Are We Krsna's Competitors?

Are We Krsna's Competitors?

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.119-121
New York, November 24, 1966

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Prabhupada:

bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayaya ato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

Therefore it is advised that our fearfulness, "How I shall live? What I shall eat? Where I shall live? Where I'll, I'll have my shelter...?" We are always perplexed with all these fearfulness. Why? Because we have forgotten that there is one who is giving me all protection. We are, we have become so foolish that..., that the lower animals than the human being, they have no economic problem. They are freely living. In the morning they do not care where they shall eat. But there is eating. No animal, no bird, is dying of starvation. Have you seen any animal or any bird has died out of starvation? And who is providing him? So they have no economic problem. The only this foolish, advanced, civilized man, under the name of so-called misusing the intelligence, which was given to him for realization of God, misusing for sense gratification, and therefore they are troubled. That is the whole problem. The world's problem is due to this forgetfulness. Isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih. They have forgotten the protection of Krsna, God. They think that "By this adjustment, we shall be able to protect." Nonsense. It is not possible. Can you protect yourself from death? No. Then what is your protection? So this is the formula: bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. Dvitiya means that a, a secondary existence beyond God which is, in Bible, it is said, Satan and God. So this satanic mentality has made them under the control of material nature. Satanic mentality. What is that satanic mentality? That "I want to be God." Always thinking falsely, "I am God," or "Independent," "I can do anything, everything," "Whatever I survey, I am the lord of whatever I survey." These foolish things are going on.

So this is very nicely explained, and reference is given by Lord Caitanya that our whole difficulty, problems, anxiety... A similar verse is in Bhagavata, another place, sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat [SB 7.5.5]. Asad-grahat. Asat means nonpermanent, which will, we shall not exist. Due to our absorption in that sight, asat, this matter... Just like this body: it will not exist. So giving too much stress on the bodily concept of life, they are sada samudvigna-dhiya, they are always full of anxiety. This is the cause. The foolish people, they do not know. Still, they are very much proud of education. Here is the cause, that because we have given too much stress on this false conception of life, therefore we are always full of anxiety. And as soon as I understand that "I am pure spirit soul, part and parcel of Krsna, the Supreme Lord. He is giving me all protection, and my duty is to love and serve Him," then I am free. At once I am free. The simple formula. How He'll give me...? He's not poor man. He's, He's... What you are? Your human, human being, they are very few. If you compare with other animals, other living entities, you are most insignificant number. Your number is very little, especially for the civilized. If you search out a hole in your room, you'll find millions of ants coming out. Even in your room you'll find. You'll be over-voted. So who is supplying their necessities? Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Vedic language we can understand that one singular entity... God is also a living entity. He's not void. He's just like a person, like you and me. But He's so powerful. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. One single number, He is providing so many, innumerable living entities. So our business is... And the Bhagavad-gita you'll find, tesam satata-yuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham: [Bg. 10.10] "I supply whatever he needs. Who is constantly engaged in Krsna consciousness, I supply it. I take the goods personally and deliver there." Why should you be anxious? Krsna will take hundred pounds of flours, hundred pounds of rice, and deliver you. Just be Krsna conscious. In ordinary home you don't find more than five pounds. You see in our stock, all hundred pounds.

So these are facts. These are not stories. But foolish people, they have no knowledge or Krsna consciousness. Be in Krsna consciousness. All your material necessities will be... But don't be extravagant. Take only whatever you need to maintain your body and soul together and execute this... Make this primary and other things secondary. Krsna will supply you. But if you want to make your sense gratification, if you want to accept more than what you need, then you'll be in trouble. That is maya. So Krsna has provided for everyone, everything. There is no need of being anxious. But that does not mean that I shall feel, "Oh, I shall do everything and anything." No.

So this is Krsna consciousness. Now, Lord Caitanya says,

sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya,
sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya

Now how to become Krsna conscious? A person who is fully Krsna conscious, he has no problem. Now how to become Krsna conscious? Lord Caitanya says, sadhu-sastra-krpa: "One can become Krsna conscious by the mercy of saintly devotees and by the mercy of the scriptures." These two things are recommended. Not that fools, as they are thinking, "I can..., I can think myself. I don't agree with the sastra. I don't agree with the spiritual master. I don't agree with scriptures. I have got my independent opinion." He is fool number one, rascal number one. One who says like that, you'll at once take him that he's fool, rascal, anything. You have to take shelter of sadhu, guru and sastra. Sadhu means saintly persons, those who have got all those qualities. (aside:) Where is that paper? Are you using that paper which has been supplied to you? Good qualification of devotees? What are those? Can you say, any of you? Where is that paper?

Disciple: It's on the inside of the drawer there.

Prabhupada: Oh, not with you? It is in the book. "Oh, my knowledge is in the book." No. You should learn. Everyone is missing. So how you can become saintly person? So those qualities, twenty-six qualities, they are called saintly person. Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. Devotee does not mean a rascal, at the same time, a devotee. No. As soon as you become devotee, the test is that all those twenty-six qualities will develop. You have to test yourself, "Out of the twenty-six qualities, how much I have developed?" If I am lacking, then you must know that you are not developing. This is the test. What are the qualities? Paul, you have got the copy?

Paul: Yes.

Prabhupada: What are the qualities?

Paul: "Kind to everyone."

Prabhupada: Kind to everyone. Yes. Then, go on.

Paul: "Does not quarrel with anyone. Fixed up in the Absolute Truth."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Paul: "Equal to everyone."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Paul: "Spotless, faultless, charitable, mild, clean, simple, benevolent, peaceful, completely attached to Krsna, no material hankerings, meek, steady, self-controlled, does not eat more than required..."

Prabhupada: Does not eat more than required. Yes.

Paul: "...sane, respectful, humble, grave, compassionate, friendly, poetic, expert..."

Prabhupada: Poetic, expert and silent. One who is too much talkative, that means he's lacking in devotion. He should simply talk about Krsna, nothing more. And when he, when one is actually absorbed in Krsna thought, he cannot talk nonsense. He has no time. He does not waste time. So these are the qualities. Here, he's called sadhu. Sadhu means these are the qualifications. Of course, not that we may develop all these qualities immediately, but sadhu means this. Sadhu means, what is called, pious man. These are the qualities of pious man, sadhu. And sastra. Sastra means the scripture. By study of scripture, you can develop these qualities. That is called scripture. That is authorized scripture. Just like you study some book, and you develop some quality after reading that book, similarly, when you actually have scripture, then you develop all these qualities. And guru, spiritual master, means who teaches you all these things. So you have to make your progress -- sadhu-sastra-guru vakya. You have to corroborate whether guru, what guru is speaking, whether it is there in the scripture; what scripture is speaking, whether that is in the character of guru, or in the sadhu, saintly persons, or spiritual master. So you have to always make comparison with three things: sadhu, sastra, guru. Nobody can become a spiritual master who has no reference to the scriptures and these qualities. Nobody can be accepted as a qualified man, he has not..., if one has not developed his character through the scripture under the instruction of guru.

So sadhu-sastra-guru. A sadhu, a guru... Here Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sadhu-sastra. That sadhu includes guru also, because a spiritual master, unless he's a sadhu, he cannot be a guru, cannot be a spiritual master. And the primary qualification of spiritual master -- that he is completely surrendered to Krsna, completely Krsna conscious person. These are the things. So Lord Caitanya said, sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya. Now, the sadhu's qualification is he's merciful, friendly... So the sadhus, they take the risk of becoming friendly and merciful to the fallen, conditioned souls, and they preach the message of Godhead. Therefore their mercy is required. They are merciful, by nature. By nature, they are merciful. One who is sadhu, one who is devotee, by nature, he has developed that merciful quality, friendly quality. So their business is to enlighten those who are ignorant, those who are fully absorbed in this material concept of life. Therefore they preach. And we have to take that mercy. If we don't accept... Suppose a man is fallen in the pit and he's trying to come out, and another man drops a rope, "Please catch it. I shall take you out of the pit." He does not catch it. Then how he can be taken out? So sadhu and sastra, they're always ready to give you mercy, but you have to take it. If you don't accept it, then how you can recover, recover? Therefore initiation means to accept the mercy of the sadhu and spiritual master. If you don't accept, so there is no other way. If you think... If you cry that "I am fallen in the pit. Please take me," and when somebody comes to help you, you say, "No, I'll not catch it," then you remain there. Who'll help you?

So because I am a living entity, I try for so many things, for my daily bread, and I don't try to catch the mercy of sadhu and sastra. Just see my foolishness. I, for getting a work, I flatter so many persons and put my, serving my application, but for my deliverance from the material bondage I don't care. "No, I am not going to submit to anyone. I don't require." Just see. How much foolishness there is. Just like a dog, for his bread he'll submit everyone, but for his spiritual emancipation, oh, he's not agreeing to submit. Just see the foolishness. For bread, which is already settled by the nature, he'll submit to everyone. Just like dog goes from door to door and moves its tail that "Give me a bread. Give me a bread." Yes. So this application is a doggish... In the Bhagavata it is stated that the, the brahmana, a ksatriya, if he's poverty-stricken, he may accept something mercantile, but don't be a dog. This modern civilization is teaching people to become dog. Go door to door! [ ...the saintly person, the representative of Krsna, they are always trying to distribute this mercy. So if somebody by his fortune accepts this mercy then he can become, mean, aloof from these material troubles.

So one has to accept. Sadhu-sastra-krpaya. They are always merciful. But one has to accept them and become Krsna conscious. Sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya. And as soon as he agrees to become Krsna conscious, then his path becomes clear. He'll get rid of these material clutches and this always full life full of anxiety and problems, he'll kick. These things, sadhu, sastra, saintly person and scripture, they have to be accepted. If you don't accept them, then there is no other way. Why there is no other way? Daivi hy esa guna-mayi [Bg. 7.14]. He's citing again from Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita is the book of evidence. Lord Caitanya is citing. Because it is Vedic. Just like in the law court you have to cite section from the law book, not from your concocted mind. No foolish man can argue in the law court, because he has to refer in every step from the law book. Sadhu means that he has to give evidence from the scriptures. Not that "I think... In my opinion you can do this." He's not a sadhu; he's a fool. What is your opinion? You are a conditioned soul. Can you manufacture something? No. You cannot manufacture anything. You have to give reference from authorized scripture. So Lord Caitanya is giving evidence from Bhagavad-gita: daivi hy esa guna-mayi [Bg. 7.14]. Why you cannot yourself get out of these material clutches? The reason is this: daivi hy esa. It is, material clutches is so powerful. You cannot get out. It is not possible. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya. "This material nature, which is My energy," Lord Krsna says, "it is very strong, very strong." In the history you'll never find that anybody has overcome the laws of material nature by his own effort. No. It is not possible. Therefore the modern scientific world who are trying to conquer over the laws of material nature by their teeny scientific arrangement, they are all fools. It is not possible. Not possible. If you try for something which is not possible, then you'll simply go on, wasting your time. That is a different thing. But if you accept the scriptures, the truth, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita-daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya: [Bg. 7.14] "This material nature, which is one of My energy, it is very difficult to get out of it" -- then he'll be a sane man who: "Then why I am trying foolishly? In this way, that I can make adjustment in this material world for comfortable life? No. It is not possible." Then what is the remedy? The remedy's there. What is that? Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: [Bg. 7.14] "As soon as one surrenders unto Me, he becomes out of these clutches." This is the process.

So this information... We are holding this class from Bhagavad-gita, from Caitanya-caritamrta and scripture just to... With reference to the sastra, scripture. And we are trying to follow. We are not creating anything. It is not a manufactured thing, concocted thing. It is standard, followed by great acaryas like Caitanya. So we have to accept. That is the way. We have to become Krsna conscious, and follow, as the sastra says. Sometimes, as we... The law books are there. As we take help of a lawyer, how to utilize the law book, similarly you have to utilize the scriptures by accepting a spiritual master who can guide you. He's a lawyer. These are the process. If you don't accept, then go on suffering. If you accept, then everything is there. That is the way of Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.119-121 -- New York, November 24, 1966

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You Can't Demand Peace

You Can't Demand Peace

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.112
Bombay, November 24, 1975

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Prabhupada:

visnu-saktih para prokta
ksetrajnakhya tatha para
avidya-karma-samjna anya
trtiya saktir isyate
 [Cc. Madhya 6.154]

So we were discussing other night about the three principal energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. From sruti we understand that the Supreme Lord is full of potencies. Even we are. We are a small particle of the Supreme Lord; still, we are full of potencies. Just like you shave today, and tomorrow morning, by your own potency, the hairs again grown. We see actually things are happening. How it is happening, that we do not know, even in our body. But it is a fact it is happening. Things are happening. That means due to my potency. As soon as I leave this body there will be no more hair growth. The potency is gone. So as we are a small particle, mamaivamso jiva-bhutah... [Bg. 15.7]. Jiva, the living entity is a very small particle, one ten-thousandth part of the top point of hair. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. So such a small particle, atomic particle of the Supreme Lord, has got so much potencies. We see different varieties of life, different intelligence all over the world. What is that? Potency. So if we have got so much potencies, just imagine what Krsna, the Supreme Person, has got, potency.

So He has got potency. He is not nih sakti. He has got sakti. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana... [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Everything is happening on account of His potency. Just like in your body so many things are happening on account of potency, similarly, the gigantic universal form of the Lord -- His potencies are working. Everything is happening. The tree is coming out, the fruit is coming out, the flower is coming, the color is painted -- everything. Svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. He hasn't got to do anything personally, but His potencies are acting. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate. Nobody can be equal to Him or greater than Him. Sama. Asama urdhva. In the Bhagavad-gita it is explained that Krsna is asama urdhva. Nobody is greater than Him, and nobody is equal to Him. So anyone who is claiming equal to Him, they are less intelligent. They have no intelligence. Asama urdhva. Na tasya samah. Nobody is equal to Him, neither urdhva. Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat: [Bg. 7.7] "Nobody is greater than Me." Therefore God is great. If somebody is equal to Him or greater than Him, then he is not God. God is Krsna.

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

He is the original cause of everything. So he has got... He is working the whole cosmic manifestation is exhibited by His potency. That is described here: visnu-saktih para prokta [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. That is spiritual potency.

Originally the God's potency, Krsna's potency -- cit-sakti, sat-cit-ananda. God is sat, eternal; cit, full of knowledge; and anandamaya. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). You'll never see Krsna niranandamaya. Even if He is killing a demon, He is smiling. That is also ananda. So the potencies of God, Krsna, Visnu-visnu-saktih para -- they are not these ordinary potencies, material potency. Spiritual potency. Visnu-saktih para prokta ksetrajnah [Cc. Madhya 6.154]. Ksetrajna means jiva. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Ksetra-ksetrajnah. The living soul is ksetrajna, and this body is ksetra. Ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam, yad jnanam tad jnanam matam mama. If anyone understands what is this ksetra and ksetrajna and what is their relationship -- ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam -- that is jnana, not this material jnana. That is spiritual jnana. So ksetrajnakhya tatha para. As God's potency is para... Para and apara. Originally everything is para. And apara means forgetfulness. This material world we forget Krsna; therefore it is called apara. But there is another para. That is spiritual potency. There there is no forgetfulness of Krsna. Everyone is Krsna conscious. So if you become Krsna conscious, then immediately you become para. Ksetrajnam akhya tatha para. Immediately you become para. Otherwise you remain in the apara, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], this material contamination. Ksetrajnakhya tatha para.

Then what is this material potency? That is explained, avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate. In between or besides this, para and apara, there is another sakti. That is avidya, ignorance, darkness. Avidya-karma-samjna. And in this potency everyone has to work. Karma-samjna. Without working, nobody can live here. You have to work. It is said that the lion is supposed to be the biggest animal, very powerful. So it is said in the Hitopadesa, na hi suptasya simhasya pravisanti mukhe mrgah. Even if one is lion, if he thinks, "I am lion. Let me sleep and the prey will automatically come within my mouth," no, that is not possible. You have to work. Anyone, whatever you may be, you have to work. Krsna also said in the Bhagavad-gita, sarira yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmanah. In this... This material world means everyone has to work. Otherwise he cannot live. Therefore it is called karma-samjna. Karma-samjna anya. And avidya. If I am part and parcel of Krsna, and Krsna... Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. If Krsna has nothing to do, then -- I am also part and parcel -- I will also have nothing to do. Everything will be there, present. But that is our real constitutional position. We don't require to work. Everything is there for my enjoyment. But because we are now in this avidya, ignorance, this material darkness, therefore I have to work. Avidya-karma-samjna. Karma is meant for this materialistic person. Bhakta does not require to take to karma, karma, jnana, yoga, nothing. These are all material. Karma, jnana, yoga, and bhakti. There are four primary principles for spiritual realization. So out of the four, karma, jnana and yoga, they are all material, but bhakti is not material. That is spiritual. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes,

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami-sakali asanta
krsna-bhakta-niskama ataeva santa
 [Cc. Madhya 19.149]

If you want santi, then you have to become a devotee. Otherwise yayatma samprasidati.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma samprasidati
 [SB 1.2.6]

If you actually want peacefulness of your atma, then you have to learn bhaktir adhoksaje. And this action cannot be checked, ahaituki, if your bhakti is pure, without any motive. Bhakti means without any motive.

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
 [Brs. 1.1.11]

Bhakti has no other definition, simple, pure. "Simply I shall carry out the order of Krsna," as Arjuna did, that is pure devotee. He is not under the resultant action. Anasrtah karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah. One who does not expect the resultant action... Karmis, they are very much careful about getting the resultant action. "I am working so hard. I must have some material profit." That is karmi. Everyone in this material world, they are working so hard. Why? For some material profit. Therefore they are asanta. Bhukti. Bhukti means sense enjoyment. So bhukti, mukti and siddhi. This is karmi, jnani, yogi. The karmis, they are expecting some good result, material result, sense enjoyment. That is karmi. And jnani, he is thinking that "Material result has no profit. I have tried for it, but I could not get any profit out of." Gatila janja (?).

sat-sanga chadi' khainu asate vilasa
te-karane lagila mora karma-bandha-phansa

So jnani means when he understands, "By acting for fruitive result, actually I have not gained anything." That is jnani. One cannot get actually any good result. That is not possible. That is ajnana. So jnani means one who understands that "We cannot get any good result by this karma. So let me become one with God." That is... He does not know that is higher expectation. The karmis are trying to become a big man, a big, very honorable man in the society, or minister or president. But when he is baffled... This is also wanting something, karmi. A jnani, he wants to stop the small business; he wants to become one with God. That is more dangerous expectation. So that is jnani. So they also cannot get peace, because there is demand. Karmis, they want something material, and the jnanis, they tries to become one with the Supreme. Ekatvam. Ekatvam meaning we make differently, but the jnanis-sayujya-mukti, to become one with God. So they cannot be happy also, because there is want. The karmis, they have got want. They want something. And here also there is want, a different type of want. Karmi wants some material result, immediate sense gratification, and here is also sense gratification. He is expecting something impossible -- "I want to become one with God." So they cannot also get peace. That is not possible. And yogi, they also wanting to be something, siddhi, asta-siddhi. Anima, laghima, garima, prapti, siddhi, isitva, vasitva. There are eight kinds of siddhis. The yogis want to get these siddhis and declare that he has become God, the same, like the jnani. People are hankering after. If some yogi, some..., play some yogic prakriya, magic: "Oh, here is God." He does not see the wonderful magic which is going on throughout the whole universe. A simple magic captivate them.

So Caitanya-caritamrta kar therefore says, bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami sakali asanta. They cannot get peace. That is not possible. Krsna-bhakta niskama [Cc. Madhya 19.149]. Krsna bhakta, he doesn't want anything. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at least, teaches us, and that is the... Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11], zero, no abhilasa. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. In the platform of jnana there is demand: "I shall become one with God." And karma, there is demand: "I must have the highest form of material happiness." Therefore jnana-karmady-anavrtam: "without any tinge of jnana and karma." Anyabhilasita-sunyam: "all material desires made zero, sunyam." "Then I become zero?" No. That is your purity. When you are not contaminated by jnana, karma, yoga, that is your pureness. And that purity, anukulyena krsnanu-silanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Simply always be ready to serve Krsna. Serve Krsna. "Now, where is Krsna?" Yes, Krsna is there. You can serve. Krsna is present before you in His sound representation, Bhagavad-gita. Krsna is absolute, and His words, what He has spoken in the Bhagavad-gita, they are the same. Krsna's words and Krsna, they are not different. The material world means my words and me, we are different. But in the spiritual world the words, the name, the form, the pastimes of Krsna, they are as good as Krsna. Therefore, if you discuss on the instruction of Krsna, like Bhagavad-gita, then you are immediately in touch with Krsna. Abhinnatvad nama-naminoh. There is no difference. So anukulyena krsnanu-silanam. If you want to abide by the orders of Krsna, anu-silanam... Anu-silanam means cultivation. The words are there. The words are not different from Krsna. So as soon as you take the words as it is, you immediately associate with Krsna. Otherwise you take the instruction of guru, representative of Krsna. If you can please your guru, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah... **. If you can please His representative, then you please Him. So in this way, krsnanusilanam, that is our duty, anukulyena, anukula, not pratikula. There are two ways of acting, anukula and pratikula. If you act as I desire, that is anukula, and if you act what I don't desire, that is pratikula. So Krsna consciousness must be anukula, according to the desire of Krsna, as it is confirmed by guru. That is anukula, favorable. And if you act whimsically, which Krsna does not desire or the guru does not desire, then it is pratikula. So anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167], that is bhakti.

So here it is said, avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate. This material energy is full of ignorance, avidya, and karma-sanga. Here you have to work hard. But if you become devotee, then there is no need of working hard. Yoga-kseman vahamy aham. Then Krsna takes charge. Krsna takes charge of you. Krsna has taken charge of everyone, but especially yo tu bhajanti yam pritya tesu te mayi. Those who are devotee, for them special care. So here we are careless. Nobody is taking... The materialistic persons, they are working in their own capacity, that "I shall become happy in this way, I shall become happy in this way," and therefore entangling, committing so many sinful activities. And he's not becoming happy; more and more unhappy. Karma-bandha. Narottama dasa Thakura says, sata sanga chadi khainu, asate vilasa, te karane lagile mora karma bandha phansa. So if we don't take to Krsna consciousness, if we act independently, then the result will be that we shall be entangled in the laws of karma. Laws of karma means karmana daiva-netrena jantor deha upapatti [SB 3.31.1]. By karma we are creating another body, next body. That we do not know. Karma, according to my karma. Karmana daiva-netrena, supervised, decided by the higher authorities: "You have done like this; you must get this body." Automatically. Automatically. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Everything is going on. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani [Bg. 3.27]. If you don't like or like, it doesn't matter. If you have infected some disease which you don't like, that will not save you because you don't like. You must have to suffer from that disease. That is the law of nature. But that we do not know. We are acting independently. That is not possible. So therefore it is called avidya. Avidya means rascals. [break] ...acting independently without knowing that there is overseer. There is the supreme seer. He is sitting within your heart.

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese arjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
 [Bg. 18.61]

Now Isvara is seeing. You cannot do anything secretly. That is not possible. He is seeing. According to your karma, the next body is offered. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese... He is seeing. He is witness. Anumanta updrsta. He is seeing everything, upadrsta. So He is asking the material nature, "Now this living entity wanted to act like this. So give him this body." Daiva-netrena. So you'll get a body, yantra. This body is yantra, machine. You are sat down on a machine, and bhramayan sarva bhutani -- sometimes you are in nice bodies. Nothing is nice. Everybody will die, so there cannot be anything nice. It may be, the duration of life, little more -- a dog's duration of life less than man's duration of life. That may be. But nobody is going to live forever. That is not possible.

So this is anitya, this body, daiva-netrena, by the order, prakrti, prakrti. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati, bhramayan sarva-bhutani [Bg. 18.61]. Sarva-bhutani, all living entities, are wandering, wandering not only here. There are so many planets, so many up and down situation. So we are wandering within this universe, within this material world, sometimes in good body, sometimes in bad body, and this is our life. Avidya-karma-samjna anya. Under the influence of this material energy, on account of our ignorance, we have submitted to the laws of material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudha [Bg. 3.27]. He is thinking, "I am independent. I am now this. I am now that." Avidya-karma-samjna. Bhramayan sarva-bhutani. Everything you will find this. So prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudhatma. This ahankara, that "I am independent," this ahankara is making you obliged to accept different types of body in different condition of life within the universe. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu is maha-vadanyavatara. He is very, very kind incarnation. Rupa Gosvami accepted Him, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. So He teaches, ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Under this avidya-karma-samjna tritiya sakti, material energy, we are wandering throughout the whole universe. (aside:) This child should be moved. So ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva. So one who takes Krsna consciousness, becoming happy, more and more happy. Karma-bandha. Narottama bhagyavan jiva. Not the dur-bhagyavan, jiva. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya [SB 1.1.10]. Those who are unfortunate, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says. Kono bhagyavan jiva. Kono means somebody. That is also not all. That is confirmed by Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many, many millions of persons, one wants to become perfect or bhagavan. And yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah. So therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says the same thing, kono bhagyavan jiva. Not always. Not the manda-bhagya. Sa bhagavan.

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
 [Cc. Madhya 19.151]

Guru and Krsna. Two persons' favor, guru and Krsna.

So Krsna is asking to become a guru, everyone. Everyone become a guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says.

amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa
yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa
 [Cc. Madhya 7.128]

Amara ajnaya guru hana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said... Because Caitanya Mahaprabhu is maha-vadanyavatara, most munificent incarnation to reclaim all the fallen souls. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. So the guru's business is to make everyone a bhagyavan, fortunate. That is guru's business. The guru's business is... They are so much sympathetic that one can get Krsna consciousness if he is fortunate. So guru's labor, guru's activity, is how to make people fortunate. That is wanted. Because without being fortunate one cannot understand Krsna. And without Krsna consciousness he cannot be relieved from this avidya-karma-samjna-sakti, material nature. Therefore it is the business of guru to make everyone fortunate. So how he can make everyone fortunate? That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that amara ajnaya guru hana. You follow the principles of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction first of all. Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. You just take their mercy. Then you become guru. And then what is your business? His business is yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. So guru-krsna. Guru makes the people fortunate, and then the people become Krsna conscious, and then he becomes fortunate. This is the process of Krsna consciousness movement. Everyone is advised to become guru. Especially those who are born in India. They can easily take the Krsna consciousness movement because in the blood there is Krsna consciousness on account of taking birth in this holy land of Bharatavarsa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says,

bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haile jara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
 [Cc. Adi 9.41]

 This is the business.

So every Indian is expected to take this Krsna consciousness movement and spread it outside India. There are many people who are hankering after it. It is the duty of every Indian to first of all get himself out of these clutches of avidya-karma-samjna-ignorance and whole day and night working like hogs and dogs. One has to become free from these clutches of maya, and then he must undergo tapasya. There is no difficulty. This tapasya is that you have to give up the four principles: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling. This is tapasya. It is not that you have to go to the forest or Himalayan mountain and enter into a cave and press your nose and... No, that is not possible. You simply practice. Wherever you are, you simply practice this tapasya -- no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling and no meat-eating. Then you become perfect. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattva [SB 5.5.1]. "This tapasya? Can we do that?" You can do it very easily. It is not said "No sex," but "No illicit sex." That is very sinful. Therefore one has to get himself married. That is allowed. But no illicit sex. No meat-eating. Why one should eat meat? There are so many nice things given by Krsna, so many fruits, so many nice food grains. We can eat many palatable dishes mixed with milk. Take milk from the cows. Therefore Krsna advises, go-raksya. Without milk you will eat all rubbish things like hogs and dogs, and your life will be spoiled. Everything is there, practical. But avidya, on account of our ignorance, foolishness, rascaldom, we are avoiding this krsna-upadesa and suffering. Be saved from suffering and be happy by Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- Bombay, November 24, 1975

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Association of Devotees

Association of Devotees

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.24
Bombay, November 24, 1974

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Nitai: "O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are freed from all attachment. You must seek attachment unto such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment."

Prabhupada:

ta ete sadhavah sadhvi
sarva-sanga-vivarjitah
sangas tesv atha te prarthyah
sanga-dosa-hara hi te
 [SB 3.25.24]

So at our present moment we are sanga-dosa-yukta, we are contaminated by the attachment of modes of material nature. Some of us contaminated by the sattva-guna, some of us are contaminated by the rajo-guna, and some of us is contaminated by the tamo-guna, and some of us is contaminated by the tamo-guna. So out of the three, the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is very dangerous. Rajas-tamo-bhavah [SB 1.2.19]. Rajo-guna and tamo-guna means kama-lobhadayas ca ye, to be contaminated by lusty desires and greediness. So one has to overcome in the beginning, at least, the contamination by rajo-guna and tamo-guna. At the present moment, especially in this age, the contamination of tamo-guna is very prominent, and little rajo-guna also, but sattva-guna is practically nil in this age, Kali-yuga. It is said in the sastra that sattva-guna will be practically nil. Rajas-tamah. And the aim of life is to become free from all the contaminations, even sattva-guna contamination. This has been explained in the Bhagavad-gita very nicely in the Fourteenth Chapter, how to become not contaminated, disinfected.

So here Kapiladeva advises that "Mother, if you want to be disinfected, uncontaminated by this material nature, then you associate with sadhu." That was the beginning.

prasangam ajaram pasam
atmanah kavayo viduh
sa eva sadhusu krto
moksa-dvaram apavrtam

This was the beginning, how to become uncontaminated. We have got some attachment to the material modes of nature. That is the cause of our bondage. Now, if we want to be free from this bondage, uncontaminated, then the same attachment should be transferred to the sadhu. Sa eva sadhusu krtah, the same attachment. Everyone has got attachment. Nobody is free of attachment. The Mayavadi philosophy, they say that "Stop this attachment." The Buddha philosophy says that "Make this attachment zero." This is also a little advancement, but it is not possible to make our attachment zero. That is not possible. Therefore Bhagavan says in the Bhagavad..., param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. Just like a child has got attachment for playing, and gradually, his attachment should be transferred for reading, going to school, education. But if you stop his attachment, then he will become mad. You must give something. Param drstva nivartate. Just like we are. To the Western devotees, we are advising them -- at least, those who are accepted as our disciples, they must -- no meat-eating. They are accustomed to meat-eating, but that how this meat-eating has been stopped? We have given them nice things, kacuris, srngara, rasagulla. So they have given up meat-eating. So you must give something more palatable. Then detachment will be possible. First of all nullify the attachment, and then give him better attachment. Then he will forget. Param drstva nivartate. You cannot force a living entity by force. Gradually... The same example: a child has got attachment, but by some system, its attachment is turned over.

So similarly, our consciousness is there. Somehow or other, it is now contaminated. So gradually, this contaminated consciousness has to be purified, and then Krsna consciousness automatically will arise, will be awakened, because the Krsna consciousness is original consciousness. Somehow or other, it is now covered by material attachment. So how to give up this material attachment and become attached to Krsna, developing Krsna attachment? The process is sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. That is... Sa eva sadhusu krtah moksa-dvaram apavrtam. We have got so many attachment for so many things in the material world, and if you simply... You cannot make it zero; that is not possible. You have to purify. Just like if there is some disease in the eyes, if you simply say, "Pluck it out," that is not treatment. Treatment is: you must remove the disease. If there is cataract, by some way or other, then your eyesight will be revived. Similarly, we have got desires, we have got kama, krodha, lobha, moha, matsarya. These are there. But you have to divert these things for Krsna's service. Kamah krsna-karmarpane. Just like we have got very much attachment toward doing business, for earning money and become very happy. So Krsna says, "Yes, you can do business. There is no harm. But you give Me the result." Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi, kurusva tad mad-arpanam [Bg. 9.27]. He does not say that you have to do something particular. Of course, bhakta, bhakti, but one who is not accepting bhakti cult immediately, to him Krsna says, "All right, never mind. Whatever you do, that's all right." Yat karosi. He does not say that "Do this." Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi. "Try to give it to Me."

That is the beginning of bhakti-yoga. If you do business and you earn money and spend it for Krsna consciousness, that is also bhakti. That is also bhakti. Just like vivid example is Arjuna. Arjuna is a fighter, and by fighting, he became a devotee; not by chanting Hare Krsna, but by fighting. Krsna advised him to fight. He was, rather, because he was a Vaisnava, he was not willing to fight, to kill. Vaisnava does not like to kill. But if there is necessity... Just like Arjuna had to kill. That is by the order of Krsna, not by his own will. By his own will, Krsna did..., Arjuna did not like to kill, to fight. That is Vaisnava's natural instinct. He does not wish to do harm or to kill anybody. But when a Vaisnava knows that Krsna wants it, he doesn't care for his own consideration. "Never mind." That is practical example, Krsna.

So similarly, sva-karmana tam abhyarcya [Bg. 18.46]. Everyone has got his some particular duty, occupation. If, by executing your occupational duty, you worship Krsna, then your life is perfect. That is the instruction given in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Naimisaranya.

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varnasrama-vibhagasah
svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam
 [SB 1.2.13]

Atah pumbhir dvija-sresthah. Pumbhih, by person. Everyone is engaged in some occupational duty. Formerly it was the varnasrama: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, and brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasi. Everyone has got some particular duty according to his position. Now, the different occupational duties have expanded. It doesn't matter. If you are engineer, if you are medical man, if you are something else, it doesn't matter. Sva-karmana tam abhyarcya [Bg. 18.46]. But try to serve Krsna by the result of your work. That is bhakti. That we have to learn. Our Krsna consciousness movement does not mean that we are going to stop all activities. No, this is not our mission. You be engaged in your activities, but don't forget Krsna. This is our mission. Be always Krsna conscious.

Therefore Krsna says... How to become Krsna conscious? Yat karosi: "Whatever you do," kurusva tad mad-arpanam: "the result you give Me." Then it will be Krsna consciousness. You always think that you are doing for Krsna. Of course, by the order of Krsna or by His representative, not whimsically. If you do something nonsense and if you think that "I am doing for Krsna," that will not be accepted. It must be verified by the acceptance of Krsna and Krsna's..., or Krsna's representative. Arjuna did not fight without Krsna's order. Therefore we must receive the order. If we say that "We do not find Krsna. How shall I...?" then Krsna's representative. That is sadhu. The Krsna's representative is sadhu. Therefore Kapiladeva is advising herewith that "You, mother, you associate with sadhus." Ete sadhavah.

He has described the symptoms of sadhu. By the last three, four slokas, he has described what is the symptom. Everything should be accepted by the symptom, characteristic. Not that anyone will come: "I am a sadhu." No. We must know by the characteristic of sadhu. That has been described. Similarly, incarnation of God, not that anyone will come and say, "I am incarnation of God." That will not be accepted. We have to see the characteristics of God as they are stated in the sastra, then we can accept somebody as God by uncommon quality.

So apart from God, now our present problem is that we are entangled by the infection of material qualities, rajas-tamo-bhavah [SB 1.2.19] especially. Kama-lobhadayas ca ye, ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati. We have to conquer over the quality, the infection of quality of rajas-tamah, and then we have to situate ourself in sattva-guna. Then we are in the safe position. And if we do not allow to be infected again by the rajo-guna and tamo-guna, if we keep ourself purely in sattva-guna, that is called suddha-sattva, simply purified sattva-guna. Then we will be able to understand what is Krsna, what is God. So not only we have to acquire the qualities of sattva-guna, satyam samah saucah arjavam titiksa, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam... [Bg. 18.42]. These are the characteristic of sattva-guna: truthful... So much so truthful that, as they are stated by the commentators, that even an enemy asks some secret from you, you can say. Suppose a thief has come: "Now, what you have got in your box?" So if you say, "I have got so many thousands of rupees" or "hundreds," truthfulness should be like that. Even to your enemy it should be disclosed. That is called truthfulness. Satyam samah damah saucah, cleanliness. Then controlling the mind, controlling the senses, and simplicity, very simple in behavior, arjava; titiksa, tolerance; and full knowledge; vijnanam, practical application of knowledge; astikyam, full faith in Vedic literature and in God. These are the qualification of sattva-guna.

So everything can be attained very nicely and easily simply by this sadhu-sanga. Sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. Therefore we repeatedly say that we are trying to create some sadhu so that in different parts of the world they will preach Krsna consciousness, and people will be able to associate with them, and they will become purified. This is Krsna consciousness movement, that sadhu-sanga. It is very essential. People are suffering on account of being contaminated by the tamo-guna and rajo-guna, becoming entangled simply by lusty desires always, just like cats and dogs. So they are becoming more and more entangled. Unfortunately, they do not know that there is life after death, but they do not know what kind of life is going to happen next after death. They are blind, andha. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. The leaders are also blind.>>> ... <<

So this is our position, and the human life is the opportunity to stop this dehantara. And to stop this dehantara, that is the main business. And how it can be done? Simply by understanding Krsna. And how you can understand Krsna? Simply by association of the devotees. That's all. It is not very difficult. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. Rupa Gosvami says. If you get some faith, "Now I shall become free from this material attachment," then, as it is advised here, sa eva sadhusu krtah. The attachment we have got for material enjoyment -- similar attachment should be for the sadhu, that's all. Suppose I want to drink. As I become mad without getting any drinking, similarly, when you become mad without sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83], then you are liberated. You have to simply divert the attachment. Not to speak of drinking, even those who are smoker, if he cannot smoke for one hour, his throat becomes dried up, "Give me bidi. Give me bidi." So as you have got attachment for the bidi, similar attachment for sadhu will be our liberation. Tat krtah sadhusu. That is to be learned. That you can learn with sadhu-sanga, if you mix with the sadhus. Therefore our mission is if we can create some sadhu and they distribute themself all over the world... As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

He wants that in every village, every town of the whole world, there may be a center of Krsna consciousness so that people will take advantage of it and they will also become sadhu. This is the mission of Krsna consciousness.

So the sadhus have been described in different way:

titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
 [SB 3.25.21]

We have discussed these verses. A sadhu... Because everything you want to learn, you have to take some penance voluntarily, so we have to give up something in the beginning. Just like we advise, "No illicit sex, no intoxication, even up to smoking bidi and taking tea." So one who is accustomed to these habits, for him to give up immediately these things, it becomes a little painful. Therefore one has to become tolerant, "Never mind. I will have to become free." Just like to become cured from some disease, we agree to undergo surgical operation although it is very painful, tolerate; similarly, we have to learn toleration although there will be some pain. That is called titiksavah.

At the same time we have to become karunikah, taking compassion on the fallen souls. We have to go from country to country, town to town, city to city, village to village, to enlighten them to become Krsna conscious. That is sadhu's duty. Those who are preachers, they are better sadhu than those who have gone to Himalaya. The sadhus who have gone to Himalaya for his personal benefit, that is also good, but those sadhus who are preaching and facing so many difficulties, so many opposing elements, they are better sadhu. They are better sadhu. They are fighting for Krsna's sake. So karunikah. Because they are more compassionate. One sadhu has gone to Himalaya, sitting there in a secluded place not to be bothered by any asadhu. That is also nice, but that is personal interest. But those sadhus are not gone to Himalaya but have left Vrndavana, easy life, and gone to fight to the world, they are better sadhu. That is the opinion of Krsna. Ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati [Bg 18.68]. Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. Those who are preaching the message of Bhagavad-gita, facing many opposing elements, many difficulties, Krsna says, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: [Bg. 18.69] "Nobody is dearer than him."

So if you want to become very quickly under the recognition of Krsna, then every one of you become a preacher of Krsna consciousness. That is the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
 [Cc. Adi 9.41]

And in India everybody is conscious of Krsna. Somebody... I am asked in foreign countries, "How many Krsna conscious people are there in India?" That "India... In India the cent percent, they are Krsna conscious. Unfortunately they have artificially covered that by the so-called blind leaders." Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. The leaders are advising them, "What is the use of becoming Krsna conscious? Now you become technical conscious." So no, that will not make us happy. We have to become Krsna conscious, especially in India, because he has got his birth in India for developing Krsna consciousness. So we should not give up this opportunity. Not only that, we shall become fully Krsna conscious, and we shall go out, outside India, to preach Krsna consciousness movement. That is para-upakara. That is the best welfare activities in the human society. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. Of course, He expected from the human being, not from the cats and dogs.

So sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83] is so essential. And sadhu's symptoms are described. And suhrdah. Suhrdah. We have already explained. Suhrdah means well-wisher for everyone. His heart is full of well-wishing for everyone. "Everyone" means for Indians, nationals? No, sarva-dehinam. Sarva-dehinam, all bodies, even for the cats and dogs. A devotee wishes welfare even of the cats and dogs by giving him prasadam: "Take little prasadam." So the dog will be also... There is an instance during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time. Devotees from Bengal were going to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and on the way a dog also began to follow them. So the leader of the party, Sivananda Sena, he was also giving food, prasadam, to the dog, and they had to cross one river, and the boatman would not take the dog. Sivananda Sena paid him some more money, that "You take the dog." This is Vaisnava, that "This dog has taken our company. He is going with us. How I can leave him behind?" So he paid more money: "Please take this dog." This is called suhrdah sarva-dehinam [SB 3.25.21]. And the dog was emancipated. He went to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he was sitting as dog, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was eating something and throwing it to the dog. In this way, the dog got Vaikuntha. This is Krsna consciousness movement, that this consciousness, this sympathy for everyone, can dispatch even a dog to Vaikuntha. Suhrdah sarva-dehinam.

Ajata-satravah: A Vaisnava is not enemy of anyone, ajata-satravah santah, always peaceful. Sadhavah sadhu. This is the first, preliminary symptoms of a sadhu. The next? Mayy ananyena bhavena: "simply attached to Krsna," ananyena bhavena. These are the external, and these are internal. Ananyena bhavena bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham. Simply as Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], so a devotee, a pure devotee, is simply attached to Krsna. They are not dis... A devotee is not disrespectful to other demigods. That is a mistake, that "These Krsna devotees, they do not care for other demigods." No. A Krsna devotee cares for the other demigods very rightly because he knows what is the position of the other demigods in comparison to Krsna. Just like Durga, Goddess Durga. In the Brahma-samhita the goddess Durga is worshiped. In which way? Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. Mother Durga is the external energy, or potency, of Krsna, and she is so powerful that srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana, she can create, she can maintain, and she can annihilate, or bring devastation. She is so powerful. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka [Bs. 5.44]. And mother Durga is so powerful alone. Chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga: "But she is acting not independently, but like the shadow," chayeva. Chayeva yasya bibharti bhuvanani: by the indication of Krsna. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita also: mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10].

So don't think that this material energy is working independently. She is working under the direction of Krsna. So a devotee knows this. Just like a policeman is working. A sane man knows that he is working not independently, but under the government order. This knowledge required, not that that because policeman has got some power, he becomes God. No. God is not so cheap. You can accept... Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. God has got multi-energies. One of the energies is Durga, not that she is all in all, no. There are many millions of Durgas, many millions of Sivas, because there are many millions of universes. Just like many millions of police force, similarly, these demigods, there are many, many millions. But God is one. God is not million. Of course, He can expand in million forms; that is different thing. Svamsa, vibhinnamsa.

So this devotee offers respect to the demigods as the assistant or energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not as the supreme power. That is the difference. And one who does not know what is God, they take these demigods as supreme. They are less intelligent. So therefore a devotees offer respect to the demigods, but he knows that Supreme Lord is Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Therefore, mayy ananyena bhavena bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham. Drdha-vrata. Bhajante mam drdha-vratah, Bhagavad-gita.

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
 [Bg. 9.13]

Ananya-bhavena. They... It is not that they disrespect demigod; they give proper respect to everyone. What to the demigods? Even to the ant.

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

Amanina. Everyone is given respect by Vaisnava. Mat-krte tyakta-karmanas tyakta-svajana-bandhavah. But they are ready to give up family, relatives, everything. Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Mat-krte, only for Krsna's sake, they can... This is sadhu. Then what is their business, activities? Mad-asrayah katha mrstah. They simply take pleasure in talking about Krsna. They simply take pleasure, srnvanti kathayanti ca, by hearing about Krsna. We have got so many things to hear about Krsna, how Krsna is fighting, how Krsna is killing the demons, how Krsna is behaving with the gopis, how Krsna is playing as a cowherd boy, so many things we have got. Therefore Krsna has given us so many literature. If you simply hear and talk about Krsna... We are translating all these books about krsna-katha. Already there are about one and half a dozen books, big, big books. We have to publish sixty books like that, simply about Krsna, simply about Krsna, apart from Bhagavad-gita. So we can read. Srnvatam kathayanti, srnvanti kathayanti. So we have got enough to become sadhu if you simply hear about Krsna and speak about Krsna. Tapanti vividhas tapa naitan mad-gata-cetasah. The immediate relief will be that we shall be saved from the sufferings of this material condition of life.

So these are the symptoms of sadhu, and Kapiladeva is summarizing, "Mother," ta ete sadhavah sadhvi sarva-sanga-vivarjitah, "these symptoms are visible when one has no more any material attachment." Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is sadhu, no more designation, "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am American" -- these devotees, they have got no such conception. They are... Every one of them is thinking, "I am servant of Krsna." This is called sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam. These are upadhi. Even this varnasrama, that is also... "I am sannyasi," "I am grhastha," "I am vanaprastha." Caitanya Mahaprabhu has rejected all these things. Naham vipro na ca nara-patih: "I am neither brahmana, nor ksatriya, nor vaisya, nor sudra." Then what You are? Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah: [Cc. Madhya 13.80] "This is My position." This is called sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], no more designation.

So if we become no more designation, then immediately the whole world becomes Vaikuntha. We are fighting -- "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am German." The whole disturbance is there. "This is my land. This is your land." The whole world is doing. As soon as they become Krsna conscious, immediately this hellish world become Vaikuntha, immediately, tat-ksanat. Simply one has to learn.

So such important movement we should take very seriously and try to spread it all world wide. That will be the best service to the human society.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.24 -- Bombay, November 24, 1974

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