Introduction to the Bhagavad-Gita

68/11/23 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 2.8-12

download  Players

 

Take a test

---

Prabhupada: Somebody come read Bhagavad-gita. You will read? Come on. Our publication by Macmillan Company, Bhagavad-gita, is out.

Devotee: Where shall I read from?

Prabhupada: Introduction.

Devotee: This is the introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

"The Bhagavad-gita is also known as the Gitopanisad. It is the essence of the Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in Vedic literature. There are many commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita, and the necessity for another should be explained in the following basis. An American lady asked me to recommend an English edition of the Bhagavad-gita which she could read. I was unable to do so in good conscience. Of course there are many translations, but of those I have seen, not only in America but those also in India, none can be said to be authoritative, because in almost every one of them the author has expressed his personal opinion through the commentaries without touching the spirit of the Bhagavad-gita as it is. The spirit of the Bhagavad-gita is mentioned in the Gita itself. It is like this: If we want to take a particular medicine, then we have to follow the directions written on the label of the bottle. We cannot take the medicine according to our own directions or the directions of a friend ot in knowledge of this medicine. We must follow the directions on the label or the directions of our physician. The Bhagavad-gita also should be accepted as it is directly by the speaker Himself. The speaker is Lord Sri Krsna. He is mentioned on every page as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Bhagavan. Bhagavan sometimes means any powerful person or demigod, but here it means Krsna."

Prabhupada: Most of you must have read some editions of Bhagavad-gita. I will give you instances. One of the English translations, commentaries by Dr. Radhakrishnan, in the Ninth Chapter the Lord says,

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi kaunteya
asamsaya...

The Lord says that "You, you just always remain thinking of Me." That means always remain in Krsna consciousness. Simply this Krsna consciousness means some way or other you have to think of Krsna always. Some way or other you just engage yourself in some activities so that it can remind you about Krsna. That is the process. Therefore those who are elevated devotees, they, in everything, they remember Krsna. That is the perfection. (Bengali) Here is a light. A perfect devotee sees the light, not the light as it is, but he sees some relationship with Krsna or Krsna in the light. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita also, that prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. Krsna says that "I am the taste of the water." Now the..., when you are thirsty you want water. You feel some nice taste in the water by which your thirst is satisfied, "Yes, now I am satisfied." So Krsna says, "I am that taste." Similarly He says prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: "The light in the sun, in the moon, that I amthat light." In this way He has described. So when one is highly elevated in Krsna consciousness, in everything, in every action and every phenomenon he will see only Krsna. That is the perfection of Krsna consciousness.

So that is being taught in the Ninth Chapter, and in this verse, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto, "Always think of Me," this is the sum and substance of all spiritual advancement. What is that? Smartavyam satato visnuh. One should always be absorbed in the thought of Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called samadhi. That is perfection of yoga. The yoga system is the practice of the most lower class of men. I mean to say spiritually, not materially. Because their mind is so much distracted from here and there, they have to concentrate the mind by practice and focus the mind on Visnu. That is the yoga perfection, real. Now they are manufacturing so many other things, but the real yoga practice is this, that you have to draw your attention from everything and focus the same on Visnu form. That is yoga system. Dhyanavasthita manasa pasyanti yam yoginah. This is the definition of yogi. They are in meditation, dhyanavasthita. Dhyanavasthita means meditation. So those who are yogis... You have heard so much about meditation -- there is very popular word in your country -- and what is that meditation? The meditation is to focus the mind on the form of Visnu. Dhyanavasthita manasa pasyanti yam yoginah.

So this instruction you will find in the Ninth Chapter, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah [Bg. 9.34], "Always think of Me." That is the perfection of life, always thinking of Visnu. But one commentator, very big commentator, he says, "This meditation is not up to Krsna." Just see. Krsna says "Just meditate upon Me," in the Bhagavad-gita, and the commentator says, "It is not up to Krsna." In this way, in similar way or a different way, every commentary on Bhagavad-gita so far published I have seen, their business is how to divert one's attention from Krsna, although in the Bhagavad-gita the main factor is Krsna. That is mentioned here. What is that? Read on. This Bhagavad-gita has come. Yes.

Devotee: The last sentence was, "Bhagavan sometimes mean any, any, means any powerful person or demigod, but here it means Krsna. This is confirmed by all the great..."

Prabhupada: Now this bhagavan, you have heard, many times I have explained, bhaga. Bhaga means opulence. There are six kinds of opulences. What is that? Wealth, and then influence, strength, reputation and knowledge, beauty and renunciation. Is it not six? If a man is wealthy, very rich, just like in your country Rockefeller, Ford, there are many rich men in your, the..., your country is very rich. So if one is very rich he is called opulent. If a man is very reputed, famous man, he is also opulent. If a man is very influential, he is also opulent. If a man is very strong... Now the strong man, formerly strong men had request, ahh, respect. All the kings, they were respected on their personal strength. They used to..., they had to fight with the opponents. So that is also opulence. Then beauty. A very beautiful man or woman, that is also opulence. And wise, very learned, wise man, that is also opulence -- scientist, philosopher, mathematician. So they are also opulent. And renouncer. Renouncer, that one who give up everything, he has everything in his possession, but he disposes himself, that is called renunciation. Just like king, Maharaja Bharata, under whose name India is called Bharata-varsa. He was the emperor of the world, but at the age of twenty-four years only he gave up everything -- his young wife, young children. Lord Buddha, Lord Buddha was prince, but very young boy, at the age of twenty years or something like that, he gave up everything, his father's kingdom. This is called renunciation. At the present moment (chuckles) hardly there is any sense of renunciation, but formerly there were many kings, many princes who renounced everything for spiritual advancement. So these six principles are called bhaga.

So these six principles are there. Just like we are minute part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Fragment, very small fragment. So every one of us have got some money according to our capacity. Every one of us has got some strength or some reputation or some beauty or some knowledge. Comparatively it may be that your position may be greater than me or other's position may be greater than you, that not all of us on the same level. There are comparative positions. So bhagavan means you go on searching. When you find a person that nobody is richer than Him, nobody is stronger than Him, nobody is richer than Him, nobody is reputed than Him, nobody is wiser than him, nobody is beautiful, more beautiful than Him, and nobody is renouncer than Him, He is Bhagavan, He is God.

So all these you will find in Krsna. That is the significance of Krsna. When Krsna was present on this material world so nobody could excel Him in any of these opulences. Nobody. So far richness is concerned, He exhibited His richness with His (indistinct). He married 16,108 wives, and each wife had a palace, and the palace did not require light. It was bedecked with valuable jewels, so at night the light from the jewels will illuminate the rooms. Can you imagine such house? (laughter) And not only that, that He married 16,00 wives and He was apart from them, no. With each wife He was present. With some wife He is talking, with some wife He is playing, with some wife He is looking after the children. In this way Narada travelled all the houses, all the palaces, he saw Krsna is there engaged. This is called opulence. So far power is concerned, there were so many fights with Krsna, nobody could conquer. So far beauty is concerned, you know Krsna's beauty, even from the picture. And the, all the gopis, in Vrndaana... Krsna at the age of fifteen, sixteenth year, naturally at that time boys are very beautiful, any, any man even. So He was so beautiful that they, all the gopis prayed to Yogamaya. Everyone prayed, "My dear mother, please give me Krsna as my husband." So this is, but (indistinct) significance is the, that the day they prayed the next day there was... Perhaps you know that Krsna's vastranam-lila. Vastranam-lila means... In India still there are places in Punjab when girls and women take bath they keep their clothings in the river, I mean to say, not in the bathroom. In the rivers, they keep their clothings on the shore, on the bank, and they dip into the water completely naked. So that place is completely separate for the women. No man can go there. That is the system still somewhere. They will take bath fully and they will come and again dress. And woman, woman, they are all naked, there was no shame. They, no man and no boy can go there. This vastranam-lila was that Krsna stealthily went there and tookup all their clothes, and got up on a tree, (laughter) (laughs) with the clothings. And they cannot come out of the water. "Krsna, You are very naughty. Give us our clothes. Give us our clothes." That was vastranam-lila.(laughter) The purpose was the, the people interpret in a different way, but the purpose is very significant. Only devotees can understand that all these girls, day before, they prayed to Yogamaya that, everyone prayed, that "Let us have Krsna as our husband." Now Krsna was at that time only 15, 16 years, no older. In India still the boys of 15, 16 years, they are not married. At least he must be 20, 22 years. And girls are married between 12 to 16 years. That is the Vedic system. Neither it was possible for Krsna to marry all the girls, but they all prayed. So how to fulfil their desire? That was vastranam-lila. The vastranam-lila means that according to any human civilization, system, a woman can become naked only before husband. So Krsna fulfilled that, that "You are naked, I am before you,so I am your husband." That's all. Wholesale acceptance. That was the purpose. But the nonsense people they differently, differently interpret.

So Krsna's opulence, beauty, strength, and so far wisdom, at least you can test. Now the wisdom, see preliminary wisdom only. Preliminary talks on spiritual matter is discussed in this Bhagavad-gita. And this book is still read, even after five thousand years, all over the world. Just see His wisdom. That is a test. Big scholars, big religionists, philosophers, they are bewildered still about Bhagavad-gita. Therefore there are so many interpretations. But this, what is this Bhagavad-gita? Bhagavad-gita is the A B C D of spiritual knowledge. It is not very high depth of spiritual knowledge. High depth of spiritual knowledge is in the Srimad Bhagavatam. This is only entrance. Just like children are taught a b c d., or first book of knowledge. It is only the first book of knowledge. And what is that first book of knowledge? The first book of knowledge teaches from the very beginning that you are not this body. That is the beginning of knowledge, spiritual knowledge. And the whole world, great philosophers, the geat politicians... Now yesterday the boys gave me one paper. There is discussion about Transcendental Meditation. There was publication of our activities also, and some others are... So the so-called Transcendental Meditation they are discussing on the mind. And the Bhagavad-gita, mind is immediately rejected as matter. So Transcendental Meditation, they're on the platform of the mind. Just see. And the Bhagavad-gita says that mind is external nature only.

indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah
manasas tu para buddhir
yo buddheh paratas tu sah

In the gross material concept of life we are under the impression that "I am this body." Therefore we are concerned with the senses. If our senses are gratified, we think we are now satisfied. So this is the gross type of existence, I mean to say, existence of ignorance. Illusion. Maya. When one is under the thought that "I am this," this is illusion. Illusion means you accept something, something is presented as reality, and you accept it. Just like the example is given water in the desert. Mirage. There is no water, but a, an animal is hankering, is running after water in the desert. That is practical, that due to sunshine there is a reflection, it appears in the desert. Sometimes you might have seen -- not here, in India we have seen several times -- that exactly there is a vast water, and it is reflecting, the reflection. That is called mirage. There is not a drop of water, but the animal, when he is thirsty he..., it thinks that "There is water." He jumps into the desert and the water is going ahead, going ahed, and he is running after it and then dying. So this illusion, that "I am this body." So we are after this sense gratification. Body means the senses. So that is mirage, illusion. Just like the animal is running after water in the desert.

So even this yoga system, the hatha yoga system, that is also based on this illusion. They are trying to put this water under certain exercise and thinking that they are elevating themselves in spirit. But Bhagavad-gita, in the beginning, says that you are not this body, neither this mind. This is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita, and that is a b c d. Any person who does not know that I am not this body he has no even a-b-c-d knowledge of spiritual kingdom. If one is attracted with this bodily function or mind, mental function, he is outside the spiritual purview altogether. He rejected immediately. That test is in the Bhagavad-gita. These people, the so-called yogis, so-called karmis... Karmis means the ordinary worker, those who are running in the street with motor car, this way and that way, very busy. You see. What are they? They are karmis. Karmis means under the bodily concept. They are thinking that comfort of this body and sense gratification is the end of life. That is karmi. If they have got very nice apartment, a nice wife and good bank balance and a very nice dress, oh, there is perfection. That's all. That is karmi. And jnani means that when they are confused. Just like there are a section of people in your country, they have seen enough of this material affair, happiness, or they are searching after something wrongly. But actually those who are intelligent, they don't remain confused. Actually they want to see "What is my actual position." They are called jnani, man of knowledge.

So jnana, or knowledge, is on the mental plane and karma is on the bodily plane. So somebody, some section of people, they are engaged in this bodily platform, and some section of people are engaged in the mental platform. Whatever religion and process of elevation of life we have manufactured, they can be grouped in two ways: mental and bodily. That's all. And Bhagavad-gita is transcendental. Neither on the mental plane nor on the bodily plane. Therefore the last instruction of Bhagavad-gita is sarva-dharman parityajya. Dharma, you have created so many religious principles, so many concocted spiritual ways of life or material ways of life. Somebody are materialists and somebody are so-called spiritualists. So Krsna says that you have to give up all this nonsense -- on the mental platform and bodily platform. You have come to the transcendental platform. And what is that transcendental platform? To understand your relationship with Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. Read.

Devotee: "This is confirmed by all the great teachers, including Sankara and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In India there are many authorities on Vedic knowledge and they have virtually all accepted Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We should therefore accept the Bhagavad-gita as it is, directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead..."

Prabhupada: And here is an important fact. The other day while I was walking, I saw one advertisement of tourist agent. India, (indistinct) can view wonderful land. The wonderful land. Anyway, so I asked Karttikeya(?), "So India is considered very wonderful?" He said "Yes." Anyway, India is still considered the land of spiritual cultivation. Even one Chinese author, he has written that if you want to study religion, then you have to go India. He is impartial. He is not Indian nor an American or any country. He is Chinese. Chinese are considered to be Communist country, but he has very impartially said that if you have to learn what is religion then you have to go to India. Anyway India, actually it is the land of religion, dharma-ksetra, although it has gone down at the present moment. But anyway, there are two sections in the..., amongst the Indian, bona fide religionists. That means bona fide religionists means those who are following the Vedic principles. They are called bona fide. Anyway, that is, that wa the system in the bygone ages, even one thousand years ago. And now that, just like Buddha, Buddha religion. Buddha religion is also Indian religion. Lord Buddha, He was Indian. He, just like Lord Caitanya began His propaganda from Bengal, Lord Buddha made His propaganda from Bihar. He was Indian. But the defect was that He did not acknowledge the authority of the Vedas. Therefore His philosophy was considered atheism. And this Sankaracarya drove away all the Buddhists from the land of India. Therefore they took shelter in China, Japan, Burma. Outside India. So anyway, strict religionists they are followers of Vedas, and they are divided into two groups: one group led by Sankaracarya and the other group is led by the Vaisnavas, or generally Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya or Lord Caitanya. They are all the same, Vaisnava. Now all these two groups, following the Vedic principles, they accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So far India's authoritative persons are concerned, there is no two opinions, that Krsna is not God. Both of them accept Krsna the Supreme Personality. So far we are concerned, Vaisnavas, we accept. There is no doubt about it. There are four different parties of Vaisnavas. All of them accept Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are eight commentaries on the very authoritative, very large commentaries on the Srimad-Bhagavatam of these Vaisnavas, and all of them accept Krsna. So far the other party is concerned, the impersonalists led by Sankaracarya, a great stalwart scholar, he also accepts Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He says, sa bhagavan svayam krsna: "The concept of Personality of Godhead, here is Krsna." And people may misunderstand; therefore he has specifically mentioned Krsna who has appeared as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Particularly, just like when you have to put your identification, you have to give the, your father's name or your husband's name. Similarly, the same principle as Sankaracarya has followed. He has said "Krsna, the Krsna who is, wh has appeared as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva." So there is no two opinions. No, "Or this Krsna, maybe another Krsna." No. So that is stated here. Yes. Krsna is accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead by all the followers of Vedas. That is a fact. Yes.

Devotee: "Now in the Fourth Chapter the Lord tells Arjuna that this yoga system of the Bhagavad-gita was first spoken to the sun-god. The Blessed Lord said, 'I instructed this imperishable science, imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku. This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in the course of time the succession was broken and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.' "

Prabhupada: That is the instruction in the Bhagavad-gita, that this science of Bhagavad-gita has to be accepted by disciplic succession. That is the way of accepting any scientific thing. Just like even in material science, suppose if you have to become medical practitioner or a lawyer. So you have to study the law books by the previous lawyers, by the judgments of the courts. One who has studied the previous records of legal implications, he is best lawyer. Similarly a medical practicer, practitioner, who has studied the previous books and knowledge and experience, he is called experienced physician. The same principle is there that the spiritual knowl..., you cannot manufacture any spiritual knowledge. That is atheism. You cannot manufacture any religious principle. It is not possible. That is not accepted in Vedas. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-prani. Dharma means the rules and regulation which is given by God. That is accepted everywhere. In Bible, in Koran also. The laws of God. You cannot manufacture. So Krsna said that this principle of Bhagavad-gita... At the present moment Bhagavad-gita is being interpreted by anyone and everyone according to his whims. That is not permissible. That is not Bhagavad-gita. We have to understand this. Simply Bhagavad-gita is that which is received by the parampara system. That is being explained. Go on.

Devotee: "Arjuna was neither a great scholar nor a Vedantist, but a great soldier. A soldier is not supposed to be scholarly, and so Arjuna was selected to understand the Bhagavad-gita because of one qualification only: he was a devotee of the Lord. This indicates that the Bhagavad-gita is especially meant for the devotee of the Lord."
Prabhupada: So this point is described that just like this yogi Maharishi, he has also written one Bhagavad-gita. And what right he has got? He has no right to say anything about Bhagavad-gita because he is not a devotee. Bhagavad-gita is taught to Arjuna. He was neither a yogi nor a scholar nor a Vedantist nor a brahmana even. He was ksatriya. Nor a sannyasi even. He was grhastha. He had three wives and so many children. And he was fighting for kingdom. What is the qualification that Bhagavad-gita was taught to him? Because he was devotee. People have to see how Bhagavad-gita is to be accepted. Specially Krsna mentions in the Fourth Chapter that "I am speaking to you. The disciplic succession is now broken. Therefore I am speaking to you the old system of yoga, Bhagavad-gita, again, unto you." "Why unto me, Krsna?" "Because you are My devotee." That was the answer. So only qualification to understand Bhagavad-gita is to become a devotee of Krsna; otherwise it is not possible. Just give this challenge to everyne: "So what do you understand about Bhagavad-gita? You don't..., you are not devotee of Krsna. How you can understand Bhagavad-gita? So you are speaking of Bhagavad-gita and cheating people."

So bring all the books which is, which are published in your country and find out a single man who is a Krsna's devotee. Nobody of them. Then what authority he has got to write on Bhagavad-gita? He has no right. It is simply poking your nose in other's business. Nonsense. Just challenge these persons, "What right you have got?" He has no right. These, these, these rascals, they say that everyone is God. And how they can be devotee? Does a devotee say that everyone is God? They say "God is one." So you are realizing by meditation, "I am God, you are God, my brother is God, my father is God, my these are God, everyone is God." This, this is the, going on. You want to stop all this rascaldom. That is our challenge. We may not have many followers. We don't care for that. We don't want these nonsense followers, many thousands. What they will do? But if we can turn one man into Krsna consciousness perfectly, he can do tremendous work in the world. That is our principle. We don't want nonsense. So this is the princile of understanding Bhagavad-gita. Go on.

Devotee: "There are three kinds of transcendentalists: the yogi, the impersonalist and the bhakta, or devotee. Krsna says to Arjuna, 'I am making you the first man of disciplic succession. The old succession is broken. I wish to reestablish the line of teaching which was passed down from the sun-god. So you become the authority of the Bhagavad-gita.' The Bhagavad-gita is directed to the devotee of the Lord who is directly in touch with the Lord as a friend. To learn the Bhagavad-gita one should be like Arjuna, a devotee having a direct relationship with the Lord. This is more helpful than yoga or impersonal philosophical speculation. A devotee can be in relationship with the Lord in five different ways. He may have passive..., have a passive relationship..."

Prabhupada: Now here is explained who is a devotee. That is explained. Yes.

Devotee: "He may have a passive relationship, he may have an active relationship. Three, he may be in friendship. Four, he may have the relationship of a parent. And five, he may have the relationship of conjugal lover of the Lord. Arjuna was a devotee in relationship..."

Prabhupada: The passive relationship is simply realizing, "Oh, how God is great". God is great. One is thunderstruck with the greatness of God. That is passive relationship: "God, God is great." When that relationship is enhanced a little, more the next stage is that "If God is great why not give Him some service?" just like we are accustomed to give some service to some person who is greater than me. That is the laws of nature. Just like the animals. The animals are giving service to the man, because the man is supposed to be greater than the animal. Similarly, one man is greater than the other, so the smaller man is giving service to the greater man. That is the law of nature. So when this sense comes, "If God is so great," not that "God is great; therefore exact from God the things of my sense gratification." No. The real love is that "God is great, God is supplying us so many things, all of our necessities, why not render some service to God?" This consciousness is part of development. The next developmen is to give service to God as friend, just like Arjuna is giving. And the next development is to render service to God as parents. And the highest platform of service rendering to God is conjugal love. So there are different stages. That is explained. Go on.

Devotee: "Arjuna was a devotee in relationship with the Lord as a friend. This friendship is different from friendship in the mundane world. This kind of friendship is transcendental. Everyone has some relationship with the Lord. Unfortunately, in our present status, we have forgotten that eternal tie. Yet each of the millions upon millions of living beings has his particular relationship. By the process of service one can revive one's original status with the Lord. Now Arjuna..."

Prabhupada: This relationship is already established, because I am eternal, God is eternal, therefore my relationship with God is also eternal. That relationship is there. Now, due to my covering of this material body or influence of material energy, I have forgotten. This is my position. In the conditioned state, in this material condition of life, our position is that I..., we have forgotten our relationship with God. But therefore you are trying to establish so many relationships with this material world. I am trying to find some relationship with particular type of society, particular type of community, particular type of nation, particular type of family or individuals. So many ways, I am searching where is my relationship, because I have lost my relationship with God. Therefore I have to reestablish, I have to revive my old relationship with Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. This Krsna consciousness process is to... Just like in darkness you are finding your things, your watch, you cannot find it out. Sometimes you are touching this, sometimes touching this, sometimes touching this, but the real thing you are not touching. So you are bewildered, you are harassed. And now you, if you touch Krsna consciousness, these harassments will be stopped. It is so nice thing. We are giving you your lost relationship, which you are searching out life after life. And you are confused. Take this! You will be happy. You will find your relationship, eternal relationship with Krsna.

Devotee: "Now Arjuna was a devotee, and he was in touch with the Supreme Lord in friendship. Thus the Bhagavad-gita was explained to him. How he accepted it should be noted. This is mentioned in the Tenth Chapter. After hearing the Bhagavad-gita from the Lord, Arjuna accepted Krsna as the Supreme Brahman. Every living being is Brahman, or spirit, but the supreme living being is the Supreme Brahman."

Prabhupada: Now here is another point, that everyone is reading Bhagavad-gita. The..., it is clearly stated how Bhagavad-gita should be accepted. Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna, and Arjuna accepted it in his own understanding, whatever he understood. That is also stated. Therefore we have to place ourselves in the position of Arjuna and accept the truth as Arjuna directly received it. That is understanding of Bhagavad-gita. That is stated in the Tenth Chapter, how Arjuna accepted Bhagavad-gita and Krsna. That is explained. Yes.

Devotee: "Arjuna accepted Krsna as pure, free from all material contamination, as the supreme enjoyer, as the foremost person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, never born, the greatest. Now one may say that..., one may say that since Krsna and Arjuna were friends, Arjuna was only saying these things to his friend. But Arjuna mentions that Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only by himself but by Narada, Vyasa and numerous other great persons."

Prabhupada: Authorities. He accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead not because Krsna happened to be his intimate friend but on the authorities of others. And on the statement of Krsna, and by understanding Him fully. He, he did not accept Him blindly. So this is the process of understanding Bhagavad-gita. And although he understood fully, because in future so many rascals will come and proclaim himself that "I am also incarnation of Godhead," therefore in the Eleventh Chapter Arjuna requested Krsna that "If you think, You can show me Your universal form," so that in future others will accept some bogus rascal as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he may test by seeing the, I mean to say, universal form of the person. So who can exhibit this universal form except Krsna?

So we have explained this Bhagavad-gita in the parampara system as we have heard from authoritative sources. So it may be a new contribution to your country, because in every edition they have concocted some ideas about Bhagavad-gita, but we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. That's all. So, any question?

Devotee (2): You commented that, Swami Prabhupada, that everyone has a natural desire to have relationship with Krsna, but that because...

Prabhupada: Not desire, but he is already established.

Devotee (2): Established.

Prabhupada: That is covered. Just like your relationship with somebody as father and son, it is established. You might have forgot, you might have left your home since a very, very long time, and you do not know who is your father, but there is some father. That is a fact. Nobody can say, "No. I, I have, I am born without father." Nobody can say. One has father, but it may be that he has forgotten his father. So this Krsna consciousness movement is that we have got some relationship with the Supreme Lord. That we have now forgotten. So it is not the question of desire. It is there. You don't desire to become one's son, you are already one's son. You simply do not know. Similarly, your relationship with Krsna is there, every one of us, but I have forgotten; I do not know. This Krsna consciousness practice will revive your relationship in what way..., in which way you are related with Krsna. It is not that you have to desire. No. It is already there. You have to desire only how to revive it, that's all. That isKrsna consciousness. It is not an artificial thing. Just like we are establishing some relationship with somebody or you are my father or you are my wife, you are my husband. No. It is already there. Simply we have to find out. That will be revealed when you are perfect in Krsna consciousness, brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati, you are freed from all material contamination, and you are perfectly situated in devotional service; it will be at once revealed: "Oh, you are related to Krsna." You will have to wait for that.

Child Devotee: Who was Jesus's father?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Child Devotee: Who was Jesus's father?

Prabhupada: God.

Child Devotee: Oh, that's right.

Prabhupada: You do not know that? Oh, he said that "I am son of God." How is that, you are asking for (indistinct). You do not know this? He said himself that "I am son of God." You do not know this?

Child Devotee: Well I didn't really (indistinct). I didn't really..., I didn't, I wasn't thinking about God the father. But don't we all have...?

Prabhupada: What is that, he said?

Child Devotee: Aren't we all the sons of God?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee (2): (to child) You're thinking that Lord Jesus Christ had a relationship with Joseph. Joseph was married to his mother Mary. And so he's thinking what is his, what is Jesus's relationship with Joseph since Jesus is son of God, and Joseph raised him from little boy?

Prabhupada: Yes. Just like every spirit soul is son of God, but materially we think that some..., somebody as father. But real father is God. That is stated in the i:

sarva-yonisu kaunteya
sambhavanti murtayah yah
tasam yonir brahma mahad
aham bija-pradah pita

This mahat-tattva, this material world, just like a child, a child is born, the father gives the seed and mother develops the body. The child's body is developed... Actually all, all of us, we have got this body from mother. Therefore we have  got very natural affinity with mother. The child can forget his father, but he cannot forget his mother. Mother's relationship is so intimate. Similarly, this material body we have got from the material energy; therefore we are so much materialist. We are thinking of this country, that community, this family, how materialistic, because this body is material. But so far spirit soul I am concerned, I am the son or the part and parcel of the Supreme. So material nature is the mother and God is the father. And we are exhibited in so many forms, 8,400,000's of forms. So one who has understood this truth, that God is father, he no more looks, "Ah, this is cat," "This is dog," "This is cow," "This is black," "This is white," "This is Chinese," "This is American." No. That is uiversal brotherhood: "Oh, they are my brothers." Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. No more enmity. "They are all my brothers." Samah sarvesu bhutesu. With everyone he sees on the equal level, for "They are spiritual part, part and parcel of my father." This vision makes one advance in Krsna consciousness. This is fact. This is realization. This is universal brotherhood. Everything this is, this Krsna consciousness.

Devotee (4): What is the proper relationship of the devotee to Radha, Radhika?

Prabhupada: Radharani is daivi-maya. Just like we are, in our material conditional life, we are under the material energy. Similarly, in our liberated state we have to become under the spiritual energy. That spiritual energy is Radharani. We are acting at the present moment under material energy, because our body is made of material energy. So when you are liberated you will develop your body of spiritual energy. That spiritual energy is Radharani. So you have to become under some..., under the control of some energy. You are also energy; you are marginal energy. Marginal energy means you may be under the control of the spiritual energy or you may be under the control of material energy -- your marginal position. But when you are under the control of the material energy, that is your precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when you are under spiritual energy, that is your life of freedom. Radharani is spiritual energy, and Durga, or Kali, is material energy. So those who are materialist, they worship Drga, Kali, the material, different forms of material energy. And, so in both the cases... There is a word in Sanskrit, it is called sakta, sakta. Sakta, the word comes from sakti. Sakti means energy.

So there is a division, that those who are worshiper of the Supreme as mother -- just like the worshiper of Goddess Kali -- that means those who are accepting the Absolute as mother, they are called saktas. The sakta... The Vaisnava, they are also sakta, because they are also accepting another pure energy, personal energy, or internal energy of Krsna. That is also sakti. And the materialist also, they are also accepting another energy. The one energy, spiritual energy is in our normal condition, and material energy in..., is our abnormal condition. The Krsna consciousness practice means you have to transfer yourself from this material energy to the..., under the control..., from the control of material energy, under the control of spiritual energy. That's all. That spiritual energy is Radharani. You have to become under the control. That, I'll give you one concrete example. Just like a person is always under the control of government as citizen. When he is outlaw, he is under the criminal law, and who is law-abiding, he is under civil law. He cannot say that "I cannot remain within the law of the government." He has to. That is his position. Artificially he may deny, but he will be forced. Similarly, our position is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. And as part and parcel we have to render service. If we voluntarily render service, out of love, that is spiritual energy. And we are forced to render service under pressure, that is material energy. In the material energy we are forced. Who wants to become... Suppose you are American. If somebody says, "Would you like to become a dog next life?", would you like? Anybody would like? What do you think? (laughter) But according to his work, he will be forced to accept. There is no saying, "No, no. I don't like this sort of life." No. He will be forced. That is material energy. Forced, just like criminal law. "Oh, you have to go to the prison." "I don't want." You will be forced. "I don't want." He will be arrested, immediately. There is sufficient power. There is police, thre is military, there is so many things. You cannot say no.

So this is intelligence, that I have to serve. Now in my material condition I am serving so many things, especially my senses. So neither my senses are satisfied nor I am satisfied. So this intelligence is not coming to us. They are going on, carvita-carvananam, chewing the chewed. The senses, same sense gratification in different way. In theatre, in stage, in, at home, at club -- everywhere. Simply changing the platform and trying to be happy. How you can be happy? They already distasted. Does it mean that sense satisfaction in an apartment and sense satisfaction in the club is different? It is simply imagination. "Let me go to the club, let me go to the stage, let me go to this Florida beach, and let me go there, let me see the naked dance, let me see that, let me..." That's all. But the platform is there, sense gratification. But he is not intelligent that "I have satisfied my senses in so many different ways. I have served my senses in so many different ways. Neither I am satisfied, neither my senses are satsfied." Therefore the intelligent man says, "I am no more going to satisfy my senses, I will satisfy Krsna." That is Krsna consciousness. Then he gets full satisfaction. This is voluntary. This is called surrender, that "I have tried to satisfy my, the whims of my senses so many lives. I have become frustrated, confused. Let me try this life to satisfy the senses of Krsna." That's all. At least let me give a trial one life, and let me see the result.

So our Krsna consciousness movement means that we are requesting everyone that give a trial this life at least. You have satisfied your senses in so many forms of life, huh? The dogs also satisfied their senses, the cat also satisfied his senses, the tiger, and these civilized, uncivilized, these god, everyone. Now you don't try to satisfy your senses, you try to satisfy Krsna. That's all. And Krsna, being full, complete, if Krsna is satisfied, your senses will be satisfied automatically. Therefore His name is Govinda. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. Govinda means who satisfies the senses. Don't think that your senses will remain unsatisfied. It will be completely satisfied. That is the secret of Krsna consciousness.

So, have some kirtana. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is  --  Los Angeles, November 23, 1968 (New-2003)

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Material Infection Means Forgetting Krsna

Material Infection Means Forgetting Krsna

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.118
New York, November 23, 1966

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Prabhupada:

...uthaya, kabhu narake dubaya
dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya

So Lord Caitanya is explaining the position of the conditioned souls. They are completely under the grip of this material nature. And just like one is seated on the car and the driver drives him -- if the driver is not under control, he drives him anywhere, to any hell -- similarly, we are sitting on this car of this body, supplied by the material nature, and she is driving anywhere, sometimes up, sometimes down. In this way we are suffering life after life, birth after birth. This is our condition. We are not independent; completely under the stringent laws of material nature.

So dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya. The example is very nice, that a culprit is drowned in the water, again taken for some time to take breathing. He was suffocating. Nature... He's not meant to be killed, but he is to be given suffering in that way. So material nature is giving us suffering, miseries like that. Bhayam dvitiya.

(bhayam) dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

Therefore Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavata, is giving direction, bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. When we are forgetful of Krsna consciousness, when we think that "There is no God. This matter is everything. This material manifestation which we see, that is everything all in all, and there is no Lord, no, I mean to say, supreme controller," when we think like that, that begins, that is the point of our anxiety, beginning of anxiety. Bhayam, fearfulness. We are all fearful because, as we have got these bodily necessities, we want to eat something, we want to sleep, similarly, we have fear, and we have demand for mating. These four principles are animal life. We are always fearful. And why we are fearful? Because we have taken it that there is no God. There is no God; therefore we are fearful. Just like a forlorn child, when he thinks that "My... I am... My father and my mother, lost." You might have experienced. A child lost, he cries. He thinks himself, "I am helpless. Where is my mother? Where is my...?" Similarly, when we are helpless, we are fearful. And those who are Krsna conscious, they are not helpless. They know, "Above me, there is Krsna." And saranagati, surrender, means to have firm conviction that "Krsna will protect me. I am engaged in Krsna's service, so Krsna will give me protection." If I work in some ordinary man's service, he gives me protection. Don't you think if you work for Krsna, He'll not give you protection? Because we have no faith, therefore we are seeking protection from elsewhere. Krsna is able. He says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: [Bg. 18.66] "I shall give you protection from all sinful reactions."

But we have no faith. We are thinking, "Oh, it is written in the Bhagavad-gita. That's all right, but I must have my protection in a different way." So dvitiyabhinivesatah. Because he thinks there is anything superior than Krsna, therefore he is fearful. Why a conditioned soul is fearful, that is explained in the Bhagavata. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. So this maya, the illusion, when we take shelter of this illusion, then we are afraid. And when we understand that "Illusion, this energy, is under the control of Krsna, because illusion, this material energy, is also Krsna's energy, inferior energy. So even if I, I am within this material energy, when I am forgetful of Krsna, this material energy is fearful for me, and when I am in Krsna consciousness fully, there is no question of fearfulness from material nature." Therefore tan-mayaya abhajet tam. Abhajet tam. And therefore it is our duty to regain our lost consciousness, Krsna consciousness. That is the duty of this human form of life. Abhajet tam bhaktyaika isam. Simply by devotional... If you want to worship the Supreme Lord, then you have to worship Him simply by service. There is no other process. You cannot worship Krsna by this controlling breathing or by mental speculation or by some pious activities or by charities. You have simply to worship Him simply by your devotional love. That is the only way. Bhaktyai, bhaktyaika, only one, bhakti. There is no other means. There is no second means to understand God without this devotional service. Rest assured. Foolish creatures, they take this, that. They do not understand. They come to the, that impersonal, void, all the nonsensical conclusions and... Because they do not take shelter of this, devotion, therefore they cannot have any conclusion. It is not possible. Therefore, more or less, they become atheists or after the voidness or impersonalism, and so many things there are. They create.

But because Krsna, or the Supreme Lord, cannot be understood by any other process... It is simply waste of time. If you want to know Krsna, if you want to know God, then you have to take this process. That is a... Bhaktyaikayesam, abhajet tam bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma: "He is the Supreme Lord, He is the Supersoul, and He is the supreme spiritual master." In this way. He's the supreme spiritual master within you. As soon as you will take to devotional service, He'll give you dictation, "You do this." What dictation? To go to hell? No. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. In the Bhagavad-gita: "I give him intelligence." Why? What for? Yena mam upayanti te: "By which he can come back to Me." That buddhi-yogam. He'll help you. If you think something... If He takes seriously about your case, if you are fully surrendered, then He'll direct you in such a way that you cannot go elsewhere except to Him, even sometimes you may find that "He is doing something against my will." I have got my personal experience. I never tried, never accepted that I shall become a sannyasi. And I tried my best to keep myself in this material world. And He has, several times He has frustrated me and has brought me by force (to) this life. And now I am happy. I can understand that how much favor has Krsna showed me. Yes. I did not understand in the beginning.

So sometimes, if Krsna takes special care for you, He'll do in such a way that you will have no other way than to go back. He'll take charge, take charge. If we sincerely want Krsna, if He sees that "Here is a person. He wants Me. But he's a foolish. He wants Me; at the same time he wants to enjoy this material world. So crush this, crush this, his material propensities, and let him become simply devoted." Yes. Sometimes we see like that. In the, in the Srimad-Bhagavata there is a question by Sukadeva Gosvami, by Maharaja Pariksit. Maharaja Pariksit... Because he understood that his grandfathers were put to so many difficulties although Krsna was their friend, personal friend. So everyone became astonished: "How is that? These five brothers, the big brothers... Maharaja Yudhisthira. He was the most pious man. Arjuna was the greatest warrior, and Draupadi, their wife, directly the goddess of fortune. And so much nice... And above all, Krsna is their personal friend, and still, they were put into such difficulties. They lost their kingdom. They lost their wife. And they were put into so many... For thirteen years they had to undergo so many troubles." So this was astonishing. Even Bhisma, he cried that "I cannot understand why these five brothers are put into so many difficulties in spite of their, all these qualities."

So their grandson, Maharaja Pariksit, when he was being taught by Sukadeva Gosvami, he had some suspicions about devotion to Krsna. Not suspicion. Just to teach us, he inquired that "Lord Krsna, He is Visnu. He is the, I mean to say, master of the goddess of fortune. Why people who become Krsna conscious or a devotee of Visnu, they remain poorer, and others, those who worship Siva and other demigods, they become very rich? What is the reason? He is the proprietor of everything. So one who wants Him, they become poorer. Whereas Lord Siva, he hasn't got even a house of his own, he's a pauper, and one who worships him, he becomes richer." You know the history of Lord Siva. He hasn't got a house even. He lives under the tree, or in some mountain. But one who worships Siva, oh, they get material opulence very nicely. Therefore a person have become very easily... And they can smoke ganja. So all this captivates person to become a devotee of Siva. Our Ginsberg is a devotee of Siva. Perhaps you know. Anyone who wants this material prosperity, naturally they become the devotee of Siva. So this is contradictory. "Siva has no house even, not even a dwelling place, residence. He's a pauper. And worshiping him, one becomes richer. And Krsna, Krsna is... Sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam: 'Always thousands of goddess of fortune is serving Him.' He's such opulent. And so Krsna-bhaktas, devotees of Krsna, they appear to be poorer. Why?" This question was... Just the opposite.

So the answer was given by Sukadeva Gosvami that "This very question was also put to Krsna by your grandfather. So instead of answering myself, I'll put that very question and answer between your grandfather and Krsna." So what is that? "Now, a similar question was put by your grandfather Maharaja Yudhisthira to Krsna, and Krsna answered like this." What is that? Yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih: [SB 10.88.8] "If I do somebody some special favor, then My first duty is I become him crushed in all material possessions." You see? Why? "Because to make him more surrendered to Me." When he becomes helpless, he has no other way. "Krsna, please take me." When he has something, he thinks, "Oh, these things will protect me, my material possessions." Therefore he does not surrender. Now, Krsna sees that "This man, this living entity, is very much devotee, but he wants something, this nonsense. So crush him so that when he'll feel helpless, he will come to Me. No more. So I'll give him all protection." So there is a policy of Krsna. Sometimes He puts us into test, whether we are sincerely devotee of Krsna. Because we are always after sense gratification, so if Krsna is not a order-supplier, then one rejects Krsna. We want God, or Krsna, to be our order-supplier. So we must order Krsna, "Give me this. Give me that. If You cannot give me, then what are You, Krsna? I don't want You." This sort of bhakti, or devotional service, is not accepted by Krsna.

Just like Mr. Sulye(?), our Godbrother, German, he told me personally that during wartime many German women, some, they prayed into the church to get back their husband, son or brothers, because all went to war and nobody returned. And they become atheist: "Oh, there is no God. We prayed so much to God to get back my husband, to get back my brothers, but they are dead." But the brother was not returned and the husband was not returned. So result was... So if we pray, go to Krsna with that purpose, that He should be our order-supplier, then there is no question of Krsna-bhakti. We must fully surrender, fully surrender: "Let Him do." Aslisya va. That is taught by Sri Caitanya: Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va adarsanat [Cc. Antya 20.47]. Aslisya va pada-rata: "Either You embrace me or You trample me down on Your feet, neglect me, and You make me broken-hearted, and not being present before me all the life..." Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam marma-hatam karotu va. Marma-hatam means "If You make me broken-hearted... I love You so much. I want You, but You never care for me. That's all right. Still You are my worshipable, unconditionally. I don't want any return from You. Still You are my worshipable Deity(?)." This is pure devotion. Krsna takes all care. Don't think... Because He says personally, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Why should you be so anxious? But one who is in love with Krsna, he wants to see Him, he wants to love Him. But even He does not present Himself before the lover, the lover says, "Oh, still, You are my lovable object, worshipable... Whatever You can do... You are... You are free to treat me as, as You like, but You are my worshipable..." This is pure. So as soon as we come to this stage, that is perfection. That is perfection. Don't expect anything, return.

Now these Gosvamis, the Sanatana Gosvami... There is a nice story about Sanatana Gosvami, of whom we are now studying. Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami, two brothers, they went to Vrndavana for devotional service. So their all business was... Rupa Gosvami, especially, he was always engaged in writing books. And when he was hungry, he went to some householder: "Give me a piece of bread." And everyone at Vrndavana... They were leaders. All the Vrndavana inhabitants, they took... Even their household quarrels, they used to represent, "Swamiji, this is our position. Please settle up." So whatever decision he would give to the villagers, they will accept. Their court was Swamiji, Rupa Gosvami. So he was so lovable. So one day Rupa Gosvami was thinking that "If I could get some, I mean to say, commodities for cooking, then I would have invited Sanatana Gosvami to take some prasadam." He thought like that. And, and after, say, one hour, one young girl came with sufficient quantity of rice, flour, ghee, and vegetables, so many things: "Babaji..." They were called... They call in the India, especially in Vrndavana quarters, they call all these transcendentalist swamis "Babaji." "Babaji, please accept these commodities. There is some ceremony at our house. So My mother has sent you all these things." "Oh, very good." He was thinking that "If I could get some commodity and I could prepare something and invite Sanatana Gosvami." So the things were there. So Rupa Gosvami inquired, "Where do You live? Oh, You are very nice girl. Where do You live?" "Oh, I live in this village. You do not know?" "No, I have never seen You. All right. Thank You very much." Then She went away. And invited Sanatana Gosvami, "My dear brother, please come and take your prasadam here. I have got some food." "All right." So Sanatana Gosvami came during prasadam time, and Rupa Gosvami has prepared so many nice dishes. They were also expert in cooking, expert. You know, all devotees, they are expert. That is his qualification. So then Sanatana Gosvami was inquiring, "Where did you get all these things, so nice things, you have prepared in this jungle? How did you get?" So he narrated the story, "Yes, in the morning I thought that 'If somebody sends me something...' So by Krsna's grace, somebody, a nice girl, a very beautiful girl, and She brought all these things." "Who?" He began to state about the girl's beauty. Then Sanatana Gosvami said, "Oh, I have never seen such beautiful girl. How...?" "Yes, I have also never seen." "Ohhh. Then She must be Radharani. She must be Radha. You have taken service from Radharani? Ohhh. You have murdered me. We don't want to take any service from Krsna, and He has taken the opportunity, sent us... We want to simply give our service, not any exchange. Oh, you have done a great mistake. Radharani has taken this opportunity." So he began to cry that "We have taken service from Krsna. We have given Her trouble." This is pure devotee. They were very sorry that "Krsna was troubled to send me all these goods."

So this is the process. Krsna is also finding always opportunity, "How to serve My pure devotee?" And pure devotee's so clever that he won't accept any service from Krsna. Just like the Arjuna, he never said, "Krsna, You are God. Why You are putting me to war indirectly? You can give me everything." Krsna said, "No." He never said that, Arjuna. Krsna said, niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah: "You are ksatriya. You have to fight." He never said. So we should not take God as order-supplier. That is not devotion. That is mercantile business. Krsna is not going to be a lover by mercantile mentality. You are, you must give Him service. Abhajet tam. This is the process of devotion.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.118-119 -- New York, November 23, 1966

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Devotees Don't Feel Suffering

Devotees Don't Feel Suffering

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.23
Bombay, November 23, 1974

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Nitai: "Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities."

Prabhupada:

mad-asrayah katha mrstah
srnvanti kathayanti ca
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-cetasah
 [SB 3.25.23]

Na etan. Generally, people, they are suffering. There is nobody in the world, those who are materially engaged, can say boldly that "I am not suffering." Is there anybody? I challenge anyone. Can anyone say that "I am not suffering"? So everyone must be suffering. Now, why these Anacin tablets are advertised, "pain-killer"? Because they are suffering. And not in this country, but in the Western countries, America, one takes at least one dozen tablet daily for mitigating suffering -- tranquilizer, this, that, so many. They are advertised, and they take. At last, for sleeping. Because they are more advanced. We are less advanced; therefore we are satisfied only one tablet, Anacin. (laughter) But they are not satisfied with one tablet. They have dozens of tablet. I have seen it. It is advertised in the subway trains. So many tablets are advertised. Suffering must be there. Anyone who has got this material body has accepted suffering. That's a fact. But foolish people, they cannot understand. He thinks, "I am got very fatty and beautiful body." He is satisfied. The dog is also satisfied. He does not know that this dog's body is greater suffering than human body. The hog's body is greater suffering than the human body. But everyone is thinking, "I am happy." This is called maya, illusion. You go to a hospital, a man is lying down on the bed, and if you ask, "How are you?" "Yes, I am well today." What is "well"?

So there cannot be anyone without suffering. That is not possible. There are three kinds of suffering: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyatmika means pertaining to the body and mind. "I have got headache today. I have got some pain here in the back. My mind is not very much settled up today. I cannot talk with you." These kind of sufferings are called adhyatmika, pertaining to the body and the mind. And there are sufferings adhibhautika. Just like at night, unnecessarily, the dogs bark, and we cannot sleep. This is called adhibhautika, suffering imposed by other living entities -- the mosquitos, the bugs. Then enemies. Suffering. Just like some of our enemies, they are hindering sanctioning this temple. So this is called adhibhautika. And besides that, big, big sufferings there are. Then adhidaivika, accident, which you have no control over. No sufferings you have control. That is not possible. There is famine; there is pestilence; there is no rain; there is excessive heat, excessive cold. They are called adhidaivika. Earthquake..., so many. So this is the reminder, that "You rascal, you are thinking you are very happy in this material world. What you have done about these sufferings?" Mudha. They think, "Oh, this is all right. It doesn't matter." Besides that, there is very grave sufferings. That is birth, death, old age, and disease. So where is your happiness? But because we are under the spell of maya, we are thinking, "This position is very nice. Let us enjoy life." This is their enjoyment.

So one has to... Tapanti vividhas tapah. Vividhah, multi. Vividhah means many. Tapanti vividhas tapa na etan mad-gata-cetasah. Those who are Krsna conscious, they... We cannot say that they are not suffering. They are suffering, but no so acutely. They know. Therefore we have begun this sadhu's symptoms, titiksavah, tolerant. Everyone is tolerant. One has to tolerate. But a sadhu's toleration and ordinary man's toleration is different. Sadhu's toleration is not so acute because a sadhu knows that he is not this body. There is a Bengali Vaisnava song, deha-smrti nahi yara, samsara-bandhana kahan tara. If we understand properly that "I am not this body," then, although there is suffering, you will not feel very much, although we are now absorbed with this body, bodily sufferings are there. Just like the example that you have got a car, and there is some accident. So one who is too much absorbed with the thought that "This is my car" or "I am car," he suffers more. But if one knows that "I am not this car. All right, there is some accident. It can be repaired or it can be... That doesn't matter." It is a question of absorption of the thought. The materialistic person, because they are like animal, he suffers more. And for the devotees, as it is advised in the Bhagavad-gita,

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino 'nityas
tams titiksasva bharata
 [Bg. 2.14]

Krsna says to Arjuna that "These material sufferings are just like the sufferings of season, seasonal suffering." In summer season also, you suffer, and in winter season also, we suffer. Sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah. And the same thing, this fire, in summer season it is suffering. The heat is suffering. And in the winter season is suffering, but in the summer season it is pleasing. The same water, the same fire -- sometimes it is suffering; sometimes it is pleasing. But the matter is the same. Why? Matra-sparsah: it is due to the touch of the skin. Because we have got this skin disease, "I am this body," therefore you are suffering, because you have become so nonsense rascal that "I am this body." Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. Tri-dhatuke: This is the bag of three elements: kapha, pitta, vayu. Kapha, pitta, vayu. According to Ayurvedic system, they are called tri-dhatu. So this body is made of material elements: kapha, pitta, vayu. So,

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
 [SB 10.84.13]

So the more we are in bodily concept of life, the suffering is more. Nowadays new things have developed: nationalism, communism, communalism, so many things. Sufferings are more. We have seen in 1947 in Calcutta Hindu-Muslim riot -- more suffering because one is thinking, "I am Hindu," one is thinking, "I am Muslim." But if one is advanced in Krsna consciousness, then they will not suffer. They will not unnecessarily fight, "Because I am Hindi or because you are Muslim, therefore we have to fight." No. Because if both of them know that "I am not this body. Therefore I am neither Hindu nor Muslim. I am eternal servant of Krsna," then where is the suffering of Hindu-Muslim riot? The understanding is missing. Because people are being educated to become more bodily conscious, therefore their sufferings are increasing. Sufferings are increasing. And if you reduce this bodily concept of life, then suffering also will be reduced.

So those who are Krsna conscious, Krsna conscious means, here it is said, mad-gata-cetasah. Naitan mad-gata-cetasah. Mad-gata. Bhagavan says, "Those who are always thinking of, in the mind, within the heart," mad-gata-cetasah, "they are not suffering." They are not suffering in this way because they know that "Even if I am suffering, it is Krsna's desire." So they welcome. Just like Kunti. Queen Kunti, when Krsna was departing, taking farewell from Kunti, so Kunti said, "My dear Krsna, when we are in full of danger, at that time You are always present as our friend, as our advisor. Now we are well situated. We have got our kingdom. We are well established. So You are going away to Dvaraka? No, no, no, this is not good. Better we may again go to that suffering so that we can remember You always." So the devotee sometimes welcomes suffering because that is an opportunity of remembering Krsna very constantly. Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam [SB 10.14.8]. So when a devotee suffers, he thinks that "It is due to my past misdeeds. So I am suffering not very much, a very little, on account of Krsna's grace. So it doesn't matter." So after all, it is, everything, in the mind, suffering and enjoying. So a devotee's mind is trained up in Krsna consciousness. Therefore he does not care for suffering. That is the difference between a devotee and nondevotee.

Therefore it is said that tapanti vividhas tapa na etan mad-gata-cetasah. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. So how much suffering he had to undergo, the five-years-old boy, and his father was putting in dangers, sometimes under the feet, leg of the elephant, sometimes throwing from the mountain, sometimes on burning oil, sometimes amongst the snakes, so many ways. But he was silent. Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was a Muhammadan by birth. So he became a very good devotee and always chanting Hare Krsna. That was his fault. So the Muslim Kazi called him, that "You are Muhammadan. You born in a such great family, Muhammadan family, and you are chanting Hindu's Hare Krsna mantra? What is this?" So he mildly replied, "My dear sir, there are many Hindus, they also have become Muhammadan. So suppose I have become Hindu. So what is the wrong? What is the wrong there?" So Kazi became very angry, that "You are talking before me? All right." So he was punished to be caned in twenty-two bazaar, in front of twenty-two bazaar. That means he was to be killed by caning. So it is understood, when he was beaten by the cane, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on his back. So he did not feel any suffering. So there are many instances. A devotee had to suffer many sufferings, but they did not take it very much severely. They tolerated. And a devotee is educated to tolerate.

Therefore, in the sadhu's symptoms, beginning, that titiksavah karunikah [SB 3.25.21], they, a devotee, suffers; at the same time, he is very kind to these conditioned soul, how to elevate them, how to make them Krsna conscious. This is karunikah. These are the very primary features of a devotee's life. People put him into suffering in so many ways, but he does not give up his job. His job is to spread Krsna consciousness so that others may become happy. Just like Prahlada Maharaja said, "My Lord, I have no suffering. I have no suffering because I know the art, how to become happy." Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah [SB 7.9.43]. The same thing is described here: srnvanti kathayanti. So Prahlada Maharaja said that "I know how to become happy." How to become happy? "Now, simply hearing about You and chanting about You, that's all." Srnvanti kathayanti. Just like here two business is going on: you are hearing, and I am speaking. Bodhayantah parasparam. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanti [Bg. 9.13]. This bhajana means srnvanti kathayanti. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23] -- this is bhajana. You simply hear about the Lord, you talk about the Lord. That is bhajana. Sravanam means you can further make progress. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Sravanam kirtanam is going on all over the world. Some is hearing about some politician, other is speaking about some politician or some other man, some important man in the society. Sravanam kirtanam is going on. But they are suffering. But when the sravanam kirtanam is pertaining to Visnu, sravanam kirtanam visnoh, then you will not be suffering. This is the... It requires experience. It requires advancement.

Then... Prahlada Maharaja, as he says, that tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah: "Because my mind is always absorbed in talking about You and hearing about You, therefore I am not unhappy. I do not... I know how to become happy." "But you seem to be very unhappy." So he says, "Yes, I am unhappy because I see these..." Tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan: [SB 7.9.43] "These foolish people, simply for temporary so-called happiness, they are engaged in material activities. I am thinking of them only. That is my unhappiness. Otherwise I have no unhappiness."

So this devotional service, this line of action, is so nice that if we practice, if we make advance, then even in this material world, staying, there will be no more suffering. That is called jivan mukta. Jivan mukta means although he is in this body, but he is not suffering the bodily miserable condition. It is a question of absorption of thought. I have read in some paper that Mr. Stalin, the communist leader, he had to undergo a surgical operation of operating on the belly. But doctor wanted to, what is called, chloroform, but he said, "No, there is no need. You can go on with your operation." So even in ordinary life it is possible. Because the mind is absorbed in a different way, even a surgical operation does not disturb a man. Similarly, what to speak of spiritual life, if your mind is always absorbed in Krsna thought, Krsna consciousness... That is stated mad-gata-cetasah, always thinking of Krsna. And Krsna advises also. What is His advice? Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] "You always think of Me."

There are many instances. If we believe, that is another... If you don't believe, that is another... But there is practical also, that these boys, European, American boys, from their childhood, from their birth, they are accustomed to so many bad habits. But for want of those bad habit, they think it is impossible to live. Not only ordinary man. I will tell you the story of one very big man, the Marquis of Zetland. The Marquis of Zetland was talking with one of my Godbrother. The Lord -- they are called Lord -- he asked, "Can you make me brahmana?" So the my Godbrother said, "Yes, it is not very difficult. If you give up these bad habits -- intoxication, illicit sex life, meat-eating, and gambling -- you can become a brahmana." So he said, "It is impossible." Yes. A very big man, he said, "It is impossible. This is our life." Actually, we have got experience in the Western countries, this is their life. Even very, very old men, they cannot give up this. For want of this, it is a great suffering. But here you see practically. These young boys, young girls, they have given up. There is no suffering. Take practical example. And an old man, a very respectable gentleman, he was requested to give up these four habits; he replied, "It is impossible." How it is becoming possible for these boys? If they would have suffered for want of this illicit sex, intoxication, the boys or girls, then how they could remain with me? I am not a very rich man. I cannot give them nice shelter. I cannot give them nice food. But why? Because they are not feeling... They have no furniture. They are lying down on the floor, no bedding, no proper cloth. Because they are not suffering actually. Otherwise they could not remain with me. This is a fact. If they would have suffered, then, like Lord Zetland, they would have also said, "It is impossible to remain with Prabhupada." But they are not saying that. There is suffering from disease also; still, they are not leaving. They are not leaving.

So Krsna consciousness is so nice. Mad-gata. They do not feel any suffering. It is practical. Others, they feel suffering. Therefore it is said, tapanti vividhas tapa na etan mad-gata-cetasah. Na etan. Therefore we should accept this. What is that? Mad-asrayah kathah. Katha, krsna-katha. There are so many literatures, especially Bhagavad-gita. That is open to everyone. Everyone knows Bhagavad-gita. So if we simply hear Bhagavad-gita, we can attain this stage of perfection, no more suffering. That is a fact. So just like Ambarisa Maharaja. He made his life... Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. He was a very responsible king, emperor of this world, and he was administering his kingdom. At the same time, he was a great devotee. These are the examples in this country. There were many kings like that; they are called rajarsi. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said,

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Rajarsi. The kings were... Although they were king, raja, still, they were as good as the great saintly person, rsi. So Maharaja Ambarisa, he was also a rajarsi. He gave example: although he was busy in his administration work, still, he was talking only of Krsna, only. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. Whenever he would talk, he will talk about Krsna. This required practice. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised all His devotees, gramya-katha na kahibe. This requires... This is called advancement. Don't talk nonsense of these material talks. What is the use? What you will gain? Just like you open the newspaper. What do you find? The same thing. The same plane crash, the same politician condemn another politician, and something lost, something gained, something... It is punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. The same thing are being repeated in different way. So what is the use of talking such thing? Better, if you want to talk, talk on Krsna, talk on Bhagavad-gita, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and enjoy life. That is required.

That is recommended here: mad-asrayah katha mrstah srnvanti kathayanti ca. If you simply talk about Krsna and hear about Krsna, then that stage will come when there will be no more suffering always. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). This is called anandamaya in the Vedanta-sutra. A living entity or Krsna, they are anandamaya. Pracurye maya-pratyaya. Simply ananda. When you are in pleasure, transcendental bliss, there will be no more possibility of this material suffering. That is instructed here:

mad-asrayah katha mrstah
srnvanti kathayanti ca
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-cetasah

There is also another statement in the Bhagavad-gita: yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47]. There are many yogis, but that yogi who is thinking of Krsna always, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, mad-gatenantar-atmana, sa me yuktatamah: "In My opinion that is... He is the first-class yogi." Not to show any magic. Magic, that is magic, that if he does not suffer from any suffering, that is the greatest magic. But that will be done by a devotee. And Krsna also recommends.

So our life should be... This Krsna consciousness movement is being spread only for this purpose. What is this? Srnvanti kathayanti ca. Mad-asrayah katha mrstah. When we shall feel pleasure by hearing about Krsna or talking about Krsna, we must know that we are making progress on the path of perfection. And at that time any kind of this material suffering will not be felt. This is the practical effect of executing devotional service.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.23 -- Bombay, November 23, 1974

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Chant--Cleanse Your Brain"

72/11/23 Hyderabad, Bhagavad-gita 2.18



Prabhupada: (beginning of lecture extremely faint) ...Just like part and parcel of my body, hands and legs, they are serving the whole body, similarly, Krsna is the supreme whole and we are His parts and parcels; therefore our duty is to serve Him. This is our constitutional position. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. We cannot become Krsna. We are eternally Krsna's servitors, part and parcel. This is real conclusion, qualitatively one. Just like this finger, you can call it body, but it is part and parcel of the body. Similarly, the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, you may call "God," but he's not the Supreme God. Supreme God is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. So anasinah aprameyasya. Anasinah, it cannot be destroyed. Although it is very minute, aprameyasya, you cannot measure. You have no such measuring method, that you can measure the soul's breadth and..., length and breadth. In geometry, they finish it: "(A) Point has no length and breadth," but that is not the fact. A point has also length and breadth, but we cannot measure it. Aprameya. Similarly, there is length and breadth of the soul also. That is also mentioned in the Vedic literature. (aside:) Go little back side. It is said in the Puranas: kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca, jiva-bhagah sa vijneyah sa anantyaya kalpate [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. The spirit soul is measured, first of all, divide the tip of your hair into one hundred parts, and then take one part again, and again divide it into one hundred parts. That portion is the measurement of the soul. Or, in other words, one ten-thousandth part of the tip of your hair. Now, we have no measuring instrument. Therefore, because we have no measuring instrument, although the soul is there, within this body, we cannot find it out. Although the soul and the Supersoul both are situated within the heart, and the heart is the center of all vitality, energy of this body... That is accepted. But we have no eyes to see the soul or the Supersoul because these material eyes are blunt, imperfect. You cannot see so many things. I cannot see even my eyelids, the nearest, and I cannot see which is far, far away, distant place.

So all our senses are imperfect. By imperfect senses, you cannot see the spirit soul. You cannot see even the spirit soul. How you can see the Supreme Soul, God? That is not possible. You have to purify your senses. Then you can see. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Brs. 1.2.234]. The present blunt senses, material senses, all are imperfect. Even we hear the Lord's name, namadi, atah sri-krsna-namadi... Just like we are chanting. One who is spiritually advanced, he's enjoying this Hare Krsna, Krsna's name. But those who are blunt, they will see, they will think, "What these people are chanting?" Because he has no power to hear. Atah sri-krsna-namadi. But realization of Sri Krsna begins by hearing. That is the method. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. If you hear about Krsna, if you chant about Krsna, then gradually, your heart will be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. By chanting and hearing, the dirty things within the heart will be cleansed. Then you will understand what is your position in relationship with God. You'll understand what is God. Therefore in this age especially, Kali-yuga, because people cannot perform any other austerities... They're unable. They're so dull. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. This is the position of the people of this age. Prayena alpa ayusah. Generally, their span of life is very short. It is decreasing, day by day. As our forefathers lived ninety years, hundred years, now we are not living up to such extent of ages. Generally, people are dying... In India, the average age is thirty-five years. In other countries, maybe little more. But gradually it is decreasing, and it will decrease to such a point that even a, if a man lives for twenty to thirty years, then he'll be considered as grand old man. That, that day will come.

So this age... Therefore sastra says, prayena alpa ayusah. Generally, almost everyone is short-living. Prayena alpa ayusah kalau asmin yuge janah. Asmin yuge, kalau, they are very short-living. Then again, mandah: all rascals. Mandah, third class; no first-class men. Practically no brahminical qualification. All sudra qualification. Therefore mandah. Sumanda-matayah. And if one comes forward to be spiritually enlightened, he accepts something bogus, which has no meaning, without any reference to the sastras. Therefore mandah sumanda-matayah. They have got a opinion, and that is going on. You may have any opinion. That is all right. This foolishness is going on in this age. Mandah sumanda-matayah. Manda-bhagyah, and most unfortunate. Everyone is practically unfortunate. Nobody has certainty what he will eat tomorrow, or in the evening. Everywhere... Don't think only it is only in India. In America. When I went there, I thought everyone is very rich. There are so many poor men. They are lying on the street. The street-lying population is everywhere, either in India or in America or in England. I have seen. The first-class, second-class, third-class men will remain there. You may however try to make everyone first class; the division, first class, second class, third class, will go on. That is nature's arrangement. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. And disturbed. Just like today's strike, unnecessarily. Disturbance. So many disturbance everywhere, all over the world, because the population has degraded, degraded. They must be like that. This is the way.

Therefore, anyone is interested for spiritual advancement, he should take to this Krsna consciousness movement, which is principally chanting. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Cc. Adi 17.21]. In this age, you cannot practice yoga, mystic yoga practice, meditation; it is not possible. It is very difficult. You cannot arrange for big, big sacrifices. That is also not possible. Therefore three times it is said: nasty eva nasty... You cannot take to the yogic principle, you cannot take to the ritualistic ceremonies. You cannot take to the temple worship also. It is very difficult. Kalau na...

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat

This is the injunction of the sastra, that in the Satya-yuga, when people were said to live for one hundred thousands of years, at that time yogic principle, meditation, was possible. And in the Treta-yuga, the performance of big, big sacrifices was possible, because things were available, there were yajnika-brahmanas. In this age, practically, there is no yajnika-brahmana who can perform yajna. No competent brahmana. Therefore performance of sacrifices is not possible. The only performance of sacrifice is this, as we are performing -- Hare Krsna festival. That is stated: yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Yajnaih sankirtana. In this age, Kali-yuga, no other sacrifices are..., is possible. Only sacrifice... This is sacrifice. Yajnaih sankirtana. Just like we are doing, in a small scale. But it can be done in larger scale. But people are not interested. People are not interested. They have lost all brain. Su-medhasah, and alpa-medhasah. These two words, two words are used in the sastras. Alpa-medhasah. Medha means brain substance. So those who are alpa-medhasah, they, means less brain substance. Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. Alpa-medhasah, less intelligent, less brain substance, they worship different demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajante anya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. The anya-devatas are there, but who are attracted to worship other demigods? Those who are lusty. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah. These are the statements in the Bhagavad-gita. You know. Those who are lusty, and, being lusty, they have lost their senses. Hrta-jnanah. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, he says, hrta-jnanah nasta-buddhayah. No intelligence. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam.

So in this age, this is simply waste of time. If you actually interested in spiritual advancement of life, if you divert your attention in so-called worship of this demigod, that demigod, this demigod, then you'll simply waste your time. There will be no advancement. And even you become perfect in worshiping the demigods, then what will be your profit? The profit will be: yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25]. You can go to the planets where the demigods live. But the planets and this material world, everything will be annihilated. Antavat tu phalam tesam. Suppose you are promoted to the Brahmaloka. That is also antavat. It will be finished, because by the end of Brahma's duration of life, everything within this universe will be finished. Therefore antavat. That is not permanent. But if you manage to go back to home, back to Godhead, then yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. Then that is perfect life.

So anyone who is not interested in perfect life, they'll be allured by this so-called demigod worship. Antavat tu phalam. But those who are intelligent... These are the activities of the alpa-medhasah, but one who is su-medhasah, su-medhasah, one who has got good brain substance, for him, in this age, it is recommended, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah.

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

Krsna-varnam. Krsna Himself. Krsna, or krsnam varnayati. The one, the incarnation of God, who will chant always "Krsna." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached this Hare Krsna mantra. Therefore krsnam varnayati, iti krsna-varnam. Krsna-varnam tvisa akrsnam. Tvisa, by complexion, He's akrsna, not krsna, not black. Krsna appeared blackish. Not blackish as we imagine. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya. Krsna, although He's blackish, He is attractive more than millions of Cupids. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.30].

So anyway, Krsna appears in four colors -- red, black, yellow, and white -- in different ages. So in this age, Kali Yuga, Krsna appears as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, yellow color. Krsna-varnam tvisa akrsnam. Akrsna may be red. Akrsna may be white. But this akrsna means pita, yellow. Because other akrsna, red and white, was in the Satya-yuga and Treta-yuga. Therefore here akrsna means the yellow. Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam [SB 11.5.32]. He's always surrounded by His intimate devotees. He's surrounded by many devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, wherever He was going, thousands and thousands of people were following His sankirtana, but especially He, He was always surrounded by five special devotees: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara, srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. He's Himself, Sri Krsna Caitanya; His expansion, Nityananda; His incarnation, Sri Advaita Prabhu; His internal energy, Gadadhara; and His external, marginal energy, Advaita Prabhu, er, Srivasa. But He has got another energy, which is called external energy. External energy cannot come in front of God, Krsna. This is maya. Just like darkness cannot come in front of the sun.

krsna -- surya-sama; maya haya andhakara
yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara

This material world is dark. It is called tamah. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. The Vedic instruction is "Don't remain in this material world. Come to the spiritual world." Spiritual world. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam, tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam [Bs. 5.40]. So come to the Brahman platform, brahmajyoti. Don't remain within this darkness.

So therefore in this age,

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

This is intelligence, to chant sankirtana. Bahubhir militva kirtayati. Assemble in big assembly. Just like we are trying to introduce. It is very easy. Chant, thousands and thousands of people. Never mind what he is. It doesn't matter whether he's learned or fool, rich or poor, or black or white, or brahmana or sudra. No consideration. Come together. Chant Hare Krsna mantra. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah. Your brain will be cleansed. It is so easy. It is so nice and so perfect. According to the instruction of the Vedas: Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. Repeatedly, in every Vedic literature. And practically, Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced practically. And He asked every Indian to go outside India and preach this cult, Hare Krsna mantra. But we are not doing that. We are going outside our country to beg only. Not to give. And here is a prime gift. You can give all over the world. Your country will be glorified. They're anxious for this. Prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction: "As many towns and villages are there on the surface of the globe, everywhere this Hare Krsna mantra, or Lord Caitanya's name, will be celebrated." That is being done. There is immense field for introducing this Hare Krsna cult all over the world. That is practical. Unfortunately, although Caitanya Mahaprabhu entrusted the matter to every Indian... Not that to the Bengalis, because He appeared in Bengal. He never said for the Bengalis. He said, bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. "On this holy land of Bharatavarsa, anyone who has taken his birth as a human being, he should make his life perfect." Janma sarthaka kari'. You cannot preach without making your life first of all perfect. If I remain imperfect, I cannot preach. One must be perfect. That is not very difficult. We have got direction of great sages and saintly persons and God, Krsna, Himself.

So to make our life perfect is not at all difficult. We are simply neglecting. That is our misfortune. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyah [SB 1.1.10]. Because we are manda, manda-matah, we have accept some bogus logic, bogus "ism," and wasting our time. We should take from the sastra the real path. Then we shall become intelligent. Su-medhasah. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. The short-cut method. Intelligent class of men will take this sankirtana movement for his spiritual elevation of life. It is a fact, it is scientific, it is authorized. So don't neglect. Take this chanting of Hare Krsna heart and soul, and anywhere... Niyamitah smarane na kalah. There is no rules and regulations, that "You have to chant at this time or that time, in this position or that position." No. Because it is especially meant for these fallen conditioned souls, there is no hard-and-fast rule. Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah. The name, the holy name of Krsna, is as powerful as Krsna. There is no difference with Krsna and His name. Krsna is Absolute. Therefore there is no distinction between Krsna's name, Krsna's form, Krsna's quality, Krsna's entourage, Krsna's pastimes, from Krsna. Everything is Krsna. If you hear about Krsna, then you should know that you are touching Krsna by aural reception. If you see Krsna the Deity, that means you are seeing personally Krsna. Because Krsna is absolute. He can accept your service, any way. Because He is everything. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. His energy. Parasya brahmanah saktis tathedam akhilam jagat. Everything's Krsna's energy. So if we are in touch with Krsna's energy, with a little knowledge, we are directly in touch with Krsna. This is the process. As you become constantly in touch with Krsna, that is Krsna consciousness. Then you become purified. Purified. Just like if you put one iron rod in the fire, it becomes warm, warmer, warmer, and at last it becomes red hot. When it is red hot, it is fire. It is no more iron rod. Similarly, if you keep always in Krsna consciousness, you become Krsna-ized. This is the process. Then everything becomes purified; then your spiritual life is manifested. Then your life is successful.

So the first beginning is... Here, as it is said by Krsna, antavanta ime dehah: don't be attached with this body. The body is material, but even this body is material, it can be spiritualized by the same process, by Krsna consciousness. Spiritualized means when this body will forget the materialistic activities. This body, you can utilize for sense gratification. Just generally people are doing. Eating, sleeping, mating and drinking and so on. So you can utilize this body... That is material. But if you engage this body for the service of the Lord, it becomes spiritualized. As I have already explained, the iron rod, constantly in touch with fire, it becomes, at end, it becomes red hot. That is fire. At that time, it acts like fire. You touch that red-hot iron rod anywhere, it will burn. Similarly, this body can be spiritualized, although it is material body. How? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [Brs. 1.2.234].

mam ca yo vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]

Brahman. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. It at once becomes Brahman. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. How? Avyabhicarena bhakti-yogena yah sevate. Therefore this process, arcana... Everyone is engaged only in Krsna's service. They are, from the beginning of the day, four o'clock, they are rise from the bed. They offer mangala-aratrika. You are seeing practically. We are demonstrating the Krsna con..., how one can become Krsna conscious perfectly. Therefore we have brought this Deity. Anyone can do it at home. Where is the difficulty? If these Europeans and Americans, they can do, our Indians which is our heritage, we are born in this land of Bharatavarsa, we cannot do it? But we are neglecting. We are so fallen. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyah [SB 1.1.10]. We have become so unfortunate that we cannot take to this process. So whatever we have done, done, that's all right. But now this Krsna consciousness movement is there. Everyone should take it very seriously and make his life perfect.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Bhavananda: (reading questions:) ...Krsna, they accept that Krsna is in every living entity, and therefore they say that by serving humanity and your fellow man, that that is serving Krsna. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: If you remain in a room, to serve the room, does it mean that serving you? You are within a room. Simply cleansing the room, does it mean serving you? The present moment, what they are doing? Just like my Guru Maharaja used to say that a man has fallen on the water, and one brave man came. He said that "I shall save this man." And he also jumped in the water and brought his coat and shirt, and he said, "Now the man is saved." Is it saving the man? So similarly, the service of humanity means they are serving the body. Where is the soul? They do not know how to serve. Just like washing the cage, and the bird within the cage, it is starving (imitates bird): "kanh kanh kanh." So they do not know what is service. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. They are thinking this body. That is, that is... We are explaining this morning: antavanta ime dehah. This body is perishable. It is material. What is the use of serving it? However you serve it, it will destroy. Try to save the soul who is put into this body and embarrassed. That is real service. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are trying to save the soul. The body, however you try to save it, it will, antavanta ime dehah, it will end, today or tomorrow or after some years. You cannot save it. Save the soul. Nityasyoktah saririnah. The saririnah, the soul, which is within the body, that is nitya, eternal. Now, although it is nitya, it is fallen in certain condition of this material body, that it appears to be dying. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. He's under the tribulation of birth, death, old age and disease on account of this material body. Therefore, if you actually want to give service to the humanity, then give service to the soul, and if you give service to the soul, automatically the body is also served. But if you stress on the body, without... Therefore, despite all arrangements for humanitarian work, the human society is becoming worser and worser. Why? That is not service. They do not know how to serve. Illusion. Real service is this, Krsna consciousness, to arouse the Krsna con..., dormant Krsna consciousness in every human being. Nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti. To make him aroused in relationship with Krsna, that is real service. So what is going on in the name of service, that is not service. That is simply washing the coat and shirt. That's all. [break] Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.18 -- Hyderabad, November 23, 1972