Surrender To Vishnu

1 Apr 77 , Bombay

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Prabhupada: That is sa gunan samatityaitan, that is mukti. Baddha, conditioned, means we are under the three modes of material nature. That is conditioned. And mukti means you are not under the obligation of the three modes of material nature. That is karma-mukta. So Krsna can make you immediately mukta. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. That is Krsna's power. Prabhavisnave namah. He can make the lowest class of men... Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papah [SB 2.4.18]. They are considered as the most sinful, less than the sudras, candalas. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa... Or more sinful, sudhyanti. They can be purified by the mercy, by the power, prabhavisnave namah. Visnu has got so much power. So that power you can have the benefit if you surrender to Visnu. Therefore Krsna personally comes and requests you,

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
 [Bg. 18.66]

So here is Krsna's direction. You take always Krsna's direction, then that is bhakti, and you remain brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. [Bg. 14.26] You are always immune from the sinful reactions of this material world. It does not mean... You cannot manufacture. Actually you have to follow the orders of Krsna. Just like Arjuna is being advised. You simply follow Krsna. Not that whimsically he was going to punish Asvatthama. Under direction of Krsna. Similarly, in every step of your life, if you take Krsna's direction or His representative's direction, then you are safe.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.38-39 -- Vrndavana, September 30, 1976

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Science Of Loving God

30 Sept 68, Seatle

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Madhudvisa: Do you want the window to be open?

Prabhupada: Yes. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. (devotees respond) (sings) Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. (Prabhupada chants Brahma-samhita verses, devotees respond) So our program is to worship with love and devotion Govinda, the original person. Govindam adi-purusam. This is Krsna consciousness. We are teaching people to love Krsna, that's all. Our program is to love, to place your love in the proper place. That is our program. Everyone wants to love, but he is being frustrated on account of his love being misplaced. People do not understand it. They are being taught, "First of all, you love your body." Then little extended, "You love your father and mother." Then "Love your brother and sister." Then "Love your society, love your country, love the whole human society, humanity." But all this extended love, so-called love, will not give you satisfaction unless you reach to the point to love Krsna. Then you'll be satisfied. Just like if you throw a stone on some reservoir of water, on a lake, there immediately begins a circle. The circle expands, and expanding, expanding, expanding, when the circle touches the shore, it stops. Unless the circle reaches the bank or the shore of the reservoir of the water, it goes on increasing. So we have to increase. Increase. The increase means there are two ways. If you practice, "I love my society, I love my country, I love my human nation," then "Living entities," go on... But if you directly touch Krsna, then everything is there. It is so nice. Because Krsna means all-attractive, includes everything. Why everything? Because Krsna is the center. Just like in a family, if you love your father, then you love your brothers, sisters, the servant of your father, the home of your father, the wife of your father, namely, your mother, everyone. The central point is father. This is crude example. Similarly, if you love Krsna, then your love will be expanded everywhere. Another example, just like if you love a tree, the leaves, the flowers, the branches, the trunks, the twigs, everything. You simply pour water on the root, then your loving affairs for the tree will automatically serve. If you love your countrymen, if you want to see that your countryman becomes educated, advanced economically and mentally, physically, then what you'll do? You pay tax to the government. You don't hide your income tax. You simply pay tax to the central government and it will be distributed to the educational department, to the defense department, to the hygienic department, everywhere. Therefore... These are crude examples, but actually, if you want to love everything, then you try to love Krsna. You'll not be frustrated because that is complete. When your love is complete, then you will not be frustrated. Just like you have got complete feeding. If you are satisfied with food completely, then you say, "I am satisfied. I don't want any more."

So this Krsna consciousness movement is very simple. Very simple. It is inaugurated by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu especially, although it is very old, in the Vedic scripture, but still, taking from the historical point of view, this Krsna consciousness movement is since Lord Krsna appeared on the surface of this planet five thousand years ago, and later on, Lord Caitanya, five hundred years ago, He expanded that movement, Krsna consciousness. His mission, Lord Caitanya's mission, is aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayah. If you want to love or if you want to be subordinate... Everyone is subordinate. This is false. Everyone wants to be independent, but nobody is independent. Everyone is subordinate. Nobody can say that "I am independent." Can you say, any one of you, that you are independent? Is there anybody? No. Everyone is subordinate willingly. Not by force everyone becomes subordinate. A girl says a boy, "I want to become your subordinate," willingly. Similarly a boy says to a girl, "I want to be your subordinate." Why? That is my nature. I want to be subordinate because my nature is to be subordinate. But I do not know. I prefer, I reject this subordination; I accept another subordination. But subordination is there. Just like a worker. He works here. He finds some better wages another place, he goes there. But that does not means he becomes independent. He is subordinate. So Lord Caitanya teaches that if you want to be subordinate or if you want to worship somebody... Who worships somebody? Unless you feel somebody is greater than you, why shall you worship? I worship my boss because I think that he is greater than me. He gives me wages, salary, monthly six hundred dollars. Therefore I must worship him, I must please him.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that you become a subordinate of Krsna. Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayah. If you want to worship, worship Krsna. And next, tad-dhamam vrndavanam. If you want to worship somebody, then love Krsna or worship Krsna, or His place Vrndavana. Because everyone wants to love some place. That is now nationalism -- some country. Somebody says, "I love this American land." Somebody says, "I love this Chinese land." Somebody says, "I love the Russian land." So everyone wants to love some land. Bhauma ijya-dhih. Bhauma ijya-dhih. People are naturally inclined to love some material land. Generally, where he is born he tries to love. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "Because you are inclined to love some person, you love Krsna. Because you want to love some land, you love Vrndavana." Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam. But if somebody says, "How to love Krsna? I cannot see Krsna. How to love Krsna?" then Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita. If you want to know the process of worshiping Krsna, or loving Krsna, just try to follow the footprints of the gopis. Gopis. The gopis, their love, the highest perfectional love. Ramya kacid upasana. There are different kinds of love or worship in the world. The beginning is, "O God, give us our daily bread." This is beginning. When we are, I mean to say, taught to love God, we are instructed that "You go to temple, go to church, and pray to God for your necessities, for your grievances." That is the beginning. But that is not pure love. Pure love, perfection of pure love, can be found amongst the gopis. That is the example.

How? How they love Krsna? They love Krsna. Krsna went to... Krsna was a cowherd's boy, and with His friends, other cowherd's boy, He used to go with His cows in the pasturing ground the whole day. That was the system. Because people at that time were satisfied with land and cows, that's all. That is the means of solution of all economic problems. They were not industrial, they were not servant of anyone. Simply get production from the land and take milk from the cows, the whole food problem solved. So Krsna used to go to the pasturing ground, and the gopis at home... They were girls or women. They... Women or girls were not allowed to work. That is the Vedic system. They should keep at home, and they should be given protection by the father, by the husband, or elderly sons. They were not meant for going out. So they kept themselves at home. But Krsna was, say, miles away in the pasturing ground, and the gopis at home thinking, "Oh, Krsna's feet is so soft. Now He's walking on the rough grounds. The particles of stones are pricking His sole. So He must be feeling some pain." In this way thinking, they used to cry. Just see. Krsna is miles away, and what Krsna is feeling, they are simply thinking of that feeling: "Krsna may be feeling like that." This is love. This is love. They are not asking Krsna, "My dear Krsna, what You have brought from Your pasturing ground? How is Your pocket? Let me see." No. Simply thinking of Krsna, how Krsna will be satisfied. They used to dress themselves because..., and go before Krsna with nice dress, "Oh, He'll be happy to see." Generally, a boy or a man becomes happy to see his lover or wife nicely dressed. That is... Therefore it is the nature of the woman to dress nice. And according to Vedic system, a woman should dress very nicely just to satisfy her husband. That is the Vedic system. If her husband is not at home, then she should not dress nicely. There are injunctions. Prosita bhartrka. There are different dresses of woman. By seeing the dress one will understand what she is. One can understand by seeing the dress that she is unmarried girl. One can see simply by the dress that she is married wife. One can see by the dress that she is widow. One can see by the dress that she is prostitute. So dress is so important. So prosita bhartrka. So we are not going to discuss about the social. We are discussing about love affairs of Krsna. So gopis... Krsna and gopis, the relationship was so intimate and so unalloyed that Krsna Himself admitted, "My dear gopis, it is not in My power to repay you about your loving affairs." Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He became bankrupt, that "My dear gopis, it is not possible for Me to repay your debts which you have created by loving Me." So that is the highest perfection of love. Ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu.

I'm just describing the mission of Lord Caitanya. He is giving us instruction, His mission, that the only lovable object is Krsna and His land Vrndavana. And the process of loving Him is the vivid example, the gopis. Nobody can reach. There are different stages of devotees, and gopis are supposed to be on the highest platform. And amongst the gopis, the supreme is Radharani. Therefore nobody can surpass the love of Radharani. Ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita, srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam. Now to learn this, all this science of loving God, there must be some book, some authoritative literature. Yes. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam. The Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is spotless description of understanding how to love God. There is no other description. From the beginning it is teaching how to love God. Those who have studied Srimad-Bhagavatam, the first verse in the First Canto is janmady asya yatah, satyam param dhimahi [SB 1.1.1]. The beginning is that "I am offering my unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme, from whom everything has emanated." Janmady asya yatah. So it is a... You know, it is a great description. So Srimad-Bhagavatam. If you want to learn how to love God, or Krsna, then study Srimad-Bhagavatam. And to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam, the preliminary study is Bhagavad-gita. So study Bhagavad-gita to understand the real nature or identification of God and yourself and your relationship, and then, when you are little conversant, when you are prepared, that "Yes, Krsna is the only lovable object," then next book you take, Srimad-Bhagavatam. And you go on. Just like Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is entrance. Just like students, they pass their school examination then enters into the college. So you pass your school examination, how to love God, by studying Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Then study Srimad-Bhagavatam, and... That is graduate study. And when you are still farther advanced, post-graduate, then study Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

So there is no difficulty. The fact is that we have to learn how to love Krsna. So direction is there and method is there, and we are trying to serve you as far as possible. We are sending our boys on the streets and the town to invite you. And if you kindly take up this opportunity, then your life will be successful. Prema pum-artho mahan. Because this human form of life is meant for developing love for God. Because in all other life we have loved, we have loved. We have loved our children, we have loved our wife, we have loved our nest in the bird's life, in the beast's life. There is love. There is no necessity of teaching a bird or beast how to love the children. There is no necessity, because that is natural. To love your home, to love your country, to love your husband, to love your children, to love your wife, and so on, you go on, all this love, more or less they are all in the animal kingdom also. But that sort of love will not give you happiness. You'll be frustrated because this body is temporary. Therefore all these loving affairs are also temporary and they are not pure. They are simply a perverted reflection of the pure love that is existing between you and Krsna. So if you want really peace, if you really want satisfaction, if you don't want to be confused, then try to love Krsna. This is the plain program. Then your life will be successful. The Krsna consciousness movement is not something manufactured to mislead and bluff the people. It is a most authorized movement. Vedic literature, the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra, Puranas, and many, many great saintly persons adopted this means. And the vivid example is Lord Caitanya. You see His picture, He is in the dancing mood. So you have to learn this art, then our life will be successful. You haven't got to practice anything artificial and speculating and bother your brain and... You have the instinct for loving others. That is instinctive, natural. Simply we are misplacing love and therefore we are frustrated. Frustrated. Confused. So if you don't want to be confused, if you don't want to be frustrated, then try to love Krsna, and you'll feel yourself how you are making progress in peacefulness, in happiness, in everything that you want.

Thank you very much. Any question?

Madhudvisa: Prabhupada? Is it all right for us to read the Srimad-Bhagavatam after we've received your Bhagavad-gita when it comes out? Or should we just completely devote all our time to studying the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and then we..., and then progress from there, or should we continue our study of the Srimad-Bhagavatam?

Prabhupada: No. You should read Bhagavad-gita As It Is. This is only a preliminary division. In the spiritual platform, everything is absolute. If you read Bhagavad-gita, you'll find the same proposition as in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is not that because you are studying Srimad-Bhagavatam that you haven't got to study Bhagavad-gita. It is not like that. You read these literatures and chant Hare Krsna, follow the rules and regulations and live happily. Our program is very happy program. We chant, we dance, we eat Krsna prasadam, we paint nice pictures of Krsna and see them nicely decorated, and we read philosophy. So what you want more? (laughs)

Jahnava: How and why did we lose our awareness of our true love for Krsna in the beginning?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Tamala Krsna: How and why... How and why did we lose our love for Krsna in the beginning?

Jahnava: No, not the love. Just the awareness of the love, of our true love for Krsna.

Prabhupada: Our awareness is there. You love somebody. But you are meant to love Krsna, that you have forgotten. So forgetfulness is also our nature. Sometimes we forget. And especially because we are very small, minute, therefore even I cannot remember exactly what I was doing last night at this time. So forgetfulness is not unnatural for us. And again, if somebody revives our memory, to accept that, that is also not unnatural. So our loving object is Krsna. Somehow or other, we have forgotten Him. We don't trace the history when we forgot. That is useless labor. But we have forgotten, that is a fact. Now revive it. Here is reminder. So take opportunity. Don't try to history why you have forgotten and what was the date of my forgetfulness. Even if you know, what is the use? You have forgotten. Take it. Just like if you go to a physician, he'll never ask you how you got this disease, what is the history of this disease, at what date, at what time you were infected.

No. He simply feels your pulse and sees that you have got a disease and he gives you the medicine: "Yes. You take it." Similarly, we are suffering. That is a fact. Nobody can deny. Why you are suffering? Forgetting Krsna. That's all. Now you revive your memory about Krsna, you become happy. That's all. Very simple thing. Now don't try to find out the history when you forgot. You have forgotten, that is a fact, because you are suffering. Now here is an opportunity, Krsna consciousness movement. Revive your memory, your love for Krsna. Simple thing. Chant Hare Krsna, dance, and take Krsna prasada. And if you are not educated, you are illiterate, hear. Just you have got natural gift, ear. You have got natural tongue. So you can chant Hare Krsna and you can hear Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam from persons who are in the knowledge. So there is no impediment. No impediment. It does not require any prequalification. Simply you have to use whatever asset you have got. That's all. You must agree. That is wanted. "Yes, I shall take to Krsna consciousness." That depends on you because you are independent. If you disagree, "No. Why shall I take to Krsna?" nobody can give you. But if you agree, it is here, very easy. Take it.

Guest: Maybe you've already answered this. I'm not sure. I didn't hear. But I have always been taught since I was a little kid to love God and then I will love everything. Is God Krsna?

Prabhupada: Yes. You have got any other God? Any other God than Krsna?

Guest: Ah, what was the question again? Oh, no, no...

Prabhupada: Just try to understand what is God.

Guest: I didn't know that God was Krsna.

Prabhupada: No, everything has got definition. Just like if I say "This is watch." So it has a definition. Watch means it is round and there is a white dial and two hands, there are so many figures indicating time. Like that, I can give you some description. So anything, whatever you see or experience or try to understand, there must be some definition. So when you speak of God, do you know what is the definition of God?

Guest: Yes. I thought He was love.

Prabhupada: Love is not definition; love is the action. Yes, love. I love God. Love is my activity. But there must be some definition of God. That also you know. You now forget. Now, in one word, they say "God is great." So how do you test one's greatness? Next point. If you say that "This man is very great," now there must be an understanding how you estimate that he is great. These are different stages of understanding. So how do you understand that God is great? What is your calculation, that from, on this point, God is great? Just like in your Bible it is said, "God said 'Let there be creation,' and there was creation." Is it not? Is it not statement? So here is greatness. He simply said, "Let there be creation," and there was creation. Can you do that? Suppose you are very nice carpenter. Can you say, "Let there be a chair," and at once there is a chair? Is it possible? Suppose you are manufacturer of this watch. Can you say that "I say, let there be watch," and there is immediately watch? That is not possible. Therefore God's name is satya-sankalpa. Satya-sankalpa. Satya-sankalpa means whatever He thinks, immediately it is present. Not only God, but those who have attained yogic perfection, they cannot desire like God, but almost. Wonderful things... A yogi, if he has got perfection, if he desires something, that "I want this," immediately it is there. This is called satya-sankalpa. In this way, there are many examples. That is greatness. What I... Just like the modern scientists, they are trying to fly some space machine in the good speed so that they can go to the moon planet. So many scientists of America, Russia, and other countries, they are trying. But they cannot. Their sputnik is coming back. But just see God's power. Millions of planets are floating just like swabs. This is greatness. So any nonsense, if he says that "I am God," he's a rascal. God is great. You cannot compare yourself with God. There is no comparison. But the rascaldom is going on. "Everyone is God. I am God, you are God" -- then he's dog. You show the power of God, then you say. First deserve, then desire. What power we have got? We're always dependent. So God is great, and we are dependent on God. Therefore natural conclusion is that we have to serve God. This is the whole comment.(?) Serving means with love. Unless... Now just like these boys, my disciples, they are serving me. Whatever I say, they are immediately executing. Why? I am an Indian, I am a foreigner. Two or three years ago I was not known to them, nor they were known to me. Why they are doing that? Because it is love. Serving means developing love. So unless you develop your love for God you cannot serve Him. Anywhere. Whenever you give some service, it is based on love. Just like mother giving service to the helpless child. Why? Love. So similarly, our life will be perfect when our love is perfect with the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then it is all right. You have to learn this. This is Krsna consciousness: in a relationship with Krsna. Just like I am loving my disciples, my disciples are loving me. Why? What is the medium? Krsna. Yes?

Woman: Is Rama synonymous with Jesus?

Devotee: "Is Rama synonymous, the same as Jesus."

Prabhupada: Synonymous..., not exactly synonymous, but identical. Synonymous cannot be said, identical.

Woman: Oh, identical.

Prabhupada: Yes. In the absolute platform everything is identical. In the relative world also. Just like anything you take, it is material. So material identity. Similarly, in the spiritual world everything is spiritual. So in the spiritual world God and God's son or God's friend or God's lover, anyone is the... They're in the same platform, spiritual. Therefore they are identical.

Woman: Doesn't Rama refer to a man that was born..., I'm not..., in India or somewhere, and Christ was born in Europe? Two different men, but still the same, the same...

Prabhupada: Yes. The sun is every day born in India, born in Europe, born in America. Does it mean that he's Indian or American or Chinese?

Woman: No, that's not what I mean.

Prabhupada: Then? Therefore it is like that. When... This is our limited knowledge. We have been taught in that way, that God is great. Just like the sun is great; therefore even the sun is seen in India or in America or China, anywhere, any part of the world, any part of the universe, the sun is one. Nobody can say, "Oh, it is American sun" or "It is Indian sun." So either Jesus Christ or Rama or Krsna, whoever comes from the kingdom of God, they are the same. There is no difference. But the difference is... Just like in your country temperature of sun is less, and in a tropical country the temperature of the sun is very great. Does it mean the sun's temperature is changed? It is according to the reception. The atmosphere of this country is so surcharged that you cannot receive the sunshine properly, but the sunshine distributes its shining everywhere the same. Similarly, according to the country, according to the circumstances, according to the planet, God is manifested differently, but He is not different. You are wrapping your body with some winter clothes. Same time, telegraph in India, oh, they are running fan. Why the temperature is different? Therefore whatever Lord Jesus Christ says or whatever Krsna says or what Rama says, that is in terms of the place, in terms of the circumstances, atmosphere, persons, hearer. There is different. One thing which I try to convince a child is not possible to teach the same thing to his father. Or a child cannot understand what is sex life, but a young man can understand. The same child, when he'll be grown up, he'll know. So you do not think that everyone can understand everything. So Bible is spoken under certain circumstances; Bhagavad-gita is spoken under certain circumstances. It is the difference of the circumstances. Otherwise, the principle is the same. In the Bible also it is said, "Love God," and Bhagavad-gita also says, "Love God." There is no difference.

Upendra: Prabhupada, what is the nature of anger? How is anger...

Prabhupada: Anger means lust. When you are lusty and your lust is not fulfilled, you become angry. That's all. It is another feature of the lust. Kama esa krodha esa rajo-guna-samudbhavah. When you are too much influenced with the modes of passion, you become lusty. And when your lust is not fulfilled, then you are angry, next stage. And next stage is that there is bewilderment. And then next stage is pranasyati, then you are lost. Therefore one has to control this lust and anger. This controlling means you have to put yourself in the modes of goodness, not in the modes of passion. There are three modes of material nature: modes of ignorance, modes of passion and modes of goodness. Therefore if anyone wants to know the science of God, then he has to keep himself on the modes of goodness. Otherwise he cannot. Therefore we are teaching our students that "You don't do this, you don't do this, you don't do this, you don't do this," because he has to keep himself on the modes of goodness. Otherwise he'll not be able to understand. Krsna consciousness cannot be understood on the platform of ignorance and passion. The whole world is under the influence of ignorance and passion. But this method is so simple that if you simply follow the four principles of restriction and chant Hare Krsna, you are immediately surpassing all the modes of material nature. So the anger is on the platform of passion. Yes?

Young man: Can you explain subordination again?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Tamala Krsna: Explain subordination again.

Prabhupada: Subordination, it is simple. You are subordinate. You don't understand what is subordination? Is it very difficult? Are you not subordinate to somebody?

Young man: Well, yes, I suppose you could say I was.

Prabhupada: Yes. You must. Everyone. Everyone must be subordinate, in subordination.

Young man: Yes, in a spiritual sense though, I don't feel subordinate to...

Prabhupada: First of all you understand what is spiritual life, then... In the spiritual sense also you are subordinate because your nature is subordination. Spiritual, what do you mean by spiritual and material?

Young man: Well, like, my body is in a particular place and time and all of these, caste (?). If I have a job then I'm subordinate to my boss, but the real, my whole being, my real being, my inner being doesn't... I don't think that I am subordinate to my boss. I think that we would be more or less equal. In a temporary sense, we are...

Prabhupada: Yes. This consciousness is very nice, that you are feeling dissatisfaction being subordinate to your boss. Is that not?

Young man: No, that's not right.

Prabhupada: Then?

Young man: I don't especially...

Prabhupada: Anyone.

Young man: I don't think that... Speaking about this specific incident, it isn't necessarily true that I would feel jealous of this guy because he was over me. But I just feel as beings we are more or less all equal. I mean, you know, it's kind of a philosophy that I have. I don't feel that I have to bow down to anybody and I don't feel anybody should bow down to me.

Prabhupada: Why? Why? Why do not bow down? Why?

Young man: Because I don't feel that I owe him anything or he owes me anything.

Prabhupada: So that is the disease. We are forced to bow down and we think that "I don't like to bow down." This is the disease.

Young man: He didn't force me to bow down.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Young man: He isn't forcing me to do anything. I'm just kind of there and he's kind of there.

Prabhupada: No. Just try to understand. It is a very nice question. You say that "I do not want to bow down." Is it not?

Young man: That's basically true, yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. Why?

Young man: Because I don't feel like I'm inferior to...

Prabhupada: That is the disease. You have diagnosed your own disease. That is the disease of materialism. Everyone is thinking that "I want to be master. I don't wish to bow down myself." Everyone is thinking, not only yourself. Just try...

Young man: Uh...

Prabhupada: Let me finish this. This is the disease, material disease. First of all try to understand. It is not your disease or my disease. Everyone's disease is this, that "Why shall I bow down? Why shall I become subordinate?" But nature is forcing me to become subordinate. Now who wants to meet death? Why people are dying? Can you answer this?

Young man: Why are people dying?

Prabhupada: Yes. Nobody wants to die.

Young man: I thought it was a biological...

Prabhupada: Just try to understand. Who is here... That means biological force. You are subordinate to biology. Then why do you say that you are independent?

Young man: Well, I feel that I'm...

Prabhupada: You are feeling wrongly. That is my point. That is your disease.

Young man: I'm feeling lonely?

Prabhupada: Yes, wrongly.

Young man: Wrongly?

Prabhupada: Yes. You are subordinate. You must have to bow down. When death is there, you cannot say, "Oh, I don't obey you." Therefore you are subordinate.

Young man: I am subordinate to God, yes.

Prabhupada: No, no, don't... Forget God. Just now we are speaking common sense.

Young man: Krsna... I don't...

Prabhupada: No. Don't speak of Krsna. That is far away. You just try to understand that you do not want to die, why you are forced to death?

Young man: Why am I forced to death?

Prabhupada: Yes. Because you are subordinate.

Young man: Oh, yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. Then you understand your position, that you are subordinate. You cannot declare that "I am free. I am not subordinate." If you are wishing that "I don't wish to be subordinate, don't wish to bow down," that is your disease.

Young man: What do you want me to... What...

Prabhupada: No, first of all try to understand your disease. Then we shall diagnose your medicine.

Young man: I'm feeling wrongly, okay, but... But who do I or what... What exactly do I bow down to... I mean...

Prabhupada: You are bowing down to everyone. You are bowing down to death, you are bowing down to disease, you are bowing down to old age. You are bowing down to so many things. You are forced. And still you are thinking that "I cannot bow down. I don't like." Because you are saying "I don't like," therefore you are being forced. You have to bow down. Why you forget your position? That is our disease. Therefore the next process is that "I am being forced to bow down." Now we have to find out "Where I shall be happy even by bowing down?" That is Krsna. Your bowing down will not be stopped, because you are meant for that. But if you bow down to Krsna and Krsna's representative, you become happy. Test this. You have to bow down. If you don't bow down to Krsna and His representative, then you will be forced to bow down something else, maya. That is your position. You cannot be free at any moment. But you'll feel... Just like a child is twenty-four hours bowing down to his parents. He's happy. He's happy. Mother says, "My dear child, please come down, sit down here." "Yes." He's happy. This is the nature. Simply you have to seek out where you have to bow down, that's all. That is Krsna. You cannot stop your bowing down, but you have to see where you have to bow down. That's all. If you artificially think that "I'm not going to bow down anyone. I am independent," then you suffer. Simply you have to seek out the proper place where you have to bow down. That's all. All right. Chant. Give them prasadam. They are going. (kirtana) (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International

"To Be Understood By Anyone"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.20
Mayapura, September 30, 1974

---

Nitai: (leads chanting, etc.)

tatha paramahamsanam
muninam amalatmanam
bhakti-yoga-vidhanartham
katham pasyema hi striyah

"You Yourself descend to propagate the transcendental science of devotional service unto the hearts of the advanced transcendentalists and mental speculators who are purified by being able to discriminate between matter and spirit. How, then, can we women know You perfectly?"

Prabhupada: Tatha paramahamsanam. Krsna is realized by qualification, and the qualifications are described here. The first qualification is paramahamsa. Paramahamsa. Parama means the best, and hamsa means the swans. So there are different types of swans. We have seen. Out of them, the white big swan is accepted the best of them. So this hamsa, or this swan, has got a qualification special, that you offer them milk mixed with water. So the hamsa, it will take the milk portion and leave aside the water portion. Every animal has got a special qualification. Just like you'll find the lizard, a very plain wall, polished wall, but they'll go very swiftly. You have no science to do that. You cannot do it. The vulture, it goes very high. They have got very small eyes, but they can see from miles away where is some dead body. That is their business.

So everyone has got some special qualification. That is God's gift. The... Similarly, this is also an animal. It has got the special qualification: they can discriminate what is water and what is milk. So this world is mixed up, spiritual and material things. Just like your body, my body, this is also mixture. Anything is a mixture of spirit and matter. So one who can discern the spirit from the matter, he is called paramahamsa. So intelligent man... Paramahamsa, what is the paramahamsa? Now, muninam. Paramahamsa... Muni means very thoughtful. So if you are thoughtful, then you'll be able to discern between matter and spirit. The body is moving, but those who are not muni, thoughtful, they think the body is moving automatically. But actually, that is not the fact. Because the spirit is there, therefore it is moving. So muni, those who are thoughtful, they can understand. Foolish men, they cannot understand. They cannot understand that beyond this body there is another force, which is helping the movement of the body. They cannot understand the Bhagavad-gita statement: tatha dehantara-praptih. That moving force is perpetual, eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. It is not lost after the destruction of the body, but it is transferred to another body. They cannot understand, because they are not muni. The muni means very thoughtful. And how one can become perfect muni? That is also said here. Amalatmanam. Amala. Mala means dirty things, and amala, amala means just the opposite. No. Amala, "a" means "no." His heart is cleansed of all dirty things. Such men. Amalatmanam. So these are the qualifications. Paramahamsa, one must be only spiritually interested like the swan. He is interested only to drink the milk, not the water. Similarly, one must become paramahamsa. One must be interested with spiritual advancement of life, not material. Reject. Reject it.

So these are the qualifications to understand Krsna. One who is spiritually interested, one who is very thoughtful, and one who is cleansed of all dirty things from consciousness or from the mind, these are the qualifications when one can understand Krsna. These things... Why these things, indiscrimination, dirty things, they are accumulated within the heart? It is due to our sinful activities. The more we become sinful, the more dirty things will cover our consciousness, and it will be difficult to understand what is Krsna. Therefore Krsna says, yesam anta-gatam papam. One who is freed from the reaction of sinful life... Yesam anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. Persons who are engaged in pious activities, they do not do anything which is vicious. Therefore they remain pure, without any contamination. Therefore pious activities are recommended. For common men it is recommended in the sastra that "You take your bathing in the Ganges." That will make him pious. If he simply takes his bathing daily, regularly, automatically he'll be pious. Or go and see the temple and offer your obeisances. Everything will be taken.

This small boy, he has nothing, no understanding what is Krsna, but because he's dancing, because he's chanting, sometimes he's ringing the bell, these are pious activities. Automatically they'll do. So many people. Therefore temple is required. Temple is required. The innocent persons, those who are neophyte, for them, temple worship is essential. By seeing the Deity, by offering obeisances to the Deity, by taking caranamrta, by ringing the bell, by dancing, by taking little prasadam, by touching the feet of Vaisnava or touching the body of Vais..., in this way they're getting piety. This chance is given therefore to the ordinary... There is no question of becoming muni in the beginning. How it, one can be? It is not possible.

Therefore Deity worship, temple worship, essential for the common general people. Simply by their coming, visiting and doing something, they'll be pious. So... And other pious activities -- to hear about Krsna. The sound vibration. Even one does not understand what is spoken here, but Krsna... Just like I am speaking in English. Those who cannot understand English, they do not understand what I am speaking. But in the middle I am talking of Krsna. So that Krsna hearing is sufficient: "Krsna." My Guru Maharaja, when some article was presented to see whether he approved for publication, he would simply say, or see, how many times he has uttered "Krsna" and "Caitanya Mahaprabhu." That's all. If he has uttered in his writing "Krsna," "Caitanya," like that, so if he hears that many times he has written -- "That's all right. That's all right." It is so nice.

And that's a fact. (sic:)

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah
[ SB 1.5.11]

Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. Any composition where there is somewhere or sometimes the glorification of the Supreme Lord, any literature... Tad-vag-visa..., janatagha-viplavah. Such kind of literature is revolutionary. Revolutionary. Viplavah. Viplava means revolution. What kind of viplava? Just like in the revolution one political party gains victory over another political party, or one kind of... We understand revolution means political revolution. One kind of political thoughts are overpowered by another kind of political thoughts. That is called revolution. So the English word is revolution, and the Sanskrit word is viplava. So tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. If such literatures are presented... Just like we are presenting. We are not very big scholar. Our... We have no such qualification that we can compose very nice literature. There may be so many mistakes or... Whatever it may be. But it is revolutionary. That is a fact. It is revolutionary. Otherwise, why big, big scholars, professors, university authorities, librarians, they are taking? They are thinking they know that this literature will revolutionize the whole world. Because there is, in the Western world, there is no such thought. They agree. So why it is revolutionary? Because there is an attempt to glorify Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing more. There is no literary career.

So this is accepted. Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam abaddha... Sloka[ SB 1.5.11]. To write Sanskrit sloka, it requires erudite scholarship. There are many, many rules and regulation. It is not that you compose anything and you become a poet. No. There are sufficient rules and regulations, one has to follow. Then one can compose. Just like you see, there is meter:

tatha paramahamsanam
muninam amalatmanam
bhakti-yoga-vidhanartham
katham pasyema hi striyah

There is meter. Every sloka, there is meter. So even it is not written to the standard meter, and sometimes there are broken, so still, because there is glorification of the Supreme Lord... Namany anantasya. Ananta is the Supreme, Unlimited. His names are there. Therefore my Guru Maharaja accepted. If anantasya, of the ananta, the Supreme, the name is there -- "Krsna," "Narayana," "Caitanya," like that -- so srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah. Sadhavah means those who are saintly persons. Such kind of literature, although it is written in broken language, they hear it. Hear it. Because there is glorification of the Lord.

So this is the system. Some way or other, we should be attached to Krsna. Mayy asakta-manah partha. That is our only business, how we can be... It doesn't matter, in broken language. Sometimes... There are many Sanskrit..., I mean to say, not properly pronounced. Just like we do. We are not very expert. There are many expert Sanskrit pronouncers, the veda-mantra. And we are not so expert. But we try. We try. But the Krsna name is there. Therefore it is sufficient. Therefore it is sufficient.

So Krsna comes. What is the mission of Krsna? That we were talking in this morning. What is the mission of Krsna? Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. This is the Krsna's karma. Therefore Krsna says, janma karma me divyam. We come here, and Krsna also comes here. So what is the difference? The difference is we are forced to come here by the laws of nature according to our karma. We do some activities, sinful or pious, mostly sinful. So we create another life, and we are forced to enter into such body. It may be now I am in the human form of body. Next life, according to my karma, I may be forced to enter into the dog's li..., dog's body. So we are forced. There is no, I mean to say, choice. I cannot say (to) nature that "Do not put me into the dog's body. Kindly put me into the king's body." No. Karmana daiva-netrena. This decision will be taken by superior authority. You cannot dictate that "I shall become like that." No, that is not possible. Karmana daiva-netrena.

So we are forced to come here and suffer or enjoy the fruits of our last karma. That is one thing. But Krsna is not like that. Krsna does not come, being forced by nature or for His karma. Na mam karmani limpanti na me karma-phale sprha [Bg. 4.14]. Krsna says that He also works, karma, to show example, but He is not affected by the result of the karma. Therefore Krsna says, na mam karmani limpanti na me karma... Neither He has got any desire to work for something to gain something. He is full. Why He should try for gaining...? We work something. We work to gain something, to make some profit. But Krsna hasn't got to do any profit. He is self-sufficient. Whatever He wants, immediately present. Omnipotent, omniscient. Krsna has nothing to do like that. Therefore why does He come? He has got a different mission. What is that? Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam. He says, "I come for this purpose, to rescue the sadhus, the devotees, and to cut down the demons." Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8].

So vinasaya ca duskrtam, this is not main business. For killing the demons, one cyclone wind is sufficient. If Krsna orders Varuna that "You make a heavy cyclone in this quarter," hundreds and thousands of demons will be killed within a second. So this is not the purpose, for... He does not come for killing. But because killing business is another business, when He comes to protect the devotees, so He automatically, there are some demons: "Kill them also." Just like you go somewhere. Now, your not business to purchase something, but when you see, "Oh, it is nice. It is cheap price. All right, purchase it." So you did not go to a friend's place to make some business, but when you see, sometimes you do that. Similarly, it is not Krsna's business. That, Krsna has got many, many agents. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga [Bs. 5.44].

This durga power is there. You have seen the picture of Durga. She has got ten hands and different types of weapons. Now the Durga-puja will be performed. You can see the Durga deity. So ten hands, the material nature. Ten hands means ten directions: north, south, east, west, and then the four corners, eight, and up and down. So ten directions. So this material nature, Durga, is controlling the whole universe, ten directions. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka [Bs. 5.44]. Eka. Chayeva. But how she is working? Not independently. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva. She is working just like shadow. The original body and the shadow body, they are two different. But the shadow body moves if the original moves. So therefore this word is used, chayeva. This vast power, material nature... It is a very powerful... Srsti-sthiti. It can create; it can destroy. At any moment, if there is some earthquake, the whole sea water may come and cover the land portion, and within the sea you can see one island has come out. Everyone has got this experience. So srsti-sthiti-pralaya. One side, pralaya; one side, creation. So this can be done by the material nature. But how she is working? She is working under the direction of somebody else. That is Govinda. And Govinda also says in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] "She is working under My direction."

So... So far killing or destroying is concerned, that Durga power, Krsna's power, that is sufficient. That is sufficient. He doesn't require to come to kill the demons. She is engaged. You have seen that Durga is killing the demon, that asura. You have seen the Durga's picture? The asura is there and the lion is there, and she has taken a bunch of hair of the asura, and the trident is pushed on his chest, and the lion has captured him. So he is overpowered. So the asura is overpowered, but if the asura makes more attempt to save himself, then there are, only two hands are engaged of Durga to kill the asura, one catching his hair and one the trident. Only two hands are engaged. But if he shows more power, then there are eight hands more, reserved with different types of weapons. So you cannot overcome the ruling, or the control, of the material nature. That is not possible. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. So asura, to kill the asuras, however powerful they may be... We have seen. There were so many asuras in this world. There were Lenin, there were Stalin, there were Hitler, there were Hiranyakasipu. So many. But they could not survive. It is not possible. They'll be finished.

So asuras, to kill him... Paritranaya sadhun..., vinasaya... To kill the duskrtam, these asuras, Krsna does not require to come. He comes only to give protection and pleasure to the devotees. That is his aim. Therefore it is said that paramahamsanam muninam amalatmanam. For them, bhakti-yoga-vidhanartham. For increase their bhakti-yoga. If you are a devotee of Krsna, you are in distress by the demons, and if Krsna saves you, then you become more: "More I am devotee, more I am devotee." You see. So Krsna came so many times. Just like His devotee Prahlada Maharaja was in trouble by his father. So He came. Similarly, Vasudeva and Devaki was in trouble by Kamsa, therefore He came. So paritranaya sadhunam. They are sadhus, they are devotees. For them He comes. Paritranaya sadhunam. So why He's interested to save him? Now, bhakti-yoga-vidhanartham, to show to the people that bhakti-yoga is so strong, so nice, that it will protect you from all kinds of dangers. Krsna says in the Bhagavad..., svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. If you execute a little of bhakti-yoga, you can be saved from the greatest danger. Bhakti yoga is (so) nice. Buddhi-yogam imam srnu. These are discussed.

So bhakti-yoga means no more interested in the material affairs. Bhakti, that is the bhakti-yoga. But he is only interested in Krsna. That is bhakti-yoga. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-as... Nothing except Krsna.

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

So here Krsna comes to teach bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam... [Bg. 18.66]. That is bhakti-yoga. When we do not want anything except Krsna, that is bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga-vidhanartham katham pasyema hi striyah. Kunti appeared to be as woman. So woman generally, they are not interested in spiritual matter. That is the fact. Therefore, if they are somehow or other interested... That is also accepted. Krsna says, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim. Striyo vaisyas..., these three names, why He has taken specifically? So women, they are not very much interested. Generally. Maybe a special woman. But they are... Otherwise, they sometimes become devotee. Devotee... Therefore Krsna says, te 'pi yanti param gatim. As soon as they become devotees, they also promoted. But generally, they are not interested. The vaisyas, the mercantile men, they are interested after money. The woman is interested after sense gratification. And sudra means they are ignorant rascals. Therefore He has mentioned these three names: striyo vaisyas tatha sudrah. But even they, although they are not interested, even they become interested, te 'pi yanti param gatim. Not that even though they become interested, they keep behind. No. On the... With the equal force with men, they also promoted.

So Kunti, out of her humbleness, meekness, she is presenting herself that "We are woman, striya." But she's not ordinary woman. She's devotee. Similarly, any devotee woman is as good as Kunti. So out of humbleness, she says, presenting herself as woman, less intelligent, "How we can see You, Krsna? You are meant for the paramahamsa. You are meant for the bhakti-yogi. You are meant for the great muni. You are so many things... You are meant for persons whose heart is cleansed. How we can see You? We are woman." That is her humbleness. She knows perfectly well what Krsna is.

So following her footsteps, any woman can also understand Krsna. Krsna is ready to be understood by anyone. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh... [Bg. 9.32]. Simply we have to follow the path how to appreciate Krsna, how to understand Krsna, how to see Krsna, how to talk with Him, how to walk with Him. These things are there. That is called bhakti-yoga. Where you learn this science of bhakti-yoga -- that we have mentioned, Nectar of Devotion, the perfect science of bhakti-yoga. So if one is interested in seeing Krsna, then there is no hindrance, there is no block. Anyone. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.20 -- Mayapura, September 30, 1974

"Don't Keep A Guru As Fashion"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.38-39
Vrndavana, September 30, 1976

---

Pradyumna:"Furthermore, I have personally heard you promise Draupadi that you would bring forth the head of the killer of her sons. This man is an assassin and murderer of your own family members. Not only that, but he has also dissatisfied his master. He is but the burnt remnants of his family. Kill him immediately."

Prabhupada:

pratisrutam ca bhavata
pancalyai srnvato mama
aharisye siras tasya
yas te manini putra-ha

tad asau vadhyatam papa
atatayy atma-bandhu-ha
bhartus ca vipriyam vira
krtavan kula-pamsanah

So Krsna is encouraging Arjuna to kill Asvatthama on so many grounds. First of all, he has killed the boys who were sleeping at night. And another very important point is that atatayi. Atatayi means the enemy aggressor. Unnecessarily one who attacks, he is called atatayi. One who sets fire in your house, one who kidnaps your wife or somebody in the family, and one who gives poison, and they are so many, a list of ascertaining an atatayi. So He described, Krsna described the Asvatthama as atatayi. He's not a brave soldier, so he should be killed. So many faults Krsna found in his behavior. And bhartus ca vipriyam vira. He could not satisfy his master also. Sometimes the servants do something abominable for pleasing the master. But he could not please even the master. He wanted to please Duryodhana, his master, promising him that he would kill all the five brothers, the Pandavas. But instead of killing the Pandavas, he killed their sons. Duryodhana did not like that, because he knew that the whole Kuru family practically was killed. Only the five brothers. And Maharaja Pariksit was in the womb of his mother. They survived. So Duryodhana did not like. Duryodhana, whatever he may be, he was a ksatriya and he fought bravely. So he did not like the Kuru dynasty should be finished. He did not like it. But when he understood that the five sons of Pandavas were also killed, he became very much disappointed because the Kuru dynasty is finished. So he could not satisfy his master. Bhartus ca vipriyam. So whatever he had done, all abominable. Not to the rules and regulations -- neither as a brahmana or as a ksatriya. Nor even a brave soldier. "He has done things like a sudra, or less than a sudra, without any religious principle. So he should be killed. There is no excuse. And it is for his good."

In the sastra it is said that one who is a criminal, he should be killed. Therefore in every country, up to date, a murderer is killed, is hanged. That is good for him. If a murderer is killed in this life, punished by the state, government, then his sinful activities and the resultant action is also finished. He's giving his own life. Otherwise, if he escapes, in next life he'll suffer so many troubles. That is, I think they have described in the previous verse. Tad-vadhas tasya hi sreyah. In the verse number 37 it is explained by Krsna that to kill this person, it is for his good. Because he has done so many criminal activities, so by killing him he'll be saved from serious types of sufferings in the next life. Sreya. Tad-vadhas tasya hi sreyo yad-dosad yaty adhah puman. Prayascitta, it is called prayascitta. Prayascitta, in the sastras prayascitta is described. In every religion there is prayascitta, atonement. In Christian religion the prayascitta is also advised. The sinner has to admit that he has committed sin, then he is excused by Christ or God. But not that "Purposefully I'll go on committing sins, and then I shall admit, and I'll go on with this business and I'll be excused." No. That is not. It is quite natural that if you have done something criminal by mistake, then you can be excused by the authorities. But not that because by your admission you were once excused, and you'll go on committing all kinds of sinful activities, and you'll be excused simply by admission. No. That is not possible. The Christians they do like that. On Sunday they go to the church, and they admit their sinful activities of the week, and pay something fine to the priest, and they become free from the sinful activities, reactions. And from Monday, again he begins. And then again on Sunday, he admits.

There was a movement, Moral Re-armament Movement, MRM. So just like we say that by sankirtana one is freed from all sinful reaction, this moral re-armament movement also preached that by your admission you become free from all sinful reaction. But this should not be... Either hari-nama or the Christian method of atonement should not be taken as profession. This is once or twice you can be excused, but not that you take it as a profession. That is great sinful. We have got also nama-aparadha. Dasa-vidha-nama-aparadha -- ten kinds of offenses. If you chant Hare Krsna mantra with offenses, then it will not be effective. You must avoid the offenses. You know ten kinds of offenses -- guror avajna sruti-sastra-nindanam. There are so many offenses, and one of the offenses is namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. He is greatest offender, one who thinks that "By chanting Hare Krsna mantra, I become free from reaction of sinful life. So the whole day I shall go on committing all kinds of sinful activities, and at night or sometime I shall chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna -- everything will be finished," this is the greatest sin. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. He's never excused. He is condemned. Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepts a sinful man like Jagai and Madhai on the condition that he does not commit any more any sinful activities. On this condition. Not that "I have become a Vaisnava. I'm chanting Hare Krsna, so I can go on committing all kinds of sinful activities. There will be no reaction." This kind of conviction is the greatest offense. You should remember. Not like that, the Christian atonement.

So we should be very careful about this, namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. Factually, we should not take hari-nama as a matter of atonement or subha-kriya. Subha-kriya. Just like there are many subha-kriya, auspicious activities. We should not take chanting of Hare Krsna mantra as some auspicious activity. It is certainly auspicious, but generally people perform some auspicious activities, subha-kriya, to counteract their impious activities. This should not be done. This is also another offense. You cannot utilize hari-nama for any material purposes. Material purpose is... Just like generally, people go to a guru for benefit of some material purpose. "Sir, I have got some cholic pain within my abdomen. Kindly give me your blessing." The materialistic persons, they are after blessing for some material benefit. They are not after Krsna. That is another offense. Therefore to go to guru or to accept a guru, there should not be any material purpose. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. One should go to a guru for spiritual advancement of life, not as a fashion. People go to a guru as a fashion. My Guru Maharaja used to say that "Don't make a guru just like you keep a dog, as a fashion." Nowadays it has become a fashion to keep a dog. In the European, American countries it is a compulsory fashion to have a dog. Everyone keeps a dog. And they love dog very much, more than anything. (laughter) So now we are also imitating, because India is imitator. Since the Britishers came here, we have become first-class imitator. When the 1914, the war was going on. So it is understood that in high court, Calcutta high court, there is leisure hour, tiffin hour. So all the judges were sitting. So one English judge, he asked Sir Asutosh Mukherji, "Mr. Mukherji, now the Germans are coming, and if so, what you are going to do?" Mr. Mukherji, Sir Asutosh Mukherji, he replied, "Yes, as soon as the Germans will come, we shall offer our respect in this way, ‘Come on sir.' " "So you'll not counteract? Why?" "You have taught us to make like this, so we shall do that. Because you have simply taught us this, how to obey your orders. So anyone who will come, we shall do this." The idea is the slave mentality... The Englishmen, in an organized way, they taught the Indians how to become servant of the Englishmen. We have seen. It is Gandhi's movement that he dismantled this idea of white prestige. Otherwise, we were taught like that. So this imitation of Englishmen... Formerly, in our childhood, it was the advancement of civilization if one could imitate the English fashion. That was. So we should not make that a fashion. Guru is not a fashion.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, in Bhagavad-gita, in all Vedic literature... Who requires a guru? That is described. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. He requires a guru. Jijnasuh. Athato brahma jijnasa. That is human life. One who is interested in inquiring about Brahman, he requires a guru. One who has no business for understanding Brahman, simply to make a fashion that "I have a guru," this is useless. It has no value. One must be very much inquisitive to understand the spiritual science. He requires a guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh [SB 11.3.21]. Jijnasuh means inquisitive.

catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukrtino 'rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarsabha

Jnani jijnasur artah artharthi. The grhasthas, they are arta, distressed. So if he's pious, so in his distressed condition he approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead, "My Lord, I am very much distressed. Kindly give me Your favor." "Give me." There is "give me." And jijnasuh, jnani, they do not want anything "Give me," but jijnasuh: "Actually, what is God? What is the Absolute Truth?" That is the difference. One is going to God for asking something, and jijnasuh, jnani, is eulogized because they do not ask anything. To ask anything from God is not higher standard of bhakti. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye. This is pure devotion. People generally go to Krsna, God, "O God, give us our daily bread." This is not bhakti, but it is piety because he goes to God. Therefore sukrtina. He's not the sinful man. He's pious man. At least, he has approached God. And those who are sinful, they do not approach even. They do not go even in the temple to ask something. They say, "What is this nonsense? We don't require. We shall work hard." Nowadays it is going on. "Why you go to temple? Why you give credit to God for your success? You work hard..." There is a philosophy, karma-mimamsa. It is like that. "You work hard and you get the profit. Why you should give credit to God?" This is going on. They are duskrtina. They do not know that without God's mercy you cannot get anything. Otherwise, simply by working hard, anyone could become a big man? No. That is not possible. Without Krsna's desire, without sanction, it cannot be done. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everyone is under the obligation of nature and karma. One cannot surpass. There are many instances in the sastras.

So we are discussing the point, "Who requires a guru?" If you are actually serious about understanding the spiritual subject matter, brahma-jijnasa... Not this market value. If you are interested about brahma-jijnasa... Just like the merchant association, they inquire, "What is the value of this share? What is the value of this commodity? What is the val...?" No. Not that kind of inquiries. But sreya-uttamam. Jijnasuh sreya-uttamam. There are two kinds of objective: sreya and preya. Preya means immediately sense gratification. Just like a child. Child wants to play because it gives him immediately some sense gratification, satisfaction. He does not like to go to a school or to study or to take lesson. He does not like. That is actually preya (sreya). Preya... That is sreya, future benefit. So the parents, the guardians, engage him for future benefit. "You must take education. Otherwise, in future you'll suffer without education." So this is called sreya. Similarly, our human life is meant for sreya, not for preya. The modern civilization, they are interested in preya: immediate some sense gratification. That is not wanted. Therefore sastra said sreya, not preya. The modern civilization is that "Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy. Do not care for what is future life." That is condemned civilization. We should know that there is future life, there is birth after death, and we must be prepared. As it is advised in the Bhagavad-gita,

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam
[Bg. 9.25]

So you can achieve this success of life, mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. There are many kinds of future benefit. Yanti deva-vrata devan. You can be elevated to the higher planetary system. In the heavenly planets you get long duration of life, higher standard of life, that you can get. But that also is not sreya. That is preya. The same material happiness in higher standard. Sreya is mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. If you practice yajinah, worshiping Krsna as Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji, mad-yajinah, the same thing. If you practice, that is your sreya. Otherwise, anything you do, considering it is very nice, you are being entangled. Yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. If you try to advance in devotional service even a little bit, it can save you from the greatest danger. And if you do not do that, if you are entangled, if you are enamored by immediate sense satisfaction, you become karma-bandhana.

Therefore guru is required who can save you from the karma-bandhana process. Karma-mukta. Karma-mukta. That is required. Not karma-bandhana. Karma-mukta. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. If you are trained up to devotional service,

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

That is sa gunan samatityaitan, that is mukti. Baddha, conditioned, means we are under the three modes of material nature. That is conditioned. And mukti means you are not under the obligation of the three modes of material nature. That is karma-mukta. So Krsna can make you immediately mukta. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. That is Krsna's power. Prabhavisnave namah. He can make the lowest class of men... Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papah. They are considered as the most sinful, less than the sudras, candalas. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa... Or more sinful, sudhyanti. They can be purified by the mercy, by the power, prabhavisnave namah. Visnu has got so much power. So that power you can have the benefit if you surrender to Visnu. Therefore Krsna personally comes and requests you,

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
[Bg. 18.66]

So here is Krsna's direction. You take always Krsna's direction, then that is bhakti, and you remain brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. You are always immune from the sinful reactions of this material world. It does not mean... You cannot manufacture. Actually you have to follow the orders of Krsna. Just like Arjuna is being advised. You simply follow Krsna. Not that whimsically he was going to punish Asvatthama. Under direction of Krsna. Similarly, in every step of your life, if you take Krsna's direction or His representative's direction, then you are safe.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.38-39 -- Vrndavana, September 30, 1976

"Surrender To Vishnu"

1 Apr 77 , Bombay


Prabhupada: That is sa gunan samatityaitan, that is mukti. Baddha, conditioned, means we are under the three modes of material nature. That is conditioned. And mukti means you are not under the obligation of the three modes of material nature. That is karma-mukta. So Krsna can make you immediately mukta. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. That is Krsna's power. Prabhavisnave namah. He can make the lowest class of men... Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papah [SB 2.4.18]. They are considered as the most sinful, less than the sudras, candalas. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa... Or more sinful, sudhyanti. They can be purified by the mercy, by the power, prabhavisnave namah. Visnu has got so much power. So that power you can have the benefit if you surrender to Visnu. Therefore Krsna personally comes and requests you,

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
[Bg. 18.66]

So here is Krsna's direction. You take always Krsna's direction, then that is bhakti, and you remain brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. [Bg. 14.26] You are always immune from the sinful reactions of this material world. It does not mean... You cannot manufacture. Actually you have to follow the orders of Krsna. Just like Arjuna is being advised. You simply follow Krsna. Not that whimsically he was going to punish Asvatthama. Under direction of Krsna. Similarly, in every step of your life, if you take Krsna's direction or His representative's direction, then you are safe.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.38-39 -- Vrndavana, September 30, 1976