment, ugra-karma. The transport is there, but they have manufactured big, big buses for transport, big, big cars, and the animals, they are now killed and eat. That's all. This is civilization. This is civilization. Not to reduce the labor, but increase the labor. Therefore they are called ugra-karma, jagatah hita, and that will create disastrous condition of the human society. This is discussed in Bhagavad-gita.

So our this simple living... We are introducing the simple living, that go to the village, have sufficient food grains and milk, and the experiment is successful in the Western countries, in New Vrindaban, in Philadelphia, in New Orleans. So now the leaders of European and American countries, they are threatened: "This kind of civilization, if it is advanced, then where he'll stand?" This simple living... In Australia, one psychiatrist, he remarked that "If this kind of simple living is introduced, then where you stand?" So they want ugra-karma. They want to work day and night in the factories, and to pacify themselves, they immediately require drinking, illicit sex. Thence, by working on motorcars, they have no enough food, they want to eat meat, kill animals; and to digest the meat, he must drink. One after another. One after another.

So this ugra-karma, they have introduced, but they are not happy. Because they are fools, they do not know their happiness is different. It cannot be had from the ugra-karma. Therefore here it is said, sarvatra vyasana? What is that? Jantor vyasanavagatya, sarvatra jantor vyasanavagatya. Your material civilization, wherever you advance materially, there is trouble. Not only on this planet, but in other planets also, I mean higher planets, where they live for many millions of years and their standard of happiness... Of course, these rascals, they are finding only stones and rocks in other planets. They have got everything only in this planet. And you have to believe them. Wherever they are going, in the moon planet or in the Mars planet, what do they see? Simply rocks and sands. But that is not the fact. Each and every planet is full of living entities, janata(?). That is the statement in the... Everywhere, every planet, there are different kinds of living entities. Just like we see in this planet also, the Europeans are of different features, the Americans have different features, India different features, Africa different features. So there are varieties of living continent, varieties of living entities, but no planet is vacant. That is not the fact. This is rascaldom. They are declaring the planets are vacant; only their father's property here, that is full of living entities. This is nonsense. This is nonsense.

Therefore it is said, sarvatra jantor vyasanavagatya. Sarvatra, everywhere, there are living entities and there are sufferings. Not only living entities. As there are sufferings here, three kinds of miserable conditions, even that will continue. A-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. That is statement of Krsna. Even you go to the Brahmaloka. Not that Brahmaloka is better. Why there are so many, ananta-koti, planets? Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti: [Bs. 5.40] not only one universe but many millions and trillions of universes. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. Kotisu. In each and every brahmanda, ananta-vasudha. Vasudha means the living places. Vibhinna, ananta yad... Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. Bhinnam, the climatic, atmospheric position is different. Not that it is vacant. Bhinnam. Vasudhadi-bhinnam. Just as moon planet, that atmosphere is different. Otherwise how it is possible that the moon planet, it is so nice, soothing rays is coming? And why not from the sun? The sun is differently constructed, different rays. It is God's arrangement. In daytime you require sunshine, and you become tired, so at nighttime there is very soothing moonshine. You becomes pacified, cleansed, soothing. Why the sun and the moon, if they are vacant or something, like that...? They do not know vasudhadi-bhinnam. Each and every planet is differently constructed. They do not know. These rascals, they are passing as scientists and simply giving this conclusion, that "Every planet is full of dust and rocks." If dust and rocks, then why from the sunshine so much heat is coming, and why from the moonshine so soothing and pleasing shine is coming? These rascals, they do not know. And they are passing as scientists. I call them directly rascals, simply, set of rascals. They have never gone to the moon planet. They do not know what are the different position of the different planets. Simply they are, I mean to say, cheating people to get good salary. That's all. And in the name of scientist.

But you should know from the Vedic literature the position. You should know that each and every planet is full of different types of living entities, and in the higher planetary system, the standard of living may be very... Not maybe. It is mentioned, thousands and thousands of times better than this planet. They... This is called Bhurloka, then Bhuvarloka, then Svargaloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka, Brahmaloka -- these are different higher planetary system -- and each loka, the standard of happiness is thousand times better than the earth. This is the position. And Krsna says, a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah. And similarly down, there are different lokas -- Tala, Atala, Talatala, Vitala, Sutala, like that. This is the constitution. But here Rsabhadeva says that anywhere you go, the threefold miseries of material existence, that will continue. You cannot get free. Even Brahmaloka, the Brahma, he is subjected to die. He is also undergo the principles of death, and what to speak of others. Nobody will exist here. A-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16].

So we should know that, that we are trying to improve our material condition -- it doesn't matter you are now a poor man, and by doing something you get, I mean to say, great amount of wealth. That does not mean that you are free from dangerous condition of life. That is not. Sarvatra. Either in this planet, or in other planet, or this condition, that condition, the threefold miseries, adhyatmika, adhidaivika, and adhibhautika, and these miseries, and janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi... Krsna says, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Krsna never says that "Within this universe, if you go to the heavenly planet, then you can avoid janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi." Never says. Nobody says. Krsna says, "Even you go to the heavenly planet," abrahma-bhuvanal lokah, "the janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, they are everywhere; you cannot avoid." Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. "But if you come to Me," param dhama, "then you can avoid."

Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. Here, everywhere you'll find duhkhalayam asasvatam. Just like I was reading last night that Brhaspati's wife is kidnapped by Candra. The Brhaspati is the spiritual master of the demigods, and his wife was kidnapped by Candra. He is also one of the demigods. Just see: the sex and lusty desires are so strong, even in the higher planetary system. And that is the cause. That is the cause. Here it is said, lingam vyapohet kusalo 'ham-akhyam. This false ego is the cause of our miserable condition in this material world. Material world is miserable, duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15], this material world. One ant is living, say for one day, and I am living for hundred years, and Brahma is living for millions of years. That does not mean any one of us is free is from the miserable condition of this material world. Nobody. Therefore this material world is called duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15].

mam upetya punar janma
duhkhalayam asasvatam
napnuvanti mahatmanah
samsiddhim paramam gatah
 [Bg. 8.15]

That is samsiddhi, that if you become able how to become free from this encagement of material body, lingam vyapohet. Therefore the endeavor should be how to give up this material body and be situated in our spiritual status, and that will give us...

So for that there are so many practices, regulative principles, mentioned here. The first thing is hamse gurau mayi bhaktyanuvrtya. This is religion. Adau gurvasrayam. If you do not get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus. If you, by good fortune, if you get the association of a guru, qualified hamsa, paramahamsa... Paramahamsa guru means sannyasi's last stage is paramahamsa. Kuticaka, bahudaka, parivrajakacarya, and paramahamsa, these are the different stages. When one takes sannyasa, he lives outside the village in a kuti, in a cottage, and the family members goes and delivers him the food, because he is not practiced. So in the beginning, he keeps up this association of neighborhood or family, but he is not practiced. He therefore lives outside the village, and if somebody gives some food, he eats. Then when he becomes experienced, then he does not accept food from one, either his own home or one home. He takes foodstuff from many homes: "Give me a little piece of capati." So somebody gives half, because they are also not overburdened. If they have to deliver, so many sannyasis come, and sumptuous food, then how the grhastha  will provide? Therefore though... They do not overburden. There may be other sannyasis, therefore little only. Madhupuri. The Gosvamis practiced this madhupuri in Vrndavana. They lived, but they would take little only from the house. This is called bahudaka. Then when he has practiced more, he travels all over the world, parivrajakacarya. And when he is fully experienced, then, in spiritual life and everything, then he is paramahamsa. So one must find out a guru who is paramahamsa. Neither kuticaka, nor bahudaka, nor parivrajakacarya. Paramahamsa. So in the Caitanya-caritamrta also, Lord Caitanya says, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. This bhakti-lata-bija can be obtained through the mercy of guru and Krsna. Here Rsabhadeva, who is incarnation of Krsna, therefore He says mayi, hamse gurau mayi. You cannot jump over Krsna. "Well, I know Krsna. I shall go to Krsna directly, without guru." There are many rascals, they say like that. No, that is not possible. First of all guru, then Krsna. Hamse gurau mayi, bhaktyanuvrtya.

So these are description, this is the beginning. If we actually practice the description of the prescription given in the sastra, then it will be possible that, as it is said, karmanubaddho drdha aslatheta. Then our strong desire to enjoy this material world in different way, that will be slackened. That is wanted.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.10-13 -- Vrndavana, November 1, 1976

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Fire Is Fire, Gold Is Gold, God Is God

Fire Is Fire, Gold Is Gold, God Is God

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.1
Bombay, November 1, 1974

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Prabhupada:

kapilas tattva-sankhyata
bhagavan atma-mayaya
jatah svayam ajah saksad
atma-prajnaptaye nrnam
 [SB 3.25.1]

So we are reciting from our latest edition of Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is Third Canto, Part Four. We have finished Third Canto, publishing. This is very important subject matter. The Kapila, the expounder of Sankhya philosophy, he instructed to His mother, Devahuti. There are two Kapilas. Real Kapiladeva is Kapila. He expounded Sankhya philosophy to instruct His mother. But later on, some imitation Kapiladeva also appeared -- atheistic Sankhya philosophy. He has simply dealt with the twenty-four different elements without information of God. Therefore there are two Kapilas. One Kapila is called the devahuti-putra Kapila; another is atheist Kapila.

So about Kapiladeva it is said, Saunaka Rs..., that kapilas tattva-sankhyata: "Kapila, the Supreme Person," tattva-sankhyata, "He can explain what is Absolute Truth." Kapilas tattva-sankhyata bhagavan. Without Bhagavan, nobody knows what is the actual position of the Ultimate Truth. Nobody can know it. Therefore Bhagavan Krsna or His incarnation occasionally visit to give you information about what is the aim of life. Tattva-sankhyata. Sankhyata means expounder, and tattva means the Absolute Truth. So Absolute Truth is Bhagavan Himself, Krsna Himself. So we cannot understand the Absolute Truth or the Supreme Person by mental speculation. That is not possible, especially when we are under the influence of the three modes of material nature because material nature is divided into three status: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, and tamo-guna. Those who are in the sattva-guna, they are fit for understanding the Absolute Truth. Sattva-guna means the brahminical qualification. Satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. They can understand. Therefore, in our Vedic conception of human society there must be a class of men, actually brahmana. Then they will be able to expound the real truth of life. If everyone becomes sudra, then the Absolute Truth cannot be understood.

Just like at the present moment, kalau sudra-sambhavah: "In the Kali-yuga, everyone is sudra." It is hardly to be found, a qualified brahmana. Of course, there are, but very rare. Practically brahmana is not a single there, especially in this age.

prayenalpayusah sabhya
kalav asmin yuge janah
mandah sumanda-matayo
manda-bhagya hy upadrutah
 [SB 1.1.10]

The people of this age, they are short-living and manda, very slow in everything, not interested. Actually human life is meant for understanding the spiritual value of life, but on account of the people being sudras, they are not interested. They are forgetting the real purpose of life. Manda. Manda means slow and bad. Everyone is bad or slow. Mandah sumanda-matayah. And they have got... Everyone has got a particular type of understanding. Sumanda-matayah. That is not bona fide. Sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyah: "And everyone is misfortunate, unfortunate." Upadrutah: "And they are disturbed by so many causes." And the gradually, the situation will be like this. It is already manifest. Anavrstya durbhiksa-kara-piditah: [SB 12.2.9] "There will be no rain in the sky, and there will be scarcity of foodstuff," and kara-piditah, "and government will levy tax very heavily." These are already predicted, and we are experiencing. So this age is very miserable. Kali-yuga is very miserable. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is Krsna Himself. He came. He advised all people of the world that "You simply chant Hare Krsna." Very simple thing. Harer nama harer nama. It is not His invention, but it is in the sastras, Puranas. This advice is there,

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

In this age, people being all sudras, less intelligent, unfortunate, disturbed, how they will be able to understand the Absolute Truth or the aim of life?

So anyway, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that,

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

So similarly, some time before, some hundreds and thousands of years, Kapiladeva appeared, devahuti-putra Kapiladeva. His father's name is Kardama Muni. So after Kapiladeva's birth, when He was grown up... That is the system of Vedic civilization. When children are grown up, the father retires. He takes sannyasa, or goes out of home simply for cultivating spiritual life, not that throughout the whole life, rot in this material world, no. Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. That is the injunction of the sastra. We have got eight kinds of asrama, er, four kinds of asrama and four kinds of varnas. So the... Formerly they used to follow very strictly. So Kapiladeva's father, Kardama Muni, after the son was grown up, he left his home, giving in charge of his wife. The wife was given in charge of the grown-up boy, not that the boy was in charge of the..., no. So that incident, that narration, is stated in this part.

So kapilas tattva-sankhyata bhagavan. Kapila is Bhagavan. Nowadays Bhagavan is so cheap. They misuses of the word. But here you will find that Bhagavan is not an ordinary man. Avajananti mam mudhah [Bg. 9.11]. Because Bhagavan Krsna appeared as human being, so the mudhas, rascals and fools, they think of Krsna as ordinary human being, mudha. Mohitam nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam, tribhir gunamayair bhavaih, mohitam [Bg. 7.13]. So still there are devotees who can understand. Just like Arjuna understood that "Krsna, although He's my friend, playing the part of my friend, but He is Supreme Personality of Godhead." Therefore, when Krsna instructed Arjuna for our benefit... Arjuna is in perfect knowledge, but aiming at Arjuna, Krsna is giving instruction for all human society, and he admitted. After knowing Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna said, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan: [Bg. 10.12] "My dear Krsna, You are the Parambrahma." Parambrahman. Every one of us, Brahman. Brahman means spirit soul. We are not this body. Bhagavata... This is realization, self-realization. That is Vedic culture. One must understand what he is. We should not keep ourself in ignorance like cats and dogs, thinking that "I am this body," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am brahmana," "I am ksatriya," "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," or so many designations. That is bodily designation. So when one comes to the spiritual understanding, that is called Brahman realization. Bhagavata...

So we are all Brahman; simply we have to understand it. It is not that we are abrahman; by some practice we become Brahman, no. Just like gold is gold, but if it is covered with some dirt, the dirt can be removed, and the gold is gold; similarly, we are Brahman, spirit soul. Somehow or other we have come in contact with these material elements, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], and we have got this body, covered, and I am thinking, "I am this body." This is ignorance. This is ignorance. So unless one is enlightened by the spiritual knowledge, he remains only just like cats and dogs. And to understand spiritual identification, that is called dharma. Dharma means that. And the ultimate goal of dharma is spoken by Krsna, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. We have created so many dharmas: Hindu dharma, Mussulman dharma, Christian dharma. These are manufactured. Of course, there is indication how to execute dharma, but real dharma -- when you come to the conclusion, vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19].

bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah
 [Bg. 7.19]

So this is... Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose, that we... We are not preaching any particular sectarian religious system. No. We are preaching the real what is meant by religion. Religion means dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Nobody knows what is dharma. This is the position. Because dharma means the order of the Supreme Being. That is dharma. Just like law means the order of the government, similarly, dharma means the order of the Supreme Being. That is dharma. This is the simple definition of dharma. So God is one; His order is one. How there can be different dharmas? It is not possible. That is ignorance. When we create different dharma, that is due to ignorance: Hindu dharma, Muslim dharma, Christian dharma or this dharma, that dharma... No. Gold is gold. Does it mean that if a Christian possesses some gold, it becomes Christian gold? Or Hindu possesses some gold, it becomes Hindu gold? No. Gold is gold. Either it is in possession of Hindu or Muslim or Christian, it doesn't matter. Gold is gold. So we are preaching that, that "Here is dharma, to surrender unto the Supreme Being." That is dharma. Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. This is bhagavata-dharma. Everyone should be taught how to surrender to God.

So God is one. God cannot be two. When there is competition of God, they are not God. Just like it has become nowadays -- in every state there is a God. That is not... Krsna is not that kind of God. He is the Supreme God. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "Nobody is superior than Me." So that is... We are preaching. We are teaching people. These Americans and the Europeans, they have taken it seriously because they are fortunate. They have no information of these hodgepodge gods. That is their opportunity. I have told them, given the information that Krsna, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. I have not given any wrong information. Right information. Bhagavan means Krsna. God means Krsna. So I have given them this information as a peon, that "Here is God," and they have taken it seriously. Therefore they are advancing. See practically. Why they are advancing? Because they are not misled. They have been given the right information, and they have taken it seriously, and they are trying their best to do, to render service. That is the reason. People are surprised how these Americans and Europeans have become such great devotees and dancing in ecstasy. They are surprised. Yes, it is surprising. Even in their country the priests are surprised. But what is the reason they are advanced? Because they have taken the right thing, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. That they have taken. Either you say blindly... Blindly or knowingly, if you touch fire, it will act. Fire is fire. It is not that because a child takes fire, it will not burn. It will burn. So why these Western young men, they are taking this movement seriously? Because it is acting as fire. It is acting as fire. They have taken fire, and it is acting as fire.

So there is information in the sastra, accepted by the acaryas. Just like krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, that is accepted by the acaryas. Acaryopasanam. The Sankaracarya even, although he is impersonalist, he has accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and what to speak of others? Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya and Visnu Svami, Nimbarka and, latest, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers -- all accept Krsna the Supreme Personality of..., following the same principle as Arjuna said, "Krsna, You are param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]." So this is simple thing. There is no need of speculation, "What is God?" "Where is God?" Here is God, sir. Here is God. You see. Why you foolish, you are searching? Here is God. He is not... Although Krsna has come in a form which you can see... Krsna has appeared before you just like stone statue. But He is not stone statue. Of course, stone is also God because stone is another energy of God, just like fire is also heat and light. And the heat is also fire, and light is also fire. Without fire, there cannot be light. Without fire, there cannot be heat So this material world is just like the heat and light of the supreme light, of the supreme fire. Parasya brahmanah saktis tathedam akhilam jagat. Eka-desa-sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha, tathedam akhilam jagat. Just like fire is in one place... Just like sun. It is a, mean, a practical example. The sun is in one place. You have seen. It is light and heat, so expanding the light and heat throughout the whole universe, and as soon as you perceive light and heat, you can understand there is sun. So light and heat can be perceived by anyone. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: "I am the light and heat of the sun." Of course, moon, there is no heat. There is cooling effect. Two things are there. So all these are energies of Krsna. Prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. So why people say, "Can you show me God?" You are seeing daily, every moment. But because you are fool, you have no sense of understanding. As soon as there is some heat, any man can understand there is fire. As soon as there is smoke, anyone can understand there is fire. Similarly, if you can feel the energy of the Lord, then you can feel the presence of the Lord immediately.

Now here, these boys, these girls, they are worshiping Krsna, and they are becoming devotee. What is the sign of devotee? The sign of devotee is that the devotees are no more interested with material enjoyment. That is devotee. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. So these young boys and girls, they do not go to cinema. They do not smoke. They do not go any restaurant or club. Why? Virakti! Don't want this! What to speak of here, poor country, but in the European, American countries, everything is available very cheap. But they are not interested. They are interested to sit down on the floor without any chair and follow me, whatever I say. They have no sufficient eating even. I cannot give them to their standard. Still... Why? Because they don't want this material happiness. That is the test. That is the test. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. When one will become detestful to material enjoyment, you will know, or he'll know. Personally one can understand how much he is advanced in spiritual life. Spiritual life does not mean that a sannyasi is smoking and drinking tea, one gallon of tea. That is not spiritual life. He must be detestful. So this dharma, or spiritual life, means to have no more interest in material activities but only in the understanding of God, the Supreme, and His service. That is spiritual life.

So actually the human life is meant for that purpose, because sense gratification, material happiness, the hogs also, they are enjoying. The enjoying... The hog is also whole day and night searching after stool, and after eating stool, when they get some strength, then sex without any discrimination of mother or sister or anyone. Hog's life. Therefore sastra says, "Don't lead a hog's life." Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. Vid-bhujam means the stool-eater. They are also working so hard day and night simply for eating stool. And as soon as there is some strength, hypophosphate... Because stool contains all good chemicals. Hypophosphate, they say, who have tested... Of course, I do not know. They say that it is full of hypophosphates, and if you take hypophosphate... Sometimes doctor prescribes sera of hypophosphate for the weak people. So actually the hogs are very fatty. Therefore those who are meat-eaters, they like hog's flesh very nicely.

So anyway, this human life is not meant for imitating the hog's life. Human life is meant for tapasya. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. This is Vedic civilization, tapasya, the state, different grades of tapasya -- brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra -- give them chance -- grhastha, vanaprastha, brahmacari. They are all meant for inducing people to come to this perfectional stage of understanding God. This is called varnasrama-dharma. Real purpose of this is varnasrama, four varnas and four asramas. Why? Now,

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

The whole aim is how to worship the Supreme Lord. That is human life. So if we make these divisions, so any class of men, if he comes to this social system of varnasrama-dharma, then automatically... Just like if you admit your son in a school, there is first class, second class, third class or eighth class. In this way he makes progress. One day that son comes out as a graduate. So the human society must accept. This is school of varnasrama-dharma. Then gradually he will be educated and he will come to the understanding. Brahma janatiti brahmanah. One day he will understand what is Brahman, and that is brahmana. Veda-pathad bhaved vipro brahma janatiti brahmanah. Janmana jayate sudrah. By birth everyone is a sudra. He has to be educated. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. Dvija means twice-born. One birth is by the father and mother, and the next birth is by the spiritual master and Vedic knowledge. So Vedic knowledge is the mother, and spiritual master is the father. Then one becomes dvija. Therefore the sacred thread is offered, that "He is now divja. He has accepted the spiritual master to learn what is spiritual life." That is the significance. Then he is allowed to read this Vedic literature, the essence of Vedic literature. Nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam [SB 1.1.3], this Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is the essence. Nigama means Vedic. Nigama-kalpa-taru. Kalpa-taru means desire tree. A tree, desire tree, means whatever you like, you can take from it. Similarly, Vedic knowledge is so perfect, any knowledge, perfectly if you want to know, then you must... Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet srotriyam [MU 1.2.12]. Therefore Vedic knowledge is called sruti. Srotriyam brahma-nistham.

So when things are mismanaged and people forget the aim of life, at that time the Supreme Lord comes. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati [Bg. 4.7]. So dharmasya glanih means the human society, when missing the aim of life, at that time, when things are very much mismanaged, then out of compassion... Because God is more anxious to get us back to home, back to Godhead, than we are, because we are in ignorance. We do not know what is the kingdom of God, how to go back there, how to become happy. We have all forgotten. Therefore Krsna comes at interval. He sends His representative, the devotee. That is going on. So sometimes He comes personally; sometimes He sends His incarnation. The Kapiladeva is an incarnation of the Supreme Person, Krsna. Therefore it is stated here, kapilas tattva-sankhyata bhagavan. Incarnation of Bhagavan is also Bhagavan. Bhagavan atma-mayaya. Atma-mayaya means... Maya means illusion, maya means affection, and maya means energy. When Krsna comes, or Krsna's energy, or Krsna's incarnation comes, that is not by force. Just like we. We are forced to come. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. We have to accept a certain type of body by force, not atma-mayaya. Suppose I have got this human form of body. I cannot demand that "Next life I will have like this." No. That is not possible. Next life you will get according to your karma. Just like you are being educated. You cannot say that "Make me the high-court judge." That is not possible. If you are qualified, then you become. Similarly, karmana... You have to qualify yourself. So there are 8,400,000's of different forms of life. So by your karma, next life you can become a devata, a demigod. Even if you like, you can become Indra, Candra. Or you can become cats and dogs. That depends... Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. So this will depend on my karma.

But Krsna or His incarnation, when He comes, it does not depend on His karma, because He is above karma. He is fully independent. Therefore it is said, atma-mayaya: "by His own energy," not by any external energy, forced by. Just like if the governor goes to the prison house, it is not that he has been forced to come to the prison, he is a condemned person, no. He goes there out of his good will to see how things are going on. But when an ordinary person is put into jail, he has been forced. He has been proved a criminal. So if the criminal thinks that "Here is governor. Now we are one, the governor and myself, one..." The pocket, pickpocket, criminal, if he thinks like that, that... Similarly, avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Therefore rascals and fools, they think Krsna is one of them, the same thing, as the criminal thinks the governor, as... Mahatma Gandhi went to jail, and if a pickpocket thinks that "Now Mahatma Gandhi and myself are the same..." No. Therefore it is said, atma-mayaya. Mahatma Gandhi went to jail just to show the people: "Now, if you want to drive away the Britishers, so disobey their law, and they will put us into jail, and that jail will be effective." Jail svarajyake mandira hai. Mahatma Gandhi said. That was a policy, not that Mahatma Gandhi had to go to jail; he was a fit (?) for that person. Similarly, this is an example.

Similarly, when Krsna or His incarnation comes in this material world, He maintains His position. That, the same thing. Mahatma Gandhi maintained his position. It is not that because Mahatma Gandhi went to jail, he became unpopular and nobody would respect him. No. He is respect was still there. Similarly, when the incarnation of God, Krsna, He comes, He is not ordinary man. He is not ordinary man. He comes out of His good will. Param bhavam ajanantah. The rascals, they do not understand what is Krsna, and they think that "Krsna is like one of us, a human being, like that. He is..." No, that is not Krsna understanding. Krsna...

manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah
 [Bg. 7.3]

Krsna understanding is not so easy. It is said by Krsna, "Out of millions of people, one become siddha." Siddha means self-realized. And yatatam api siddhanam: [Bg. 7.3] and after becoming siddha, out of many millions of siddhas, one can understand what is Krsna.

But it is our great fortune that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared. He is Krsna Himself, and He has given us a very, I mean to say, easy process to understand Krsna. What is that? This is the easiest process, that you come here and hear about Krsna. That's all. You haven't got to do anything. Simply come here. We are opening all these centers just to invite you, "Please come here and hear about Krsna."

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
 [SB 1.2.17]

If you hear about Krsna, you become purified. Hearing about Krsna means associating with Krsna. This secret they do not know. But we are canvassing, "Please come and hear about Krsna. Your life will be perfect."

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.1 -- Bombay, November 1, 1974

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