The Mental Culture of Krsna Consciousness

72/10/29 Vrndavana

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Pradyumna: (reading) "...may be divided into two classes: one class may be for achieving a certain goal, and the other may be for avoiding some unfavorable circumstances. In Sanskrit these activities are called pravrtti and nirvrtti, positive and negative action. There are many examples of negative action. For example, a diseased person has to be cautious and take medicine in order to avoid some unfavorable illness. Those who are cultivating spiritual life and executing devotional service are always engaged in activity. Such activity can be performed with the mind or with the, with the body or with the mind. Thinking, feeling and willing are all activities of the mind, and when we will do something, the activity comes to be manifest by the gross bodily senses. Thus, in our mental activities, we should always try to think of Krsna and try to plan how to please Him, following in the footsteps of the great acaryas and the personal spiritual master. There are activities of the body, activities of the different senses, and activities of speech. A Krsna conscious person engages his words in preaching the glories of the Lord. This is called kirtana. And by his mind a Krsna conscious person always thinks of the activities of the Lord as He is speaking on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra or engaging in His various pastimes at Vrndavana with His devotees. In this way, one can always think of the activities and pastimes of the Lord. This is the mental culture of Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: So Krsna consciousness is not inactivity. This we have discussed yesterday. Actually the activity is being influenced by the soul. But it is being expressed through intelligence, mind and body. The activities are coming from the spiritual platform, but because it is now contaminated by the material coverings, the activities are not very adjusted. Diseased activities. The thinking, feeling, and willing... This thinking, feeling, and willing now polluted on account of material coverings. Therefore we have to revert to the thinking, feeling, and willing by Krsna consciousness. As it is explained here, that we shall always think of Krsna's activities, we shall always feel for satisfying Krsna, and we shall always will to enact as He desires.

The same feeling... Nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe yukta-vairagyam ucyate. Srila Rupa Gosvami has given us two formulas how to become Krsna consciousness, or how to remain in Krsna consciousness. So one formula is that anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. You should not be attached to the visayas. Just like we have got a tendency to construct a skyscraper building. As in your country, you do. So you should not attached to the skyscraper building, but you can utilize the tendency by constructing a big temple like skyscraper for Krsna. In this way, you have to purify your material activities.

Actually in pure Krsna consciousness there is nothing material. I have several times explained. Material activities means activities without Krsna consciousness. That is material activity. Just like we are speaking through this microphone. We do not reject it as material. We take it as spiritual. Because it is being used in spreading Krsna consciousness. Anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. Yatha arhati, as it deserves. Because this microphone is made of material elements, earth, water, fire, air... But this, if we remember that these material energies, earth, water, air, fire, sky, even mind, intelligence, ego... Prakrti me, prakrti me bhinna astadha. They're also energies of Krsna. They're not separate from Krsna. Therefore if Krsna is spirit, then these so-called material elements, they are also spirit. But it is used as material because we do not remember the relationship of these material elements with Krsna. Therefore the conclusion is when we are forgetful of Krsna, then it is material. Otherwise, there is nothing as material. Everything is spiritual. Because brahmanah sakti.

It is described in the Visnu Purana. Eka-desa sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha, sarvedam brahmanah sakti... I just don't remember the whole verse. So everything, this is sakti-parinama-vada. Sakti-parinama-vada. Everything... Sarvam khalu idam brahma. Everything that we experience, that is manifestation of the energy of Krsna. Sarvedam akhilam jagat. Brahmanah sakti. Sakti and saktiman, they are not different. So if we accept everything as expansion of brahmanah sakti, energy of Krsna, and utilize it for Krsna, then there is nothing, such thing as material. Everything becomes spiritual. So if we think in that way, thinking, feeling, and willing, if we utilize our psychological activities in Krsna consciousness, then we keep steady in attached with Krsna. Yukta-vairagyam ucyate. Vairagya means renunciation. We do not require to renounce anything, provided we see everything dovetailed in Krsna consciousness. That is required. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Similarly, we can offer many services with our bodily activities, but all such activities must be in relationship with Krsna. This relationship is established by connecting oneself with the bona fide spiritual master who is the direct representative of Krsna in disciplic succession. Therefore the execution of Krsna consciousness activities with the body should be directed by the spiritual master and then performed with faith."

Prabhupada: Yes. We should not manufacture in our own way that: "This is Krsna's activity." It must be confirmed by the spiritual master. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained in his comment on Bhagavad-gita in connection with the verse vyavasayatmika-buddhih ekeha kuru-nandana... Vyavasayatmika-buddhih, niscayatmika-buddhih. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that "Whatever order I get from my spiritual master, that is my life and soul. I must execute it thoroughly, without caring for my personal convenience or inconvenience. That is called vyavasayatmika-buddhi." Eka. We cannot manufacture anything as Krsna conscious activities, but we must be ready always to carry out the order of spiritual master who is representative of Krsna. Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastrair **. The spiritual master is recognized as the bona fide representative of Krsna. Saksad dharitvena. Therefore he should be offered respect as good as to Krsna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado **. And if we can please our spiritual master, then we please Krsna.

Just... Somebody says that "Krsna appeared five thousand years ago. He's no longer present. Then how we shall execute Krsna's order?" Krsna's order can be executed by executing the order of the spiritual master. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado **. We cannot disobey. Yasyaprasadad na gatih kuto 'pi. This is the process. In Caitanya-caritamrta it has been very extensively explained what is the position of the spiritual master. But at the same time, the spiritual master does not accept himself as he's God or Krsna like the Mayavadis. No. the bona fide spiritual master always thinks of himself as the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayoh dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Not that "Because my disciples accept me as good as Krsna, and because my disciples offer me respect exactly he offers respect to Krsna..." That does not mean I am Krsna. I am servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. This is the position. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The connection with the spiritual master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection between Krsna and a person cultivating Krsna consciousness is established. Without initiation by a bona fide spiritual master, the actual connection with Krsna consciousness is never performed."

Prabhupada: Yes. We must connect with the current. Just like you have heated your room with electrical wires, but if you do not touch it with the current going on, then simply electrical heating with not help you. Similarly, initiation is essential. Adau gurvasrayam. Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu for executing proper spiritual life, one must take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Person who is actually interested in uttamam. Uttamam means transcendental. Udgata-tamam. After darkness. This material world is darkness. Tamasi ma jyotir gamah. The spiritual world is full of light. Therefore anything spiritual, that is called uttamam. There...

Krsna's another name is Uttama-sloka. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naistiki. Krsna does not belong to this material world. Only the fools and rascals, they think of Krsna having material body. Avajananti mam mudhah manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Krsna is always in His spiritual body, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Similarly, if we establish our bona fide relationship with the spiritual master, representative of Krsna, immediately our connection with Krsna becomes established. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The cultivation of Krsna consciousness is not material. The Lord has generally three energies, namely, the external energy, the internal energy, and the marginal energy. The living entities are called marginal energy and the material cosmic manifestation is the action of the external or material energy. Then..."

Prabhupada: So parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. The Supreme Absolute Truth, Personality of Godhead, has got innumerable, multi-energies. Out of that, learned scholars, devotees, they have divided the whole energy into three, external, internal, and marginal. So the living entities, they are production of the marginal energy. The living entity is energy, prakrti. Not the purusa. Purusa is Krsna. We are all prakrtis, all living entities. Prakrti means predominated, and purusa means predominator. Just like we see, ordinarily, husband and wife, the husband is predominator and the wife is predominated. Although there is no difference between husband and wife. They are one, divided into two. Similarly, prakrti and purusa, they are one. They are not two.

It is explained by Svarupa Damodara: radha-krsna-prakr..., pranaya-vikrtir hladini saktir asmad ekatmanav api pura deha-bhedo gatau tau. Radha-Krsna, They are one. But, although They are one, They bifurcated Themselves as Radha and Krsna. So there is no difference between Radha and Krsna. Radha is the superior energy, or spiritual energy. And Krsna is the energetic. Similarly, this material world is external energy. Similarly, the living entities, they're marginal energy, between the external and internal energy. The living entities are called marginal energy because the living energy has to act under another energy, that either material energy or spiritual energy. So when the living entity is under spiritual energy, that is his normal condition, and when he's under the material energy, that is his abnormal condition. We should always remember. Material energy means forgetfulness of Krsna. Just like in this material world, everything is there, but it is lacking in Krsna consciousness. You travel all over the world, you'll see there is profuse arrangement of sense gratification, but there is no arrangement for understanding Krsna. This is called material energy. But if you bring in Krsna in the so-called material energy, it becomes spiritual energy.

Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is awakening that spiritual energy of the living entity. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. The mahatma and duratma. What is the difference? The difference is the duratma is under the influence of external energy. Bahir-artha-maninah. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. When we are too much engrossed with the concept of bodily life, "I am this body," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am brahmana," "I am ksatriya," when we are influenced by the bodily concept of life, that is called material energy. And when we are influenced by the spiritual energy, we always think that "I am servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna." Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayoh dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Naham vipro na ca nara-patir. "I am neither brahmana or ksatriya or vaisya and sudra or sannyasi or brahmacari." This, this is a verse given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He denies any material designation, and He informs us also that jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. When we feel actually that "I am eternal servant of Krsna," that is our liberation. Hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih [SB 2.10.6]. This is svarupa. When you are existing as servant of Krsna, then you are mukta, liberated. You haven't got to endeavor separately for becoming free or liberated. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Then there is the spiritual world, which is a manifestation of the internal energy. The living entities who are called marginal energies, energy, perform material activities when acting under the inferior, external energy. And when they engage in activities under the internal, spiritual energy, their activities are called Krsna conscious. This means that those who are great souls, or great devotees, do not act under the spell of material energy, but act instead under the protection of the spiritual energy."

Prabhupada: Hmm. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. They do not act under the influence... Ordinary persons, they see that "Devotees are acting like us." No. Their activities are under the influence of spiritual energy. It, it, it looks similar like the karmis, jnanis, but bhaktas are different from karmis and jnanis. Jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. They are not influenced by the tenets of jnana and karma. They are influenced by activities which can satisfy Krsna. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anusilanam activities, culture. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. So they are simply engaged in Krsna activities. Although it looks similar to the ordinary activities. Therefore they misunderstand. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is fighting and another soldier is fighting the other side. But Arjuna's activities as soldier is devotional service. Because he's trying to please Krsna. Other side, they're fighting for their own interest, how to become victorious and take up the kingdom. That was their idea. Here, Arjuna, he did not like to fight, but when he understood that "Krsna desires this fighting," he engaged in it. Therefore his fighting was to satisfy Krsna, not to satisfy his senses. As it is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta, to satisfy one's own senses, that is called kama, and to satisfy the senses of Krsna, that is called prema. That is the difference. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Any activities done in devotional service or in Krsna consciousness are directly under the control of spiritual energy. In other words, energy is a sort of strength and this strength can be..."

Prabhupada: This is spiritual energy. Just like Arjuna is fighting. That energy is inspired by Krsna. So Arjuna took it, "I must fight. Krsna wants it. I must satisfy Krsna." This is spiritual energy. Just see. The other party, they are also fighting in the same energy, but they have no Krsna consciousness. So to act in Krsna consciousness is nothing wonderful. Simply you have to divert the energy for Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. Everyone has got energy, but when it is enacted for one's sense gratification, that is material. And when it is enacted for the satisfaction of Krsna, that is spiritual. Try to understand the difference between material and spiritual. Go on.
Pradyumna: "In other words, energy is a sort of strength, and this strength can be spiritualized by the mercy of both the bona fide spiritual master and Krsna."

Prabhupada: Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. We have to acquire this energy through the mercy of guru and Krsna. So Krsna is within as caitya-guru, and when we are serious He comes out as the spiritual master. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru. So there is no difference between siksa-guru and diksa-guru and Krsna. Krsna manifests Himself externally as siksa-guru and diksa-guru. Go on.

Pradyumna: "In the Caitanya-caritamrta by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami..."

Prabhupada: (Hindi)

Pradyumna: "...Lord Caitanya states that it is a fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. One who is serious about spiritual life is given by Krsna the intelligence to come in contact with a bona fide spiritual master, and then, by the grace of the spiritual master, one becomes advanced in Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is the statement in the Caitanya-caritamrta.

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

We are wandering in different species of life in different planets. Brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva. Not all, fortunate. One must be very much fortunate to come in contact with Krsna and guru. So how that fortunate becomes possible? It is called ajnata-sukrti. Sukrti and duskrti, these two words are used in Bhagavad-gita. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. There is the word, duskrti. And sukrti. Catur-vidha bhajanti mam sukrti 'rjuna. So this sukrti, this fortune, there is a chance which is called ajnata-sukrti. Ajnata-sukrti means just like Krsna's representative is preaching all over the world, and if somebody comes in contact with that representative of Krsna, and satisfies him, he acquires some ajnata-sukrti. This is called ajnata-sukrti. He does not know what spiritual benefit he's achieving by serving the representative of Krsna. He does not know. But he acquires it imperceptibly. This is called ajnata-sukrti. So when ajnata-sukrti is accumulated, then he becomes fortunate. That is called kono bhagyavan jiva.

Just like Sukadeva Gosvami is describing about the cowherd boys who were playing with Krsna.

ittham (satam) brahma-sukhanubhutya
dasyam gatanam para-daivatena
mayasritanam nara-darakena
sakam vijahruh krta-punya-punjah
 [SB 10.12.11]

Krta-punya-punjah. These boys who are playing with Krsna as cowherd boys, they are not ordinary boys. Sukadeva Gosvami says. They are krta-punya-punjah. For many, many lives, they accumulated their pious activities and thus now they have got the association of Krsna to play with Him. Krta-punya-punjah. Similarly, these ajnata-sukrti, when they are accumulated... Just like you deposit in the bank, four annas, two annas. In this way, one day it becomes one hundred rupees. Similarly, these ajnata-sukrti, when they're accumulated, that makes the fortune of a person to associate with guru and Krsna.

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

mali hana sei bija kara aropana
sravana-kirtana-jale karaye...

So bija means seed. Bhakti-lata seed. Bhakti's compared just like a creeper. The creeper does not stand alone. It embraces another tree and then it grows. Similarly, bhakti-lata, bhakti always embraces the lotus feet of Krsna, and then grows. Therefore it is called bhakti-lata. So bhakti-lata-bija. If one is fortunate, by accumulating this imperceptible good activities, by association with devotees, then he gets this bhakti-lata-bija, the seed of bhakti-lata. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, mali hana bija kare aropana. Just like you get some nice seed of rose flower. So if you sow it on the ground, just becoming a nice gardener, and pour water, then it gradually grows. So we have to take the bhakti-lata-bija from the bona fide spiritual master, and sow it within the heart. Taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani sraddha bhaktir anukramisyati. And pour water. Just like simply sowing the seed is not your business is finished. You have to sow, you have to pour water. So what is that pouring water?

mali hana sei bija kare aropana
sravana-kirtana-jale karaye secana
 [Cc. Madhya 19.152]

This is the watering, hearing about Krsna, chanting about Krsna. So you take the bhakti-lata-bija from the spiritual master. That is called initiation. And develop it by pouring water of hearing and chanting. Then it will grow. One day it will grow so big that it will penetrate the walls of this universe. It will go to the spiritual world, and gradually go to the Goloka Vrndavana and catch up the lotus feet of Krsna, and then produce its fruits, and you will enjoy by eating the fruits. Go on. What is the time?
Devotee: Six o'clock Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: All right. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

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Fully Extended Self Interest

Fully Extended Self Interest

Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.7
Vrndavana, October 29, 1976

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Prabhupada: "Even though one may be very learned and wise, he is mad if he does not understand that the endeavor for sense gratification is a useless waste of time. Being forgetful of his own interest, he tries to be happy in the material world, centering his interests around his home, which is based on sexual intercourse and which brings him all kinds of material miseries. In this way one is no better than a foolish animal."

Prabhupada:

yada na pasyaty ayatha guneham
svarthe pramattah sahasa vipascit
gata-smrtir vindati tatra tapan
asadya maithunyam agaram ajnah
 [SB 5.5.7]

So, one has to be vipascit, learned, to understand the interest of life, self-interest. Everyone is working, especially the karmis, the jnanis, the yogis, and mixed devotees, they are working for self-interest. The devotees also, so long there is self, there is self-interest also. So there is little difference, that the devotees, they work for Super-self-interest. There is self, but it is Super-self-interest. And the karmis, jnanis, yogis they work for individual self-interest. Self-interest there must be. That is the difference between lust and prema, or love. It has been defined in the Caitanya-caritamrta, what is the difference between lust and love. It appears almost the same but Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has given a definition very clear, atmendriya-priti-vancha-tare bali 'kama' [Cc. Adi 4.165]. When one is interested for his personal sense gratification, that is called kama or lust, and krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare 'prema' nama, and when one is interested for satisfying the senses of Krsna, that is prema. And the concrete example is there in the Bhagavad-gita, that in the beginning Arjuna was thinking of interest of the family. How can I kill my brother, my nephews, my master, teacher, my grandfather, in terms of his family interest.

There are, for the materialistic person, there are two varieties of self-interest. One is concentrated interest and other is expanded interest. Just like a child, if you give him some foodstuff, a cake, he will immediately eat himself, and if he is little liberal, then his other friends also, he will give. First of all, first is, he wants to eat, and then the other friend, "Oh you are eating, give me something." Alright you also take. So, this is called extended interest and the beginning is self-interest, anna brahma(?), I shall... Self-preservation is the first law of nature. So in our ordinary activities we find the same thing. Suppose a big political leader, in the beginning he is interested with his family, with his family members, but sometimes he takes to national interest, for all members of the country, or the society, community. And then there is fight between one community to another community, one family to another family, one nation to another nation, because that extended self-interest does not make the thing perfect. That extended self-interest must be up to Visnu. Then it will be perfect. But that they do not know, because they have no idea that there is Visnu, the Supreme Lord, or Krsna. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know. They think that I have extended my self-interest to my country, to my family, I have become a big man. And people also give him honor. This we have practical experience but that is extended self-interest. That is not actually philanthropy.

Philanthropy is when one becomes interested in Krsna's interest, that is real philanthropy. Otherwise it is all kama. There is no question of prema. It is going on as prema, desa-bhakti (?), love for humanity. Hm? The whole world is going on, but these are all imperfect things. The so-called philanthropism, altruism, humanitarianism, they are all, means imperfect, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. That is not self-interest. Self-interest... Just like this finger, pick up some nice cake, rasagulla, but if the fingers think that, "We have got it, we shall use it," all the fingers together, it will be spoiled. But if the fingers think that, "Give it to the stomach," then it will be everyone's interest. As soon as the rasagulla goes to the stomach the energy is distributed not only to these fingers of right hand, but left hand fingers also. This law they do not know. This law they do not know. Therefore it is yada na pasyanti, pasyaty ayatha guneham. Everyone is trying communally, nationally, individually, for his or their interest, so that is not good svarthe pramattah. They do not know what is real self-interest.

Yada na pasyaty ayatha guneham svarthe. Everyone should be interested, but svarthe. This is svarthe, that if you get a nice food stuff, if you put to the stomach, then real svarthe. Not only the fingers which have picked up the foodstuff, not only his interested, tasmin tuste jagat tustah. Yatha taror mula, pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam. If you put the foodstuff through this one way, not foolish way, that we have to put the foodstuff within the body. So there are nine holes in the body, this mouth, the eyes, the ears, the genital, the rectum the navel. There are nine holes. If some rascal says that any hole will do, you put the foodstuff through any hole. Sometimes it is done. When one cannot eat, the foodstuff is forced through the body, through the rectum, through the nose. That is very troublesome. But the real process is, one process, you put the foodstuff through the mouth. It must go to the stomach and then the energy will be distributed, everyone will be happy. Similarly, if we serve Krsna, if we abide by the orders of Krsna, and satisfy Him, as He says, Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], that is the perfection of life. If we work otherwise, forgetting Krsna... Here it is said, gata-smrtir vindati tatra tapan. If we forget Krsna, if we make our own plan to satisfy myself, community, society, nation, this is forgetfulness and the result will be, gata-smrtir vindati tatra tapan. You get simply trouble. That is being done, actually. The whole world is forgetfulness of Krsna, or God. Krsna, forgetfulness, and they are making so many plans to become happy but the result is vindati tapan, simply suffering, simply suffering. It will never be successful.

The same example, yatha taror mula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah [SB 4.31.14], the process is that you have to pour water at the root of the tree, then the tree will luxuriantly grow. But if you do not know the process, if you begin watering leaf to leaf, branch to branch, twig to twig, it will be simply waste of time. You can say, "I am pouring water on this leaf, on that leaf, on that..." It will take... You cannot. There are so many leaves in the tree, it is not possible individually, you can do it. But if you put the water, pour the water on the root, it is very easy, and all the leaves, and twigs, and flowers, and fruits, they get nourishment. That is wanted. Yatha taror mula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah, pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam [SB 4.31.14], and by offering food to the stomach, all the indriyas, senses, they become vigorous or strong. Similarly, sarvarhanam acyutejya, if you satisfy Krsna, acyuta ijya, then the whole society, whole community, whole living beings, everyone will be satisfied. If you simply push on this Krsna consciousness movement, then all different activities of the human society will be very, very, nicely performed. Or if you do this nationalism, communism, it will never be perfect.

So we have got example in our country, many countries, not only our country, your country also, that President Kennedy, he was killed. Many other presidents also -- in our country Gandhi was killed -- because in that way, you cannot satisfy everyone. It is not possible. The so called socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism, will never be able to satisfy everyone. That is not possible. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas tesam jata mayi na karuna na trapa nopasantih. These different types of isms, that is simply satisfying different desires. It is not the program.

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

So, that is simply waste of time. The same thing is repeated, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. Durasaya, people are trying to be happy by so many bahir-artha, external desires. Artha, artha means actual interests. And anartha, anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje [SB 1.7.6]. Artha means how to satisfy Krsna, this is artha. It is said, arthadam, arthadam, you can get real interest in this life,

kaumara acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
 [SB 7.6.1]

This human form of life, although adhruvam... Everybody, we cannot continue this body for all the time. It will be ended, dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13], another body. So this is the general rule for all living entities, either dog's body, or hog's body, or man's body. It will not stay, it will not endure. You have to change. Therefore it is called adhruvam. But, the special advantage of this human form of life -- Prahlada Maharaja says -- although it is adhruvam, it will not stay, but arthadam, you can have your real interest fulfilled.

kaumara acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
 [SB 7.6.1]

This we must understand, that although we have got also a body, and the dog has also a body, the same composition ksitir ap marud vyoma, mind, intelligence, and ego. There is no difference. The dog has also mind, and I have got mind, you have got mind. The dog has also intelligence, we have got also intelligence. The dog also can eat, you can also eat. The dog can sleep, you can also sleep. So there is no difference so far the bodily constitution. And superficially, if you cut my body there will be blood, if you cut the body of an animal there will be blood. So, in every respect, so far the material body is concerned, it is the same, either of the human being, or of a small insect. The same construction, physiological and atomical, everything is the same. But the difference is, in other body there is no arthadam, but with the human body there will be arthadam. You can realize your position, you can act accordingly, you can make your life successful. That is the special advantage of this human form of life.

Therefore it is said, yada na pasyaty ayatha guneham. We are struggling, gune, in this material world. Gunamayi. Maya, maya is called gunamayi. Gune means in the maya. Iha, iha means aspiration. So everyone is trying according to different modes of material nature. Everyone is working, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. That is, everything is gune iha. So when one does not become conscious that I am working under the influence of material nature in different status of life, they're all useless. As soon as you see that it is all useless, sahasa vipascit, that is actually enlightenment. So as soon as we find, by the guidance of spiritual master, bona fide spiritual master, by the guidance of Krsna personally, as soon as we come to this understanding, that we are simply wasting our time. Simply wasting our time, srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. When, in the beginning, when I understood the one song of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, maya-jale baddha ho'ye acho miche kaj lo'ye, Bhaktivinoda says, many times he has said,

mayar bose jaccho bhese'
Khaccho habudubu bhai
jiv krsna-das, ei visvas,
korle to' ar duhkho nai

Very instructive, Bhaktivinoda Thakura's songs, very instructive simple, and Narottama dasa Thakura's. So,

hari hari biphale janama gonainu
manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya,
janiya suniya bisa khainu

Regretting, lamenting, my Lord I got this human form of life. Unfortunately I have simply wasted. Why? Radha-krsna na bhajiya manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya. It is exactly like drinking poison knowingly. Sometimes we become poisonous unknowingly. Sometimes food poison or something poison. But if one takes poison knowingly, that means he's killing himself. He knows it. Similarly, in this human form of life, if we do not come to this understanding sahasa vipascit, that without Krsna consciousness, I am simply taking poison, then his life is spoiled, gata-smrtir vindati tatra tapan. He will simply be put into miserable condition. That is the nature's way, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya dur... [Bg. 7.14]. You cannot escape the stringent laws of material nature. You will go on suffering, suffering. Mrtyu-samsara vartmani [Bg. 9.3]. You will suffer again and again this body and next body, next body. That is nature's way. But ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. These rascals, on account of false prestige, false knowledge, false education, he is thinking that I am independent, I can do what ever I like. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham [Bg. 3.27], we have to give up this, then vipascit, sahasa vipascit. Otherwise we have to continue the miserable condition of life. Gata-smrtih, because we have forgotten our real position.

What is our position? Our position is as described by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Our real position is that I am eternal servant of Krsna. So gata-smrtih, I have forgotten that. And therefore, bhuliya tomare samsare asiya peye nana-vidha byatha. Bhaktivinoda Thakura's song, "My Lord, forgetting You I came in this material world. I am simply suffering." Peye nana-vidha byatha. These... The same thing is there in the Vedic literature, the same thing is instructed by the advanced, enlightened, liberated devotee. The same thing. This forgetfulness. We have forgotten what is our position. Temporarily, because I have got this body in India, I am thinking, "I am Indian, so my interest is Indian." And somebody is thinking, "My interest is American," "My interest is brahmana," "My interest is sudra," "My interest is this, that." We have created so many interests. That has to be rectified.

vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo 'vyavasayinam
 [Bg. 2.41]

Be business-like. People say talk business-like. Why you are talking nonsense? So Krsna says, "Yes." For business man there is one interest, real businessman. Vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who is actually interested in business-like way to make some profit arthadam, then there is only interest is how to become Krsna conscious. Otherwise you will manufacture so many interests. Bahu-sakha hy anantas ca buddhayo 'vyavasayinam. One who is not actually businessman, he is a rascal, he creates so many branches of different interests. The only one interest is how to satisfy Krsna. This is our only business. But forgetting this business, gata-smrtir vindati tatra tapan. Whatever business we are doing, we are simply suffering. Tapan asadya, he is actually tasting miserable condition. Then how they are working? This is the conclusion of this verse, how they are being baffled in every stage, and how they are working so hard.

We see people are working so hard, day and night. They go to business, or go to office, from morning 5:00 up to ten o'clock at night, they work. You will see in big, big cities, how they are going by the daily, passengers how they are hanging in the buses, going. Why? Why they are working so hard? It is not very simple thing. Why they are working so hard? The answer is maithuna, sex indulgence, that's all. They have no other happiness except that sex intercourse at night, he will enjoy. Therefore he is working so hard. Otherwise there is no other happiness. Everything is zero. The only positive happiness, he's thinking like that. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham [SB 7.9.45]. That is the only happiness, there is no secrecy. The people are working so hard, simply maithunyam agaram. It is a prison house, agaram. Agaram means packed up, shackled with iron chains, and the only happiness is maithunyam agaram. And this is only abominable, tuccham. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. So how he has accepted this lowest class of happiness as the aim of life? Ajnah, rascal. The conclusion is ajnah. So don't become ajnah, be intelligent. And krsna yei bhaje, sei bada catura. Don't be rascal, don't remain as... Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.7 -- Vrndavana, October 29, 1976

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Krishna's Impression in Heart

Krishna's Impression in Heart

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.19
Nairobi, October 29, 1975

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Harikesa: "Thus always merged in devotional service, the yogi visualizes the Lord standing, moving, lying down or sitting within him, for the pastimes of the Supreme Lord are always beautiful and attractive."

Prabhupada:

sthitam vrajantam asinam
sayanam va guhasayam
preksaniyehitam dhyayec
chuddha-bhavena cetasa
 [SB 3.28.19]

This is meditation. These hatha-yogis, they meditate in their impersonal feature, but our meditation, Vaisnava, devotees' meditation is very easy. For the hatha-yogis, they have to select place, asana. Dhyana, dharana, asana... Asana is also one of the activities. But here, in Vaisnava philosophy, you are seeing the Deity always, at least daily, so you have got some impression that "Our temple Deity is like this." That impression, either you are sitting in one place without any activities, sthitam vrajantam... While walking on the street also, you can think of this Deity. There is no difficulty, either you are sitting or you are walking or you are standing, any way. Because the mind is there in Krsna, in Krsna's form. Therefore Deity worship is so essential for the neophyte. He can have always the opportunity to think of the Supreme Lord by the impression of the Deity within the mind. Sayanam. Even in lying down, even talking.

So this is our process. This is the perfect process. You don't require any artificial method to think of God. It is natural. If you simply come to the temple daily, chant in the front of the Deity, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, then you become advanced immediately. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. Now there are books. Either you chant, sit down in the Deity room in front of the Deity, see how aratrika is going on, how Deity is nicely dressed with flower, ornaments, so if you constantly be engaged in thinking of the Deity, that is first-class meditation, not artificially going to That is not possible at the present moment, that, as it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, you have to select a very solitary place and you have to sit down under certain posture, looking half-opened eyes on the tip of the nose so that you may not sleep in the name of meditation. There are so many. And you have to follow brahmacarya. All these rules and regulations are there: dhyana, dharana, asana, pranayama. Pranayama. Then? What is called? Pratyahara. Pratyahara means you have to completely withdraw the senses from sense gratification. That is called pratyahara. Then there is samadhi. So this yoga system is recommended, but that it is very, very difficult. Five thousand years ago, when Krsna explained this hatha-yoga system in the Sixth Chapter to Arjuna Arjuna was honest man. He flatly denied, "Krsna, these things cannot be done by me." Because in those days, especially a person like Arjuna, why he should speak lies? This meditation is not possible. It was only possible in the Satya-yuga when people were very peaceful, long duration of life, there was no artificial necessities of life. Krte yad dhyayato visnum. At that time, to meditate upon Visnu and for years Just like Valmiki Muni. He practiced meditation for sixty thousands of years. Then he got perfection. At that time people used to live for 100,000.

So this meditation is very difficult to execute at the present moment. That is the verdict of the Vedic literature.

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

The meditation which was possible in the krte, in the Satya-yuga... Satya-yuga continued for twelve lakhs of years; then Treta-yuga, eight lakhs of years... No, Satya-yuga, eighteen lakhs; then Treta-yuga, twelve lakhs; then Dvapara-yuga, eight lakhs; and Kali-yuga, four lakhs. Altogether forty-three. So bhakti-yoga includes everything. So this process, this arcana process. If we... Everyone alternately they should learn how to worship. That will give the impression of the Lord within the heart, and then, either you are walking or you are sitting or you are lying or you are eating or you are talking, you'll always think of Krsna. This is the process. It will be automatically done. Sthitam vrajantam asinam sayanam va guhasayam. Generally the yogis, they try to find out the Visnu murti within the core of the heart, but this is as good. When you are walking on the street, then, if you are thinking, there will be no hindrance to your activities, but you can think of Krsna. Sa vai manah krsnah. Just like Maharaja Ambarish. He was emperor. He had many responsibilities, but he practiced how to think of Krsna always.

Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. You engage your senses. So this is practice. First of all think of the Deity. First of all think of the lotus feet, then the knees, then the eyes, then the belly, then the chest. In this way, as you become practiced, then go further, advance. In this way, when you become fully practiced, then automatically, in whatever condition you are, you will be able to meditate upon Krsna. That is the highest perfection of life. Satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. Satatam cintayanto mam. If you always think of Krsna, always chant... Chanting is also meditation. As soon as you chant, you immediately remember Krsna, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes. So where is difficulty? The Gosvamis practiced it.

krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi
dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau
sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

The six Gosvamis, they were always engaged, krsnotkirtana, loudly chanting. The same process we are following: loudly chant always; be engaged in arcana. Always there is possibility of Krsna consciousness. The facilities are there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Then preksaniya, "He is worth seeing." We are accustomed to see so many things. That is our bondage. Aksnoh phalam. If by the eyes you see the Deity, the Vaisnavas... The Vaisnavas, with tilaka, with kunti, with chanting beads, as soon as you see... And practically you know. As soon as they see these Hare Krsna movement people, they also chant, "Hare Krsna," giving a chance to the others. The dress is also required. You should be always equipped with tilaka, kunti, and sikha, sutra. Then, as soon as a common man sees, "Oh, here is a Hare Krsna man. Hare Krsna," he'll chant. Automatically you give a chance to chant Hare Krsna.

So this is required. The foolish rascals, they say that "What is the necessity of this, that?" No. This is necessity. You must always remain dressed like a Vaisnava. That is necessity. So preksaniya: "is very beautiful to see." Otherwise how they became impressed? Immediately they become so pious that they chant Hare Krsna. The chanting of Hare Krsna is not so easy. So many people come here, but when there is chanting, they do not chant because it is not easy. Yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. In the sastra it is said, aho bata sva-pacato 'pi gariyan yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. Anyone who is chanting Hare Krsna, jihvagre, with the tongue, even if he is born in a family of dog-eaters he is glorious. He is glorious. Yaj-jihvagre nama tubhyam. So we give this chance. As soon as he chants Hare Krsna, immediately he becomes glorious. Immediately become glorious. Aho bata sva-pacato 'pi gariyan yaj-jihvagre na..., tepus tapas te [SB 3.33.7]. That means in his previous life he has already performed many sacrifices. Therefore he has got this qualification of chanting Hare Krsna. Tepus tapas te jihuvuh sasnur arya [SB 3.33.7]. They are really Arya, Aryan, who is chanting Hare Krsna.

So we should practice ourself to chant Hare Krsna always. Kirtaniyah sada harih, Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended.

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

Hari-nama, this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, one should practice always. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So preksaniya ihitam dhyayet. This is meditation. Dhyayet chuddha-bhavena, suddha-bhavena. Not artificial. But even if you do artificially, you will be purified by chanting. Artificially, if we do... That is in the sastra. Still, the chanting of the holy name is so powerful that it will make you... Because it is directly associating with God. Dhyayet. So as soon as chant, immediately there will be meditation, suddha-bhavena cetasa, by consciousness, by the mind, by intelligence. So this is the recommendation.

(reads purport) "The process of meditating on the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within oneself and the process of chanting the glories or pastimes of the Lord are the same." There is no difference. This is called advaya-jnana: no difference, absolute. Either you chant, hear, or you try to see within your heart the Supreme Lord -- the same thing. "The only difference is that hearing and fixing the mind on the pastimes of the Lord is easier than visualizing the form of the Lord within one's heart, because as soon as one begins to think of the Lord, especially in this age, the mind becomes disturbed, and due to so much agitation, the process of seeing the Lord within the mind is interrupted." Suppose one is big businessman. He is always thinking of his business, how to sell this, how to purchase this. This is... His mind is absorbed with these things. So if he sits down to meditate upon the Lord, it will not be possible. It will not be possible. His mind will be disturbed, and he will think of his business transaction. So that is natural. But if you chant Hare Krsna loudly, you will be forced to hear "Krsna," and that Krsna immediately comes within your mind by force. So it is better process than sit down and think of Krsna.

"When there is sound vibrated passing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, however, one is forced to hear. That hearing process enters into the mind, and the practice of yoga is automatically performed. For example, even a child can hear and derive the benefit of meditating on the pastimes of the Lord simply..." Now, just like these children. They do not understand English, they do not understand language, but when there will be chanting, they will stand up and dance. See how this process is easy. There is no question of language understanding, no question of being young or child. Anyone who will hear the chanting of Hare Krsna Mantra, he will be enthused immediately, and that is natural. Unless he is covered with sinful activities very much, he will be enthused. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. But even if he is covered with sinful activities, by chanting, immediately the process of cleansing begins. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. Simply by hearing and chanting, he becomes pious. And the more he becomes pious, he understands what is God, what is Krsna. Without being pious, nobody can understand. Yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam, te dvandva-moha-nir...

So the punya-karma means yajna-dana-tapasya... That is called punya-karma, pious activities. So in this age who is going to perform yajna? Where is that capacity? It is not possible. And who has got money to give in charity? Everyone is poverty-stricken. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyah [SB 1.1.10]. Everyone is unfortunate, everyone in this age. So how he can give in charity? Any country you go-maybe in some special-otherwise you will find poverty-stricken men, hungry men, without any culture, without any education. They are majority. Manda-bhagyah. Mandah sumanda-matayo. And mostly, cent percent Why? Cent percent men, they are mandah, bad men. They won't hear about their real necessities of life. Mandah sumanda-matayo. And if they are at all interested for progress of life, they will accept some so-called system, sumanda-matayo. It has no meaning, simply bluff. They will accept that. Mandah sumanda-matayo. Why? Manda-bhagyah, unfortunate. Unfortunate. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah. And always disturbed. This is the description of the men in this Kali-yuga. And beyond that, they are short-living. The duration of life is very short. Under the circumstances, the general process is impossible. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended,

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

So this should be taken.

So, "Hearing includes applying the mind. In this age of Kali-yuga, Lord Caitanya has recommended that one should always engage in chanting and hearing Bhagavad-gita." Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128].' Krsna also said... Somebody questioned me, that "Where is chanting is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita?" That is there: satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah [Bg. 9.14]. And they say, "Where is chanting in the word?" Here is chanting. Mam. Satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. Mam-Krsna-kirtana, not this kirtana, that kirtana. They have imitated. No. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. Sravanam kirtanam means of the, by the name of Visnu. The Mayavadis, they have invented. In Calcutta, in Bengal, they have invented Kali-kirtana, Kali-kirtana. The Ramakrishna Mission, they have invented Kali-kirtana. "Why Hari-kirtana? Kali-kirtana." They have got a party. As we say... Because they are rival, if we say, "Hare Krsna," they will say "Kali, Kali, Kali," like that. This is going on. Kirtana does not mean any other demigod. Kirtana means of Visnu. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh, clearly state. But these bogus, so-called swamis and yogis, they cheat people, bluff people by their own concoction. That is the difficulty. Even if you speak the right truth, they are unable to receive it because they have been deceived by so many rascals. So kirtana means... Krsna says in the Bhagavad..., satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14], Krsna. He doesn't say that "Any kirtana will do." No. He doesn't say. Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah [Bg. 9.14].

So everything is there. Stick to Hare Krsna maha-mantra and see the Deity always and have impression of the Deity. In whichever position you are, you'll be meditating and your life will be successful.

Thank you very much. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.19 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.