What Supreme Actually Means

8 Sept 73 , Stokholm

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Prabhupada:

...yogam yunjan mad-asrayah
asamsayam samagram mam
yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu
 [Bg. 7.1]

Sri bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan means the Supreme Being. That is also dictionary word. In the... I consulted the Oxford Dictionary, "God." God means "the Supreme Being." And the Supreme means... That is also stated in the dictionary, "The greatest authority." So God means the greatest authority, supreme, Supreme Being. We have got little idea of supreme. Suppose when you go to work in our office, the proprietor of the establishment or the managing director of the establishment, he's called the supreme. We have got experience of the Supreme Court. In India, we have got Supreme Court. If there is any judgment which is not accepted by the litigant, he can go to the Supreme Court. And in the judgment given in the Supreme is final. No more any appeal. That is final. Supreme means that, final.

So bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan means the Supreme Being. We are all beings. We are also living entities. Similarly, Bhagavan, or God, He's also a living entity. As living entity, we are the same. But He's the supreme living entity. No more greater than Him. Here, we can distinguish. I am here. You may be greater than me. Another person may be greater than you. Another person may be greater than him. In this way, you go on searching, greater, greater, greater, greater, and when you come to a person, nobody is greater than him, that is God. Nowadays, it has become a fashions, so many gods. Especially, they come to your country, Western country. But God cannot be plural number. God is always singular number, one. If God is plural number, then that is not God. That plural-number God may be the living entities. We are living entities, and God is also living entity, but the supreme living entity. That is the difference. It is Vedic statement.

nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam
eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman
 (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13)

Description of God. He's nitya. Nitya means eternal. And we living entities, we are also eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. We, at the present moment, in the material condition, we are changing body. That change of body is called death. Actually, the living entity within the body, he has no death. Na jayate na mriyate va kadacit. This description we have got in the Vedic literature. So God is also nitya, eternal. We are also eternal. God is also cognizant, and we are also cognizant. We have got knowledge, and God has got knowledge. The difference is that I have got knowledge limited within this limit of this body. I have no knowledge what is going on in your body; neither you know what is going on in my body. Therefore, we are individuals. But God is, although individual, He's spread everywhere. That is God.

Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham [Bs. 5.35]. God is within this universe, within yourself, within myself, within the atom. Andantara-stha-paramanu... Paramanu means atom. He's within the atom also. But I, you, we are limited within this body. We are limited. I cannot say that I understand what is going in your body, pains and pleasure. That I cannot say. But I can understand pains and pleasure of my body. So the quality is the same. God has knowledge. You, you, me, we have got knowledge. But our knowledge is limited. God's knowledge is unlimited. But knowledge is there, cognizant. Therefore the Vedas says nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). He is the supreme eternal amongst all other eternals. He's the supreme cognizant amongst all other cognizants. This is the difference.

So Bhagavan means the supreme opulent. Bhaga means opulence. Just like riches, reputation, strength, beauty, knowledge, renunciation. These are called opulences. So every one of us has got little opulences. I have got also little money. You have got also little money. But I cannot claim, neither you can claim that you are the proprietor of all the riches of the world or the universe. That you cannot claim. Nobody can claim. But God can claim. That is the difference. God can claim. As He claims... We understand from the Bhagavad-gita:

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
 [Bg. 5.29]

God says that "I am the enjoyer of everything." We are acting in this material world to enjoy something. We are working day and night to get some fruit of our labor and enjoy it. Everyone, either he's doing business or he's a professional man or he's a worker or anything he is, he's working very hard, day and night, to enjoy something. So... But we cannot claim that we can enjoy everything in this world. Although we have got the desire, but limited power to enjoy. The unlimited enjoyer is Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like we want to enjoy life, family life. We marry one wife. Or, in some countries, more than one wife -- two, three, four. But when Krsna married, He married 16,108. So... And sixteen thousand wives were given sixteen thousand palaces. And each wife got ten children. And Krsna also expanded Himself into 16,108. That is God. For us, it is very difficult to maintain even one wife at the present moment. This is the difference. Just try to understand what is the meaning of this word bhagavan. Bhaga means opulence. This is one of the opulences, richness. When Krsna was present on this planet, He was so rich that He could maintain sixteen thousand queens in sixteen thousand very costly palaces, made of marble, the furnitures made of ivory, and the beds were made of silk, and each and every room was decorated, bedecked with jewels, glittering jewels, so that at night there was no need of electricity or lamp. These descriptions are there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam of Krsna's palace, Krsna's sixteen thousand wives, Krsna's expansion into sixteen thousand forms. This is Bhagavan. Bhagavan means unlimitedly potential. That is Bhagavan.

So here in this chapter, we are trying to understand what is Bhagavan. This Krsna consciousness movement means to try to understand what is Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is our endeavor. It is very difficult to understand Bhagavan, but there is process, you can understand God, or Bhagavan. That process is being described by the Supreme Lord Himself, Bhagavan. Bhagavan uvaca. What is that process?

mayy asakta-manah partha
yogam yunjan mad-asrayah
asamsayam samagram mam
yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu
 [Bg. 7.1]

"My dear Arjuna, now I shall explain to you. You hear with attention." Tac chrnu. What is that? Mayy asakta-manah partha. "You have to increase your attachment for Me." Mayy asakta. Mayi asakta. Mayi means "unto Me," and asakti means "attachment." Mayy asakta-manah. Mind has to be trained up in such a way that you increase your attachment for God, or Krsna.

When we speak of Krsna, you understand "God." Krsna is one of the names of God. There are many millions of names, of which "Krsna" is the chief. Because this word, Krsna, means all attractive, because He's fully opulent. Just like if, in this material world, if one man is very rich, he's attractive. He draws attention of the people in general. If he's very powerful, he draws attention. If he's very reputed, famous, he draws attention. If he's very wise, learned, he draws attention. But Krsna has got all these things in fullness. Therefore, He draws attention of everyone. Therefore His name is Krsna. This "Krsna" means all-attractive. He has got all the attractive features. Therefore He's called Krsna. So Krsna says: "Just try to increase your attachment for Me. Practice this." It is not difficult. Just like we have got attachment for something here in this material world. Somebody's attached to do business, somebody's attached to woman, somebody's attached to man, somebody's attached to riches, somebody's attached to art, somebody's attached to... So many things. There are many subject matters of attachment. So attachment we have got. That we cannot deny. Everyone. We have got some attachment for something. That attachment should be transferred for Krsna. That is called Krsna consciousness. We are attached to something with consciousness, not blindly. So we have got the consciousness. When we turn our attachment, or train ourself to increase our attachment for Krsna, that is called bhakti-yogam. Bhakti-yogam. You have heard the name of yoga. Yoga means connecting link. So if you practice this bhakti-yoga, then, gradually, you increase your attachment for Krsna. That is the... It is stated also in the Bhagavad-gita: bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. "If you practice bhakti-yoga, that is called bhaktya, then you can understand Me. Not otherwise."

There are different types of yoga system, bhakti-yoga, jnana-yoga, karma-yoga, hatha-yoga, dhyana-yoga. So many yogas. But the bhakti-yoga is the supermost. That is stated in the last chapter. I am reading before you the Seventh Chapter. At the end of the Sixth Chapter, Krsna says:

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
 [Bg. 6.47]

Yoginam api sarvesam. One who practices yoga system, he's called yogi. So Krsna says, yoginam api sarvesam: "Of all the yogis..." I have already stated. There are different kinds of yogis. "Of all the yogis..." Yoginam api sarvesam. Sarvesam means "of all yogis." Mad-gatenantar-atmana: "One who is thinking of Me within himself." We can think of Krsna. We have Krsna's form. Krsna Deity, we worship. So if we engage ourself in the worship of the Deity, the form of Krsna, which is nondifferent from Krsna, or, in the absence of Deity, if we chant the holy name of Krsna, that is also Krsna. Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh [Cc. Madhya 17.133]. Krsna is Absolute. Therefore, there is no difference between Him and His name. There is no difference between Him and His form. There is no difference between Him and His picture. There is no difference between Him and His topics. Anything about Krsna is Krsna. This is called absolute knowledge. So either you chant the Krsna's name or you worship Krsna's form -- everything is Krsna.

So there are different forms of devotional service.

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
 [SB 7.5.23]

You just hear about Krsna. That hearing is also Krsna. Just like just now we are trying to hear about Krsna. So that hearing is also Krsna. These boys and girls, they are chanting. That chanting is also Krsna. Sravanam kirtanam. Then smaranam. When you chant of Krsna, if you remember the picture of Krsna, that is also Krsna. Or you see the picture of Krsna. That is also Krsna. You see the Deity of Krsna. That is Krsna. You learn something about Krsna. That is also Krsna. So anyway,

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
 [SB 7.5.23]

Any of the nine items, if you accept, you immediately contact Krsna. Either you accept all the nine items or eight or seven or six or five or four or three or two, at least one, if you rigidly take and... Suppose this chanting. It does not cost anything. We are chanting all over the world. Anyone can chant by hearing us. It does not cost you. And if you chant, there is no loss on your part. So... But if you do, then immediately you contact Krsna. That is the benefit. Immediately. Because Krsna's name and Krsna is non...

Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh [Cc. Madhya 17.133]. These are the descriptions of the Vedic literature. Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Nama cintamanih krsnah. Krsna's name is cintamani. Cintamani means spiritual. Cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu [Bs. 5.29]. These are the Vedic descriptions. Where Krsna lives, the place is described: cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. So nama, the holy name of Krsna, is also cintamani, spiritual. Nama cintamanih krsnah. He is the same Krsna, person. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya [Cc. Madhya 17.133]. Caitanya means not dead, but living entity. You can get the same benefit by chanting name as you get personally talking with Krsna. That is also possible. But this will be gradually realized. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah. Rasa-vigraha means the pleasure, reservoir of all pleasure. As, as you chant the name of Hare Krsna, so gradually you relish some transcendental pleasure. Just like these boys and girls, while chanting, they're dancing in joyfulness. Nobody could follow them. But they are not crazy fellows, that they're chanting. Actually, they're getting some pleasure, transcendental pleasure. Therefore they're dancing. It is not that the dog-dance. No. It is really spiritual dance, the soul's dance. So... Therefore, He's called rasa-vigraha, reservoir of all pleasure.

Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah purnah [Cc. Madhya 17.133]. Complete. Not that one percent less than Krsna. No. Cent percent Krsna. Complete. Purna. Purna means complete. Purnah suddhah. Suddha means purified. There is contamination in the material world. Material, any name you chant, because it is materially contaminated, you cannot continue it for very long. This is another experience. But this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, if you go on chanting for twenty-four hours, you'll never feel fatigued. That is the test. You go on chanting. These boys can chant twenty-four hours, without eating anything, without drinking water. It is so nice. Because it is complete, spiritual, suddha. Suddha means pure. Not materially contaminated. Material pleasure, any pleasure... The highest pleasure in the material world is sex. But you cannot enjoy it twenty-four hours. That is not possible. You can enjoy it for few minutes. That's all. Even if you are forced to enjoy, you'll reject it: "No, no more." That is material. But spiritual means there is no end. You can enjoy perpetually, twenty-four hours. That is spiritual enjoyment. Brahma-saukhyam anantam [SB 5.5.1]. Anantam. Anantam means unending.

So in order to enjoy this spiritual pleasure, you have to practice some tapasya, austerity. Because you are spiritual, every one of us, spiritual. Aham brahmasmi. We are not this material body. We change. It is for certain years. Again we change: another body, another body. This changing of body is going on because we are seeking material pleasure. So God is giving us different types of body for enjoying different types of material pleasure. But if we want to enjoy spiritual pleasure, then you do not require to change body. That is the mission of Krsna consciousness. That every one of you want pleasure, but that pleasure, in the material world, you cannot enjoy perpetually. But if you purify yourself of this material contamination, if you do not accept this material body again, and you remain in your spiritual body, then you enjoy transcendental bliss eternally.

So this human form of life is meant for that purpose. Lower than the human form of life, cats and dogs, they cannot understand what is spiritual pleasure. That is not possible. But in the human form of life you can understand what is spirit and what is matter and what is spiritual pleasure and what is material pleasure. This distinction we can make. That much consciousness is developed in the human form of life. But if we misuse this developed consciousness for material pleasures, then we are missing the opportunity. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Our Krsna consciousness movement is that you have got this human form of body. Don't miss the opportunity. That you can, if you properly utilize, if you train yourself, you can be transferred to the platform of eternal, spiritual bliss. This is Krsna consciousness movement.

So here Krsna is teaching, Himself, how you can become Krsna conscious. The first item, He says: mayy asakta-manah partha. "My dear Arjuna, if you increase your attachment for Me, that is the beginning." And that is the end. That is beginning, and that is end. It is not that beginning is something... Spiritual means it is nothing beginning, nothing end. The beginning and the end, the same thing. If you increase your attachment for Krsna... Because, at the present moment, in our material conditional life, we have no attachment for Krsna. We have got attachment for non-Krsna. So you have to transfer that attachment to Krsna. Attachment is there; simply you have to transfer the object of attachment. So here it is said: mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This is yoga. This is meditation. If you are fond of meditation, then you meditate upon Krsna, on the form of Krsna, playing flute, bluish color, having a peacock on His head. The description is there. Barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam.

venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.30]

Venum kvanantam. Krsna is, you'll see, Krsna's picture, always a flute in His hand. Always joyful. Because He's the Supreme Lord, there is nothing moroseness. Always joyful. That is the symptom of spiritual life. You'll see Krsna always smiling, always playing on His flute. As you see in this material world also, somebody, he has got a flute and he's playing, enjoying. So this is imitation. That enjoyment will not last. But Krsna's flute-playing is eternal. He's enjoying eternally. Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam [Bs. 5.30]. And His eyes are just like lotus petals. Very beautiful. Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam, barhavatamsam asitambuda-su... Barhavatamsam, a peacock feather, He's very fond of a peacock feather. So that is on His head. Barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam. Very beautiful body like new, blackish cloud. But very beautiful. Blackish cloud. Asitambuda-sundarangam. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya. But, although he's blackish, He is more beautiful than millions and trillions of Cupids. Kandarpa... Therefore, He's all-beautiful.

venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.30]

Visesa-sobham. Specifically beautiful. Visesa-sobham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami.

So this Deity, description of Krsna, is there in the temple, in the book. So if you always simply think of this beautiful form of Krsna, that is called perfect meditation. If you simply think of. That is very easy. If you... We are always attracted by beautiful things. So Krsna is the most beautiful. So if you meditate upon Krsna, then your meditation becomes very easy and perfect. Because Krsna has said that yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47]. "Of all the yogis, one who is thinking of Me within himself," mad-gatenantar-atmana sraddhavan, "with devotion and faith," bhajate yo mam, "engaged in devotional...," sa me yukta..., "he's the first-class yogi." So you can become a first-class yogi at home without any expenditure, without any loss. But you come, become the greatest yogi and achieve the result. Krsna consciousness movement is so nice. And we are distributing this system of yoga... We don't charge anything. We are not business man, that we give you something and charge something. Of course, when we give you book, we take, because we have to pay to the printers, to the press man. That is another thing. So far our words are concerned, our service is concerned, we don't charge anything. That is not our movement. That is free.

So Krsna says mayy asakta-manah partha. In this way, you can begin your attachment for Krsna. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam... This is yoga. To increase attachment for Krsna is the first-class yoga system. But how it can be done? Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. You have to take shelter of Krsna or His representative. Asraya. Asraya means to take shelter. You cannot practice this yoga separately. You have to take shelter of Krsna or His devotee. That is called mad-asraya. Or mad-asraya means "one who has taken shelter of Me." One may say that "How can I take shelter of Krsna? Krsna is not here present." He's present everywhere. It is a question of realization. Then you can take shelter of His representative. Mad-asraya. Asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac... [Bg. 7.1]. Asamsayam, "without any doubt," samagram, "in complete," yatha, "as," jnasyasi, "you can understand," tac chrnu, "you hear from Me." Krsna is describing Himself, how you can increase your attachment for Krsna.

This will be very elaborately described. We have no time to read now, but one or two verses I can speak before you. Just like Krsna says: raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh [Bg. 7.8]. Raso 'ham. Rasa means the taste, or the attractive taste. Just like when you eat sweetmeat or any, any eatables, there is some nice taste for which you eat. Or you drink water. You are thirsty; you want water. But there is a good taste in the water. Otherwise, how you quench your thirst? There is taste. Everyone knows. So Krsna says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya: "Any liquid thing, the taste, which attracts you, that is I am." Even you are a drunkard, you are fond of tasting wine, I should recommend that you simply think that "This taste of wine is Krsna." That will make a yogi of you. That will make you the greatest yogi. If you simply think this, that "I am tasting wine. Oh, very nice taste. This is Krsna." Is there any loss if you think like that? This is Krsna consciousness. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: [Bg. 7.8] "I am the shining of the sun and the moon." Now, every day, morning, you see the sun shining. So as soon as you see the sun shining, if you think of Krsna: "Oh, this sun shining is Krsna," you become a yogi. You become a yogi. At night also, as soon as you see the moonshine, so immediately, if you think, "This moon shining is Krsna..."

So you can become Krsna conscious in any circumstances. There is no limitation, that "You have to become Krsna conscious under this condition, that condition." The condition will be enunciated later on. First of all, try to become Krsna..., that you, at least, you drink water and so many times in a day, you just try to think that the taste of the water is Krsna. That is the beginning of your Krsna yoga system. And then, if you chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, then you'll become, gradually, the greatest yogi without becoming very learned scholar, without becoming Vedantist, without becoming religionist or... Simply by this process you try to practice, and your life will be perfect.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Introduction To Maha-mantra

New York, September 8, 1966

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Prabhupada: The door is open? You can keep the door open. Yes. Isvara... Just try to cite, recite this. (devotees repeat each word)

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

(repeats twice) Now, some of you members have asked me to explain the meaning of this chanting, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Now, this sound is transcendental sound, transcendental sound, incarnation, sound incarnation of the Absolute Truth. Just try to understand what is incarnation. Incarnation means... The Sanskrit word is avatara, and that is translated into English as "incarnation." Of course, the root meaning of incarnation I cannot exactly explain to you, but the root meaning of the... (aside:) Somebody stop. Yes. The root meaning of avatara is "which comes from the transcendental sky, the spiritual sky to the material sky." That is called avatara. Avatarana. Avatarana. Just like... Avatarana means "coming from up to down." That is called avatarana. And avatara is understood that when God or His bona fide representative comes from that sky to this material plane, that is called avatara.

So this sound, this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord. The sarvam khalv idam brahma. The whole thing, either material or spiritual, whatever we have got experience, nothing is separated from the Supreme Absolute Truth. Nothing is separated. Everything has emanated from the Absolute Truth. (aside:) Come on. Sit down. But just like... The example... Just like earth. Earth, then from earth, you have got wood, fuel. From fuel, when you get fire, first of all there is smoke. Then, after smoke, there is fire. And the fire, from fire, you can take work. Now, beginning from earth, from earth there is wood; from wood there is smoke; from smoke there is fire. There is a link between the fire and the earth. But the work of the fire, the benefit of the fire, can be had at the last stage, when there is real ignition of fire. Similarly, there is link. The whole material cosmic situation, manifestation, what we see, it is just like the smoke. The fire is behind it. That is spiritual sky. But still, in the smoke, you can feel some heat also. So similarly, this sound vibration of the spiritual world is here so that even in this material world, where there is a scarcity of that spiritual fire, we can appreciate, we can feel, the warmth of that fire.

So this is the meaning of, in a nutshell, meaning of this, I mean to say, spiritual vibration. And grammatical meaning is these, all these words, sixteen words: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, sixteen... Now, according to grammatical rules, when somebody is addressed... Just like in your English language it is, note of address is, "O Mr. such and such," similarly, in grammar, Sanskrit grammar, the same note of address, which is called sambodhana, that is expressed in this way. So Hare, Hare is the note of address form of the sound Hara. Hara. Hara means the potency of the Supreme Lord, potency. The Supreme Lord is represented everywhere by His potency. There is a nice verse in the Visnu Purana. It is said like that: Just like a fire, the fire situated in one place, it distributes its heat and light. Just like... Take the example for the sun. The sun is located at a certain fixed-up place. That we can see. But the heat of the sun and the light of the sun is distributed all over the universe. Ekadesa-sthitasyagneh. Ah, yes. The verse is like...

eka-desa-sthitasyagner
jyotsna vistarini yatha
tatha sarvam akhilam jagat
brahmanah saktih brahmanah

Akhilam jagat. In this world, whatever you are seeing, it is nothing but distribution of the energy of the Supreme Lord. Just like you can feel the light and the heat of the sun. This light and heat of the sun are different energies of the sun. The energy and the energetic, the thing from which the energy is generated and the energy, they are nondifferent. The sunshine or the sun heat is not different from the sun. Because there is heat in the sun, therefore we feel the heat of sunshine. And there is light in the sun, therefore we see the sunshine. So this sunshine and sun heat is not different from the sun as it is. But still it is different. Still it is different. You cannot say that "Because I am feeling the heat of the sun, therefore I have approached sun." No. Sun is far, far away from you. And because the sunshine has entered your room, you cannot say that "Sun has entered my room." No. Still, sunshine and sun heat is not different from the sun.

Similarly, the whole creation, anything... Generally there are three things: the potent, God, and His three energies. This is the sum total: internal energy, external energy, and marginal energy. External energy is this material manifestation. Just like this body is my external energy. I am soul, so my external energy is this body. Similarly, I have got my internal energy. That is my consciousness. Consciousness is my internal energy, and this body and the mind and this material demonstration, or manifestation, is my external energy. The body has developed, the mind has developed, from me, soul, not that I, consciousness, is developed from this body. No. That is a wrong conception. That is a wrong conception. You cannot develop consciousness from this body. Otherwise a dead man could have been again revived to consciousness. Because if matter is the cause of consciousness, then the whole matter is there already. Whole matter. The dead body means, so far material substance is concerned, everything is there, present. Nothing has disappeared. If you say there is no blood-oh, that is not very difficult thing, blood, a red substance. Do you mean to say something red injected within this body will bring back the life? No. If redness is the cause of life or consciousness, then modern chemical can make immediately by chemical combination the whole thing red. Or take example: there are many natural stones, they are by nature red. If you say that "This artificial redness cannot give life; the natural redness is the cause of life," then you take the stone. It has got natural redness, but there is no life. But there is no life. So redness is also not the cause of consciousness of life. That is a wrong theory. That is a complete... Consciousness is completely different thing, qualitatively different. Nothing is different from one to another, just like I have explained already that the earth, wood, then smoke, then fire -- everything is linked up, but everything is also different from one another.

So the whole thing... The Supreme Lord is represented throughout everything, whatever you see, matter or spirit or anything, physical, chemical -- whatever you can give name -- there are so many things. But they are not separated from God. God is linked up in everywhere. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Just like our Bhagavad-gita, we have begun that yena sarvam idam tatam: "That thing which is present all over the body, that you are." So this is individual consciousness: "I am present all over my body." Similarly, the supreme consciousness, he is present all over the universe, all over. This is only a small manifestation of God's energy, very minute. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find, ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. This jagat... Jagat means this material manifestation. This material manifestation is a one-fourth part demonstration of this whole energy of the Supreme Lord, one-fourth part. So nothing is different from God. But there are certain philosophers, they say, pantheist or monotheist... There are so many theists. They are also be... They believe in the Supreme, but impersonal. But we followers of this Krsna philosophy, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavata, we do not follow that philosophy. What is that philosophy? The other sections, they say that "Because God is distributed all over everywhere, therefore there is no separate existence of God." But we do not say that. We say that, the example, that because the sun is distributing his heat and energy, therefore you cannot say that there is no existence of sun. Sun is separately existing. In spite of distributing for millions of years heat, the reservation of heat in the sun is intact. It is not diminished. But everyone knows that for millions and billions of years the sun is distributing heat. Nobody knows the history, how long. Your distributing center, the powerhouse, if you fail to supply coal or oil, then after one hour the whole New York City will be dark. So just you can imagine who is supplying the fuel in the heat of the sun so that for millions and billions of years the heat of the sun is in the same temperature. So this is only one of the creation of the God, God's creation. But just imagine. If God's creation is so unlimited and so much energetic, then how much energetic and how much powerful is the creator? That is to be... These things are to be thought. In everything, everything, we can have God consciousness. If this watch is so wonderful workmanship and we are struck with wonder how nicely it is giving time, how the machine is adjusted, now, before appreciating this watch, how much we have to appreciate the person who has discovered this watch, how much brain he has got? Before appreciating a powerful brain in this world, one should appreciate who has given him this powerful brain. If the man has attained that powerful brain out of his own accord, then great powerful brain like Professor Einstein, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, they could create another brain like them so that in their absence there would not have been scarcity of scientist and powerful brain. But they could not do that. Therefore they are not creator of the powerful brain. The powerful brain is gift of the supreme powerful brain.

So in every respect, if we think... This is called philosophy. If we have got thoughtful propensities, if we can little think over every matter, you will find that God is present everywhere, and still, He is personally present in His own place. The same example: the sun is present everywhere by heat and light; still, sun, the sun, has its own location. That you cannot deny. Similarly, God is present everywhere. Not only everywhere... We learn from Brahma-samhita,

eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-kotim
yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antam
andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.35]

This Govinda, anadir adir govindah [Bs. 5.1]. So the prayer is, "I worship that Govinda," sarva-karana-karanam, karana, "who is the cause of all causes." Cause of all causes. Now, in this verse of Brahma-samhita we find that one of His plenary portion... In the Vedic hymns we find that God has become many. Eko bahu syam. God is one without second, but He has become Himself many. We are also God. Out of that many, we are one. We are one. We are not separate from God. So, but there are amongst the "many"s there is a difference of potency, difference of potencies. Just like what you can do, I cannot do. Your workmanship may not be equal with my workmanship. Your brain work may not be equal to my brain work. There are differences. Each and every living entity, they are different from each other so far individual capacities are concerned. So in spite of many... That is God's creation. In spite of many, each and every thing, you will find there is some difference. You can sit down at a place in New York and go on counting and seeing all people passing before you -- you won't find one man is exactly like the other man. Not only that, in court, you know, every one of you know, that they take impression of the left hand thumb impression. Now, this thumb impression... You go on taking millions and millions of thumb impression, and you won't find one thumb impression is exactly like the other. And because there is difference of thumb impression, therefore the identity is taken in that way, that "This particular man's thumb impression, even if he denies his signature, the thumb impression will corroborate that his signature is this." So that is God's creation.

Similarly, there are two kinds of expansions of the Lord. One kind of expansion is called Visnu-tattva. Visnu-tattva means the expansion, they are as equal as the God Himself. And there are expansions which are called the jiva-tattva, the living entities. This expansion of the living entities, they are not equally powerful, but the expansion of Visnu-tattva is equally powerful, as good as God Himself. So the incarnation... Incarnation of God means the expansion which is as good as God Himself. That is called incarnation. So this, I mean to, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the expansion, incarnation, sound incarnation, of God. It is expansion and a plenary expansion, sound, sound representation... Not representation. God, present Himself in this form of sound. Because we cannot see God with our present eyes, present eyes, because this is not our proper eyes. They are material eyes. You don't think that this eye, the transparent thing which is floating in this, I mean to say, hole... That is not seeing. Similarly, if you can present, or if you take this eye... You cannot see. That cannot see. It is simply a lens only. It is only lens. So none of this body, bodily part, is actually the thing which is taking part. So therefore with these eyes, with these material eyes, you cannot see. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. The present senses, the present senses cannot have any knowledge of the Supreme God. But how then we can have knowledge? If my senses are unfit, then how can I make it fit? Oh, that is the thing. That is the thing, that you have to spiritualize, spiritualize these material sense, I mean to say, organs. And then, when you spiritualize, then you can have the spiritual vision and see God and yourself. The same example which I have recited many times: just like the iron rod. Iron rod, you put into the fire. It gets warm -- warm, warmer, warmer. And when it is red hot, then it is no longer iron. Iron it is, but it does not act as iron, but it acts as fire. That iron rod which is red hot in association with fire, you can take that rod and touch anything; it will burn. That means it is no longer acting as iron; it is acting as fire. Similarly, if you associate with this transcendental incarnation, sound incarnation of God, then you will be gradually godly. You will be godly. You can become godly with God's association, not by any other material, extraneous things. No. Just like you can have fire only in association with fire, not with water. If you want to get yourself warm, then you have to associate with fire, not with water, not with air. Similarly, if you want to spiritualize your vision, if you want to spiritualize your action, if you want to spiritualize the whole constitution of your existence, then you have to associate with the supreme spirit. And that supreme spirit is very kind because He is everything. That we have already explained. Everything is interrelated with the Supreme; therefore He is interrelated with sound also. So by God's inconceivable potency, He can present before yourself in sound incarnation. That is His potency. That is His potency. He can do that. And therefore this name, Krsna, and the Supreme Lord Krsna, there is no difference.

So our, this sound representation of the Supreme Lord constantly will make us... Just like our association with the fire, the, I mean to say, iron rod's association with the fire makes the rod equally qualified, exactly -- not equally qualified, but almost the quality of burning it gets -- similarly, by our constant association with Lord... Lord is not only incarnation in a sound form. He is incarnated in many other forms, in many other forms. Just like arca. Arca means the form of the Lord situated, I mean to say, established in some temple and worshiped. That is also incarnation of God. That is not idol worship. People do not know that this is an authorized process of realizing God, or they have never tasted or practiced it. They cannot understand. They say it is idol worship. No. It is not idol worship. It is not idol worship. I'll give you one example. Just like in the front of your door there is a box -- "U.S. Mail," it is written. And you put your letters within that box, and after few days you get reply from your friend that "I have received your letter, and this is such and such, such and such." Now, if somebody puts another box like that, exactly imitation: "Then why shall I spend postage to putting letters in this box, U.S. Mail? I require postage. But then why shall I not put up a box like that? Let me prepare a box like that so that it can go without postage. I want to save postage." Now, he is going on, putting letters in that without postage. And after sometimes he sees all the letters are lying there; it has not been dispatched -- because it is imitation. And the box which is supplied by the post office, that is authorized. In the matter, in material, you will find this box and that imitation box is the same thing. So this is a science. You see. Although we find that "This form of the Lord... The Hindus, they have established one statue in the temple, and they are worshiping as the Lord? How is that? Is it Lord is a stone? It is wood?" But he does not know that because it is authorized, because it is authorizedly worshiped, therefore even it is stone or wood, it can act. It can act. Just like the authorized post office, although seemingly it is a box which I can prepare, but it is acting because it is authorized, similarly, the authorized, authorized symbol or representation of God is also God. He's not different from God. Then why God is like that? It is His mercy. Because I cannot see God with my these eyes -- I can see stone and wood and material things -- therefore God is kind enough (to appear) in a form suitable to my seeing and accept my service. It is His kindness. And besides that, if everything is God, because everything has link with the God, with the Supreme Truth, then God, being omnipotent, why He cannot represent Himself in everything? If everything is God, everything is emanation of God, then God has got the power to manifest Himself in everything. That is His omnipotency. So these are consideration.

So the explanation of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is addressing, addressing the Supreme Lord through the energy, Hara. Hara is the energy, internal energy. Just like when there is... Of course, in your country there is no sun worship, but in India there are persons who are sun worshipers. So they worship sun with so many things. And there is a lamp also. Now, this lamp is a light, but it is being offered for satisfying the sun. Now, sun is so lightful, this light is merely insignificant before the sunlight. But still, because I have no other means, I am getting a sunlight, imitation of that light, and offering, and that offering is accepted. So these are spiritual conception. When we gradually make our progressive advancement, these things will be realized. But for the present we can take this instruction from authorized scripture that,

atah sri-krsna-namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah
 [Cc. Madhya 17.136]

The God's name, God's form, God's quality, God's paraphernalia, God's entourage, like that, and anything in relation to God cannot be realized with our present senses. But when we are in service attitude, then God is so merciful, He is so pleased, that our tiny efforts to realize Him attracts Him, and He becomes manifested gradually as we make our progress in spiritual service or devotional service.

So this method, chanting, chanting of the transcendental name of the Supreme Lord, is a part of devotional service. There are nine kinds of devotional services, of which

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
 [SB 7.5.23]

These are different, nine processes. Sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam means hearing, and kirtanam means chanting, chanting. So by this process... Just like I chant and you hear, and you chant and I hear. Parasparam. Bodhayantah parasparam. This is the factual activities of devotion in devotional society. This bodhayantah parasparam: I chant, you hear, and you chant, I hear. So by this process, the transcendental name, the sound incarnation of the Supreme Lord, becomes manifest, manifest so that we can realize God simply by chanting and hearing. Simply by chanting and hearing that will be realized. Of course, there are some rules and regulations for chanting, but in the beginning we haven't got to observe those rules and regulation at the present. First of all let us have the taste for chanting; then we shall be little careful that the rules and regulations are followed. In the beginning, if we stick up to the... Rules and regulations are subordinate, subordinate thing. Just like you enter into an office. You are appointed in some office to work. So on the very day, you do not know all the rules and regulations. But because you do not know all the rules and regulation, that does not mean that you cannot be appointed. First of all let yourself be appointed. Now, working, working, yourself you will know that rules and regulations: "This is the rules, and this is the regulation." Just like in my life, I will say one instance. When I met my spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, so as a gentleman meets as a gentleman, so he was sitting in a couch like that. So, and I also sat down on that very couch. So I did not know that what are the rules and regulations. Now, when I saw that his other disciples are coming, and they are sitting down, (laughs) so I thought myself, "Oh, I have done this wrong. I should not have sat with His Divine Grace." So of course, I did not get down immediately, but I took it, and from next day I did not sit. So rules and regulations automatically was taught. So that rules and regulations is not very important. The important is... The thing is that we must take up. The first rules and regulation is that we must have some attachment for this. Attachment for this. Then, automatically, rules and regulation we shall learn. There will be no difficulty.

So this transcendental sound, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, you don't think that I have come here -- it is my personal manufacture. No. It is not. No. It is not my personal manufacture. It is authorized just like the post box is authorized, because all previous acaryas, all previous authorized persons in this line, they have done it. Just like see Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is chanting and dancing, chanting and dancing, you see, the same thing. This picture is before you so that gradually, when you feel ecstasy, you will also dance like Him. And when you automatically dance, then you will know that the thing is already realized. Not artificially, but when you feel, "Oh, let me dance. It is so much ecstatic. Let me dance." Nothing should be done artificially. Let everything come automatically. And only we have to follow. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. This is a verse from scripture, that tarko apratisthah, if you simply go on arguing about spiritual matters -- "This is not, this is not, this is not, yes, this is not..." I say something; you say something. No, no, no. You cannot realize spiritual objects simply by this speculation, argument. Our argument or logical, I mean to say, strength has no access in the spiritual world. The Vedic mantra says, nayam atma pravacanena labhyo na medhaya na bahuna srutena: "Atma, the supreme self, cannot be realized pravacanena." Suppose I am very expert speaker, I can present things very nicely -- but without any substance. Oh, that won't help you. Simply by jugglery of words, if I can captivate you, oh, that won't help you. Nayam atma pravacanena. This is pravacana.

Of course, we are delivering speeches from authoritative book, Bhagavad-gita. I am not speaking before you of my own imagination. I am speaking from the authorized book. Therefore it is not exactly pravacana, neither I am squeezing out some meaning for my purpose. I am just presenting you the same principle. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. As Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached, I am trying to present the same thing before you in a different language only. That's all. Because in India He preached in Sanskrit. He was a very learned scholar in Sanskrit. Formerly, any big man, any big scholar, they would be big scholar in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was the written language. Even in the beginning of the British period, Sanskrit was written language. It is the policy of Lord McCauley that he transformed the whole attitude. They made a plan that "If Indians remain as Indian, then we cannot rule over. Then we cannot rule over. We must make them Anglicized." So that policy was followed for two hundred years, so India has lost its original culture. So therefore the original point is that tarko apratisthah. We cannot realize the Supreme Truth simply by argument or logical presentation or philosophical speculation. No. Tarko apratisthah srutayo vibhinna [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Srutayo means scriptures. Now say, for example, Bhagavad-gita and your Bible and the Muhammadans, they'll present Koran. So of course, this Bhagavad-gita is little different from Vedic scripture. That we have already explained. It is an independent something, universal. So Vedic scripture, Koran, Bible, or Zoroastrian... There are so many religions, Buddhist religion, so many. So there may be some difference of opinion. Srutayor vibhinna. Vibhinna means different. Now, you cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by your mundane arguments and by your logical strength, neither you can catch up the right thing by reading different scriptures. Srutayor vibhinna. Nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. And if you follow great philosophers, great thinkers, then also you will find one thinker is different from another thinker, one philosopher is differing from another philosopher. So whom to follow? This philosopher says that God is a person; another philosopher says God is imperson; another philosopher says that God is everywhere and there is no separate existence of God. So many philosophies there are in the world. And one person is not actually philosopher if he does not differ from other philosophers. That is the philosophical basic principle. You are a philosopher. If I cannot make your philosophical conclusion null and void and make my philosophy established, then I am not a philosopher. You see? That is the way, going on. Nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam: "He is not a philosopher if he cannot present a separate theory." He is not a philosopher.

Then how to catch up the Absolute Truth? What is the way? Now, dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam: "Therefore the Absolute Truth is concealed within your heart." Nihitam guhayam. Now, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah: [Cc. Madhya 17.186] "You just try to follow the great personalities, what they are doing, what they are doing." Now, about this mahajana, there is also difference of opinion who is mahajana. But so far our Vedic culture is concerned, there are specific mention, mahajana. And so far Lord Krsna is concerned, so there is no two opinions about His authority throughout the whole world. And so far we are concerned, Hindus, or the followers of the Vedic religion, there is no difference of opinion so far Krsna's authority is concerned. There are five authorities, recognized authorities, in India so far this is..., spiritual life is concerned. One of them is Sri Ramanujacarya and other is Sankaracarya. The other is Madhvacarya, other is Visnu Svami, and other Nimbarka, Nimbaditya (?). Principal. The whole, I mean, some of them flourished, say, two thousand years before; some of them 1,500 years before; some of them eleven hundred years before. Just like there are different ages, they have come. But all of them, in spite of their coming in different ages, they all are in one opinion -- krsnas tu bhagavan svayam: [SB 1.3.28] "Krsna, Lord Krsna, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Just like we have cited, isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]: "The supreme controller, the Supreme Lord, is Krsna." Now, we can see from His presentation of this Bhagavad-gita how supreme He is. He spoke this truth five thousand years before, and continually, for five thousand years, all scholars are studying this scripture, and studying very devotedly to understand it. You know our present president in India, Dr. Radhakrishnan. He is a renowned scholar of the world, Dr. Radhakrishnan. When he came to your country, your president, late Mr. Kennedy, oh, he welcomed him as his own teacher, because when Mr. Kennedy was a student in the Oxford University, Dr. Radhakrishnan was a visiting professor. In the open meeting Mr. Kennedy admitted that "Now Dr. Radhakrishnan has come as the president, but he is always my teacher. He is still my teacher." It was very kind of him that he received him as a teacher, not as contemporary. So even that Dr. Radhakrishnan, he is also studying this Bhagavad-gita very, I mean to say, profoundly. You know your Professor Einstein. Oh, he was a profound, I mean to say, student of this Bhagavad-gita. Hitler was a great student of Bhagavad-gita. So many, in all the countries. There are so many Muhammadans in India, oh, they are devout student of Bhagavad-gita. I know one Dr. Inrai(?) of Allahabad University. Oh, he is so devoted to Lord Krsna that on the birthday of Lord Krsna he must write one nice article and publish in the paper. So this instruction, that mahajano yena gatah sa panthah... [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We cannot have the knowledge of the Absolute Truth simply by argument or simply by philosophy or simply by big brain or speaking power. No, no. All these things will not do. Simply we have to follow the great authority.

So Lord Krsna, Lord Caitanya, He introduced this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare for this age. And He recommended, kalau... Not recommended by His own brain, but it is recommended in the scriptures:

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

If you want to realize the Supreme Truth, then you must realize this: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, whenever you get... Harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam: "Only this." And if you think, "Oh, only this? Why not other?" No. Kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Nasty eva means "There is no alternative." And He repeats this: "no alternative, no alternative, no alternative," three times. Three times. That means He is giving too much stress. So our process is like that, that we are following a great personality, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He introduced from the scripture, not in His own way. Nothing should be accepted which is not recognized. You see? So this is recognized method. Now it depends on us. Let us follow this process and see how we are making progress in the spiritual path. You see?

Thank you very much. Now, if there is any question, you can raise. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture on Maha-mantra -- New York, September 8, 1966

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Behave Ideally or Don't Preach

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.4
Vrndavana, September 8, 1975

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Prabhupada:

yad yad acarati sreyan
itaras tat tad ihate
sa yat pramanam kurute
lokas tad anuvartate
 [SB 6.2.4]

Very important verse. Ideal class of men therefore needed in the society. Therefore Vedic society is divided -- ideal men: the brahmanas. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. The brahmana, the saintly person, the sannyasi, the rajarsi. This is required. Imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the Bhagavad-gita was taught to the rajarsi, not to the third-class men. Rajarsi, raja and rsi at the same time. Although king, but they were saintly king, just like Maharaja Yudhisthira, the ideal king. Bhagavan, Ramacandra, the ideal king, ideal king, so ideal that because some citizen criticized that "Lord Ramacandara, King Ramacandra, has accepted His wife who was kidnapped by Ravana," and he was a low-class man, washerman, and still, the king, Lord Ramacandra, thought that "My citizens are criticizing Me." Immediately He separated Laksmi-devi, Sita. This is ideal king, no criticism from the citizen, even Lord Ramacandra. This is called rajarsi.

Maharaja Yudhisthira, Maharaja Pariksit... Pariksit Maharaja was going on a tour. These Pandavas, they were the emperor of the whole world. So he saw that a black man was trying to kill a cow. So immediately he took action: "Who is this man trying to kill cow?" So he chastised him, punished him. He was going to kill him, but he saved himself, that "This is my time. I am Kali-yuga. I am the representative. So this is my business, to kill cow. So what can I do?" Then he said that "You better get out. Otherwise I shall kill you." "So where shall I go?" "Now, out of my kingdom." "Then where is not your kingdom? The whole world is your kingdom. Where shall I go? I am also your subject. You must give me a place." Then he gave him the places -- striyah suna panam dyutam yatra papas catur-vidhah: "You can remain in four places. Where illicit sex is indulged, prostitution, you can remain there; and suna," means unnecessary killing animals, slaughterhouse, "you can remain there. And brothel and liquorhouse, striyah suna pana, where intoxication is indulged, you can remain there. And gambling." Pana dyuta [SB 1.17.38]. Dyuta means gambling. "You can remain in these places." So it was very difficult for Kali to find out such place because Maharaja Pariksit's time the kingdom was so nice that there was no brothel, no slaughterhouse, no liquor shop and no gambling club. This is rajarsi. So you could not find. Therefore Kali made a conspiracy how to get out Maharaja Pariksit so that he could spread his influence. So long Maharaja Pariksit was there, there was no influence of Kali-yuga. So after all, the age has come. It is ordained. So Pariksit Maharaja was cursed by a brahmana to die within seven days, and after his death the Kali-yuga spreaded its influence. And now, by the advancement of ages, you will find these four places in every home. This is Illicit sex, and intoxication, gambling and meat-eating -- this is Kali-yuga.

So the king was very strict not to allow these things. The people were following. Yad yad acarati sreyan. The king was strict; the government was strict. Therefore people were following. So these sinful activities of the whole world can be stopped immediately if the government is strong. But the government members, they are themself, they are victims of Kali-yuga, so how they can stop it? Some big, big politician, when they enjoy, they bring naked girls and drinking, and this is their standard of enjoyment. So how you can expect good government? It is not possible. Why they should be bothering about people's happiness? They want to occupy big, big ministerial post to enjoy their life. Therefore the position of the whole world is so deteriorated because there is no ideal man. All rogues, thieves,  I mean to say, in very fallen condition. Therefore people are deteriorating. Dampatye ratim eva hi. These will be the signs of Kali-yuga. Dampata means husband and wife. Their relation will stand so long they satisfy one another by sex, rati. Rati means sex. Dampate ratim eva hi. And as soon as there is sex disturbance: divorce -- "I don't want you." Vipratve sutram eva hi: "A brahmana means one, two paisa thread." That's all. "A sannyasi means a rod." These are the explanations. And a very expert man means kutumba, daksyam kutumba-bharanam. If anyone can maintain a family -- family means one wife and one or two children -- then he is to be considered very expert, successful because... Therefore you will find in these days -- no wife, no children, no family. In Western countries they take dog as the best friend, and television. That's all. Because this is Kali-yuga, no family. But he must have some companion, but he doesn't want family, the botheration of family. Then dog is the best friend. What can be done? This is going on, and it will increase more and more, more and more.

Therefore, at the present moment it is a great necessity to have some ideal men. Yad yad acarati sreyan. Therefore we are endeavoring to create some ideal men, Krsna conscious men, their character, their behavior, their ideal aim of life. So those who have taken to Krsna consciousness seriously, they should be ideal men. The society will be benefited at least by seeing their behavior. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us, apani acari prabhu jiveri siksaya. If you don't behave yourself as an ideal man, you cannot preach. Your preaching will not be successful. Apani acari prabhu jiveri siksaya. Because the nature's law is that ordinary men, they follow the ideal. If there is rajarsi, ksatriya, ruler, king, just like saintly person, like Maharaja Yudhisthira, Pariksit, Lord Ramacandra -- there are many -- Maharaja Ambarisa, then people will be happy. Just like it is described, during the reign of Maharaja Pariksit there was no trouble at all of the citizens. They were free from even ordinary minor diseases. It is said there, in the Srimad Bhagavatam. And so far production is concerned, it is said that the land was producing all the necessities. Sarva-dugham mahi. Sarva-kama-dugham mahi. Actually we get everything from the earth, all supplies. We are getting these flowers from earth. We are getting these fruits from earth. We are getting foodstuff from the earth. We are getting minerals from the earth -- everything. Sarva-dugham mahi. So nature will supply you sufficiently, provided you follow ideal life. Otherwise nature will punish you. There will be no supply.

These are all described in Srimad Bhagavatam. The nature was not supplying sufficiently, and then Maharaja Prthu, the personified Prithivi, he was going to kill her, punish her. King's business is, if somebody is doing wrong, then the king must punish. So he was prepared to punish Prthvi. She submitted that "King, why you are trying to punish me? It is my business when people become demons, I restrict my supply." So this is nature's law. As soon as you become demons, godless, nature will restrict supply. There will be no rain, no production. There will be scarcity, everything. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everything is being carried by prakrti. And prakrti is working under the direction of Krsna. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. Without prakrti's cooperation you cannot get anything. You may have big, big mills and factories -- useless. You cannot manufacture, I mean to say, rice, grains. Even if you eat meat, the cows and the animals, they must eat vegetables. There will be no vegetables. How you will be able to eat meat even? So nature has got the restricting power. As you become more and more demons and sinful, nature will restrict supply and you'll suffer. This is the law.

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti
 [Bg. 7.14]

Therefore our Krsna consciousness movement is just to teach people how to become Krsna conscious, surrender unto Him. Then they will be happy. This is the way of Krsna consciousness movement. We want to create some ideal men. People will see them, and at least they will understand that "Here are the ideal men." They will be ashamed. So those who are in Krsna consciousness movement, they should be sreyan-yad yad acarati sreyan -- the best men in the society. Otherwise useless. If you waste your time to make a free hotel and sleep -- useless. That will not make our mission successful, if you take advantage of free hotel and no work. That will not be successful. We must be sreyan, first-class men. That is wanted because there is no first-class men. All fourth-class, fifth-class sudra. Kalau sudra-sambhavah. Sudra means fourth-class men, and candala means fifth-class men. So nowadays they are mainly candalas. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah [SB 2.4.18]. Yavana and candalas. By the grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this movement is able to pick up even candalas and yavanas to become brahmanas.

mam ca (yo) 'vyabhicarini
bhakti-yogena yah sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
 [Bg. 14.26]

"One who is engaged in devotional service, he becomes immediately transcendental to this infection of the three qualities of material nature." Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. That is actually happening. This powerful Krsna consciousness movement is so strong that we can pick up from the lowest stage of life and bring him to the highest stage of life if we follow the rules and regulation. It is possible. Practically we are seeing. So that is required, yad yad acarati sreyan, a class of men. Maybe minority; it doesn't matter. But their ideal behavior, character, will lead other people to appreciate: "Yes. We should be like this." Now, who was telling this night? I think Pranava was telling that some friend has told that in the Western countries they are appreciating this movement because I have stopped amongst my members this intoxication. There are. Are you not telling?

Pranava: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. They are gradually appreciating that "Oh." Yes, Professor Judah also, he says that. They are appreciating now, that "How is this, nice movement, that our students, they were habituated to all these and they have now become God conscious? They are mad after God?" And one priest in Boston, he also agreed. One priest came to see me. He said, "Swamiji, how is that? Your disciples look so bright." They are appreciating. This is wanted, everyone sreyan. So this movement is very important movement because it is creating first-class men so that others will see and follow. So this is required. Yad yad acarati sreyan tad tad itarah ihate. It is natural. A father may be drunkard, but he doesn't like to see his son has become drunkard. This is natural. Everyone appreciates good quality. So similarly, if we can create an ideal class of men, then others who are fallen will try to become like us.

So don't take this movement very insignificantly. Very serious. And those who are members, they should become ideal. We have got very easy, easy method to become ideal. Avoid these four principles of sinful life and chant Hare Krsna sixteen times -- you become ideal.

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

So in the very beginning the first thing is ceto-darpana-marjanam. We are all suffering on account of ignorance. There are so many nasty, dirty things within our heart. It will be cleansed. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya.

tada rajas-tamo-bhavah
kama-lobhadayas ca ye
ceta etair anaviddham
sthitam sattve prasidati
 [SB 1.2.19]

nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
 [SB 1.2.18]

These are the formulas. If we hear Bhagavatam from Bhagavatam, not from the professional men who have made business for reciting Bhagavata... No. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya.

There are two bhagavatas: grantha-bhagavata and the man bhagavata. So therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's secretary, Svarupa Damodara, he recommended a brahmana. He came to see him, writing something that was full of mistakes. Then he chastised him that "You do not know what is what. You have tried to explain Bhagavata." But when the brahmana was submissively hearing and tolerated the chastisement, then he gave the advice, bhagavata pora giya bhagavata-sthane: "Go. Hear Bhagavata from a person whose life is Bhagavata." Bhagavata para giya bhagavata-sthane. Not the professional bhagavata. They are aiming Therefore they immediately open the rasa-lila chapter and explain it very nicely. People will like: "Oh, Krsna and myself, the same. He is also embracing the young girl. I shall now try to find out young girl." This is going on. They are going to hell by hearing Bhagavatam from these rascal professionals. Bhagavata is meant, from the very beginning First of all try to understand what is God. Janmady asya yatah anvayad itarah [SB 1.1.1]. Nine cantos to explain what is God. Then Tenth Canto, God, Vasudeva, Krsna, is there, not Tenth Canto immediately. So everything is misused only for "Money, money, money. Bring money." This is Kali-yuga. Everything will be judged by money. And as soon as there is money there will be himsa. Therefore this bhagavata-dharma is not for this class of men. Dharma-projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam [SB 1.1.2]. Those who are above enviousness, those who are above after hankering after money, for them, this bhagavata-dharma is not for them. Paramo nirmatsaranam. Paramhamsaya.

So we have taken this Bhagavatam. We should be very, very careful to become first-class men so that others will follow. Sa yat pramanam kurute. If you become a first-class man, sa yat pramanam, whatever you will do, lokas tad anuvartate, people will follow, naturally. Lokas tad anuvartate. Unfortunately nowadays first-class man means kill Krsna. This is first-class man. All these so-called rascal scholars of Bhagavad-gita, their only business is how to kill Krsna, pounce Him, (Kamsa?), as Kamsa was planning how to kill Krsna. That was his plan, demon. He was also thinking of Krsna, but he was thinking Krsna, how to kill Him. So that is not bhakti. Krsna consciousness... He was also Krsna conscious. He was thinking always, twenty-four hours, Krsna, how to kill Krsna. So that is not bhakti. Bhakti means how to serve Krsna. That is bhakti. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam, na tu pratikulyena [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Pratikula means adverse. Yes. If you think of Krsna adversely, how to kill this Krsna consciousness movement... Of course, Krsna is so nice that even if you think of Krsna adversely, because you'll chant "Krsna, Krsna," you will get benefit. Krsna is so nice. Because you are chanting unconsciously... Just like there were so many propaganda in Germany, "The Hare Krsna people are so bad." But every paper chanted Hare Krsna. "Hare Krsna movement is bad," but in the beginning, "Hare Krsna." So therefore, in spite of their propaganda, we are existing there. We are existing. We have come out triumphant. They could not do anything.

So the Hare Krsna movement is so strong, and indirectly, directly, or some way or other, if you chant Hare Krsna, you become benefited. It is so. So if you neglectfully chant Hare Krsna you become so benefited, then how much you will be benefited if you carefully chant Hare Krsna. That should be the ideal. Therefore, sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate. Unfortunately, those decrying this Krsna movement or Krsna... They directly making propaganda. When Krsna says, man-mana mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru, the so-called scholars, they say, "It is not to Krsna." They're misleading. Lokas tad anuvartate. The people are becoming against Krsna: "Why Krsna should be God? I have got another God, manufactured. Here is God." Krsna was so beautiful, and I am God, so ugly God? No. There are so many ugly Gods nowadays that ferocious face and he is God. We worship God, so nice face, people come and become enchanted, and they bring a God, a ferocious head, and he becomes God. This is going on. The whole propaganda is like that. Even big, big political leaders, they'll say, "We don't believe in Krsna, there was a person as Krsna living ever." So people are being misled. Lokas tad anuvartate. He has taken the position of sreyan, big leader, big scholar, and he is decrying Krsna. So what people will do? They are helpless. They will give, "Oh, Mr. such and such said it is fiction. Krsna is imagination." This is going on. In Vrndavana you'll find so many big, big Mayavadis. They're explaining that this Krsna concept is an imagination, and people are thronged together to hear him, in Vrndavana, and what to speak of other places. So this is the position of the world, and they are suffering and they will continue to suffer. Nature will punish them. Yamaraja will take them. That is their next life. So you try to save them. This is Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.4 -- Vrndavana, September 8, 1975

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Hear From The Authority -- Krsna"

72/09/08 Pittsburgh, Bhagavad-gita 2.13



Prabhupada: So what is the program?

Visnujana: If you like...

Prabhupada: Where is Pradyumna? Yes. Read dehino 'smin yatha dehe from Bhagavad-gita [Bg. 2.13]. Hare Krsna.

Pradyumna: I should do om namo bhagavate vasudevaya?

Prabhupada: Hm.

Pradyumna: (leads chanting)

Prabhupada: That's all. Give me my spectacles.

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

This is the problem at the present moment. People are not educated about the vital force of this body. Here in the Bhagavad-gita, it is explained, dehi. Dehi means the proprietor of this body. Both we all, not only we human being, but also lower than human being, all living entities... There are 8,400,000 forms of living entities. They are called dehi. Dehi means the proprietor of the body. The dog, the cat, the human being, the president, or higher or lower, there are different species of life. Everyone is the proprietor of the body. That we can experience. You know everything about the pains and pleasures of your body. I know what are the pains and pleasures of the body. So this body has been given to us by material nature as our field of activities. With different bodies, we are acting differently. Not that your activities and my activities are the same. The dog's activities and the man's activities are different because the dog has got a different type of body and I have got a different type of body. Every one of us. So dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. The dehi, the living entity or the vital force, is within this body.

So the body is changing. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara [Bg. 2.13]. Kaumaram means boyhood. Yauvanam means youthhood, and jara means old age, aged body. So I can remember, I am an old man, I can remember, I had a boy's body, I had a young man's body. Now I have got this aged body. So although the boyhood body, the youthhood body are no longer existing, but I am existing. That's a fact. Everyone can understand. He has got past, present, and future. You are all young boys and girls present here. So you had your past body as boyhood, childhood. Similarly, you have got your future body. That is awaiting. I have got it, you are awaiting. So past, future, past, present, and future, relatively we can understand in any condition of life. Therefore the conclusion is that when this aged body as I have got now... I am seventy-seven years old. So when this body will be finished, I'll get another body. As I have got consecutively from boyhood to childhood, childhood, I have, from childhood to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, aged body, so why not next body? This is simple truth, that the living entity, or the soul, is transmigrating from one body to another. This is the basic principle of spiritual understanding. The vital force of the body is the spirit soul. It is not a mechanical arrangement of matter. The modern so-called scientists, they think that the body is combination of matter and, at a certain stage, these combination of matter develop living symptoms. But that is not a fact. If it is a fact, then the scientists can manufacture with chemicals a living body. But a scientist even up to date is unable to manufacture even a body like an ant, and what to speak of other, bigger animals.

So we have to take this knowledge from authority. Here is Krsna speaking. He's authority. We accept Krsna: the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His knowledge is perfect. He knows past, present, and future. Therefore, He is teaching Arjuna, "My dear Arjuna, the spirit soul within this body is eternal." That's a fact. Just like I can understand, I was in the past, I am in present, so I must be in the future. These are three phases of time, past, present, and future. In another place, we read in this Bhagavad-gita, na jayate na mriyate va kadacit. The living entity is never born; neither it dies. Na jayate means he never takes birth. Na jayate na mriyate, it never dies. Nityam sasvato 'yam, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. It is eternal, sasvata, existing forever. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. By annihilation of this body, the soul does not die.

Because... This is also confirmed in the Upanisads, Vedas: nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. The God is also eternal, and we are also eternal. We are part and parcels of God. Just like gold and fragments of gold; both of them are gold. Although I am fragment, a particle of gold or the spirit, still, I am spirit. So we get this information that both God and we, living entities, we are eternal. Nityo nityanam, nitya means eternal.

So two words are there. One is singular number, nitya, eternal, and the other is plural number, nityanam. So we are plural number. Plural number eternals. We do not know what is the numerical strength of the living entities. They are described as asankhya. Asankhya means without any counting capacity. Millions and trillions. Then what is the difference between this singular number and the plural number? The plural number is dependent on the singular number. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. The singular number eternal is giving all the necessities of life to the plural number, we living entities. That's a fact, we can examine by our intelligence. Out of 8,400,000 different forms of life, we civilized human beings are very few. But others, their number is very great. Just like in the water. Jalaja nava-laksani. There are 900,000 species of life within the water. Sthavara laksa-vimsati; and 2,000,000 different forms of life in the vegetable kingdom, plants and trees. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati, krmayo rudra-sankhyayah. And the insects, they are 110,000 different species of form. Krmayo rudra-sankhyayah paksinam dasa-laksanam. And birds, they are 1,000,000 species of forms. Then beasts, pasavas trimsa-laksani, 3,000,000 types of animals, four-legged. And catur-laksani manusah, and the human being the forms are 400,000. Out of them, most of them are uncivilized.

So we civilized human beings -- never mind American or Indian or German or Englishman, it doesn't matter -- we are very few. So we have got economic problems. We are trying for developing our economic condition. What is that economic condition? Eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. We are busy always, but the animals are also busy for eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, but they have no problem. We have got problems. So just try to understand, if the major portion of the living entities have no problem... Their necessities of life are being supplied by the supreme eternal, God. Just like an elephant. There are millions of elephants in African jungle. They eat at a time fifty kilos. But they're getting their food. Similarly, a small ant, it requires a grain of sugar. So he's also getting his food. So the supreme eternal has arranged food, or the economic problems are solved by nature. They do not do any business, they do not go to school or colleges to learn technology, to earn livelihood, but they are being supplied. They are healthy. There is no disease.

So our advancement of civilization means we have created problems. That's all. This is our advancement of civilization, and we do not know what is the formation of the soul, how it is transmigrating from one body to another, what is the next life, whether we are getting next life a human being or better than human being, or lower than human being. And if it so, how we are getting that form of life next? Because we are eternal, we are changing this body. Neither we do know there are two kinds of bodies: the gross body and the subtle body. This gross body is made of earth, water, fire, air, ether; and the subtle body is made of mind, intelligence, and ego. Within the subtle body, the soul is there. Now, when this gross body becomes useless or unworkable, then the subtle body carries me to another gross body. This is called transmigration of the soul. But we do not see the subtle body. Every one of us, we know that we, we have got mind, but we cannot see the mind. Neither we can see intelligence, neither I can see what is my ego. But they are existing. So it is not necessary that everything you have to see with your blunt eyes. The eyes, they are not perfect. Just like the other side of this hall is dark, I cannot see you. Although I have got the eyes. So even though we have got eyes, it is very imperfect. It cannot see in all circumstances. Under certain circumstances, we can see. Therefore we should not believe simply by seeing. But one thing, although I cannot see you, you can hear me, or I can understand that you are hearing. The ears are stronger than the eyes. So things which is beyond our experience, we can hear about. Even though we cannot see, it does not mean there is no existence of things. The same example: even though I cannot see what is mind, what is intelligence, what is ego, but I can hear about it. Therefore perfect knowledge is acquired by hearing. So we accept knowledge, perfect knowledge, by hearing. Another example: suppose a man is sleeping. At that time, if somebody is coming to kill him, he's sleeping, he does not know. But if some of his friend warns him, "My dear Mr. Such-and-such, somebody is coming to kill you. Wake up!" he can hear, and he can wake up and take precaution. Therefore, when our other senses cannot work, our ear is very strong. Therefore it is recommended that you try to hear from the authoritative person. That is also... Educational system is also like that. Why do you come to university, school, and college? To hear from an experienced professor. He knows, and you acquire the knowledge by hearing.

So the process of hearing is very important. So our this Krsna consciousness movement is to propagate that "You hear from the authority, Krsna." Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is accepted in the present age and in the past age. In the past age, great sages like Narada, Vyasa, Asita, Devala, very, very great stalwart scholars and sages, they accepted. In the Middle Age, say 1,500 years ago, all the acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka... Practically, Indian Vedic civilization, it is still existing on the authority of these acaryas. And it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita: acaryopasanam. If you want to learn factually things, then you should approach acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda, "One who has accepted acarya, he knows things as they are." Acaryavan puruso veda. So we are receiving knowledge through the acaryas. Krsna spoke to Arjuna, Arjuna spoke to Vyasadeva. Arjuna actually did not speak to Vyasadeva, but Vyasadeva heard it, Krsna speaking, and he noted down in his book Mahabharata. This Bhagavad-gita is found in Mahabharata. So we accept the authorities of Vyasa. And from Vyasa, Madhvacarya; from Madhvacarya, so many disciplic succession, up to Madhavendra Puri. Then Madhavendra Puri to Isvara Puri; from Isvara Puri to Lord Caitanyadeva; from Lord Caitanyadeva to six Gosvamis; from six Gosvamis to Krsnadasa Kaviraja; from him, Srinivasa Acarya; from him, Visvanatha Cakravarti; from him, Jagannatha dasa Babaji; then Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji; Bhaktivinoda Thakura; my spiritual master. The same thing, we are preaching. That is Krsna consciousness movement. It is nothing new. It is coming down from the original speaker, Krsna, by disciplic succession. So we are reading this Bhagavad-gita. Not that I have manufactured some book and I am preaching. No. I am preaching Bhagavad-gita. The same Bhagavad-gita as it was first spoken forty millions of years ago to the sun-god and again it was repeated five thousand years ago to Arjuna. The same thing is coming down by disciplic succession, and the same thing is presented before you. There is no change.

So the authority says,

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

So we request simply people that you accept this authoritative knowledge and try to assimilate it by your intelligence. It is not that you stop your argument and intelligence, simply blindly accept something. No. We are human beings, we have got intelligence. We are not animals that we shall be forced to accept something. No. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. In this Bhagavad-gita you'll find. You try to understand, tad viddhi. Viddhi means try to understand. Pranipata. Pranipatena means surrendering, not by challenge. A student should be very submissive to the spiritual master. Otherwise, he will be, I mean to say, bewildered. Submissive reception. Our process is...

tasmad gurum prapadyeta
jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare ca nisnatam
brahmany upasamasrayam
[SB 11.3.21]

This is the injunction, Vedic. If you want to know things which is beyond your conception, beyond your sense perception, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. What is the symptom of bona fide spiritual master? Everyone wants to become spiritual master. So that is also stated. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. One who has taken complete bath in the ocean of the Vedic literature, sabde pare ca nisnatam. Just like if you take bath, you become refreshed. If you take nice bath, you feel refreshed. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. Without refreshness, one cannot understand this sublime subject matter. And the guru, or the spiritual master, should be refreshed by taking bath in the ocean of Vedic knowledge. And what is the result? Sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. By, after such cleanliness, he has taken shelter of the Supreme Absolute Truth, without any material desires. He has no more any material desires; he's simply interested in Krsna, or the Absolute Truth. These are the symptoms of guru, or spiritual master.

So in order to understand... Just like Krsna is teaching Arjuna. Before this, Krsna surrendered himself. Sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam [Bg. 2.7]. Although they were friends, Krsna and Arjuna were friends... First of all, they were talking like friends, and Arjuna was arguing with Krsna. This argument has no value because if I am imperfect, what is the meaning of my argument? Whatever I shall argue, that is also imperfect. So what is the use of wasting time by imperfect argument? This is not process. The process is that we must approach to a perfect person and take his instruction as it is. Then our knowledge is perfect. Without any argument. We accept Vedic knowledge like that. For example, just like stool of an animal. It is stated in the Vedic literature that it is impure. If you touch stool... According to Vedic system, even after passing my own stool, evacuating, I have to take bath. And what to speak of others' stool. That is the system. So stool is impure. One, after touching stool, he must take bath. This is Vedic injunction. But in another place it is said that the stool of the cow is pure, and if cow dung is applied in some impure place, it will be pure. Now, by your argument, you can say that "The stool of an animal is impure. Why it is said in one place pure and in another place impure? This is contradiction." But this is not contradiction. You practically make experiment. You take cow dung and apply anywhere, you'll find it is pure. Immediately purified. So this is Vedic injunction. They are perfect knowledge. We... Instead of wasting time arguing and putting forward false prestige, if you simply accept the perfect knowledge, as they are stated in the Vedic literature, then we get perfect knowledge and our life is success. Instead of making experiment on the body to find out where is the soul... The soul is there, but it is so small that it is not possible to see by your these blunt eyes. Any microscope or any machine, because it is stated it is one ten-thousandth part of the top of the tip of the hair. So there is no machine. You cannot see. But it is there. Otherwise, how we can find distinction between the dead body and the living body?

So here, the perfect knowledge is spoken by Krsna:

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

Dehinah, of the living soul, the body is changing. Similarly, after death, after so-called death... Because there is no death. After stoppage of the function of this gross body, the soul is transferred to another gross body. This statement we get from Bhagavad-gita. And if we accept this statement, "This is fact," then our spiritual life immediately begins. Without this understanding, there is no question of spiritual understanding. Everything vague, simply mental speculation, "maybe," "perhaps." These theories are being forwarded by so-called scientists and philosophers. But we don't accept such things as "perhaps," "maybe." No. We accept what is fact. It is not a question of belief; it is a question of fact. So this is the fact.

Now, how the soul is transmigrating? Suppose after this life, I get better life, that's nice. But if I get lower life, then what is the condition? Suppose next life I get the life of a cat or dog or cow. Suppose you get again birth in America. But if you change your body, then whole circumstances change. As human being, you are given all protection by the state, but as soon as you become another body, either tree or animals, the treatment is different. Animal is going to the slaughterhouse; trees are being cut out. There is no protest. So this is the condition of material life. Sometimes we are getting better condition of life, sometimes we are getting lower condition of life. There is no guarantee. That will depend on my work. That is practical. In this life also, if you become educated, then your future is very nice. If you are not educated, then your future is not so bright. Similarly, this human form of life, we can make a solution of this repeated birth and death. And that is the only business of human form of life, how to get out of these material conditions of life: birth, death, old age, and disease. We can make solution. And that solution is Krsna consciousness. As soon as we become Krsna conscious... Krsna conscious means Krsna, the Supreme, He, Lord, God. We are part and parcel of Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. Simply to understand that... Just like you understand your father, and your brothers and yourself. You are all sons of the father. So it is not difficult to understand. As father maintains the whole family, similarly, Krsna, the Supreme Lord, or God, He has many innumerable sons, living entities, and He is maintaining the whole body, whole family. What is the difficulty? Then next duty is to become developed consciousness. Just like a good son, when he feels that "Father has done so much for me. I must repay it, or at least I must accept obligation what my father has done for me," this much feeling is called Krsna consciousness. So to become Krsna conscious, we require to understand three things only:

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
[Bg. 5.29]

Every one of us is trying to be happy, satisfied. That is the struggle for existence. But if we understand these three principles, that God is the supreme father, God is the supreme proprietor, God is the supreme friend, these three things, if you understand, then you become peaceful immediately. Immediately. You are seeking friends to get help, so many. But if we simply accept God, Krsna, as my friend, supreme friend, your friendship problem is solved. Similarly, if we accept God as the supreme proprietor, then our other problem is solved. Because we are falsely claiming proprietorship of things which belong to God. By falsely claiming that "This land, this land of America, belongs to the Americans; the land of Africa belongs to the Africans." No. Every land belongs to God. We are different sons of God in different dresses. We have got right to enjoy the property of father, God, without infringing others' right. Just like in family, we live, so many brothers. So whatever father, mother gives us to eat we eat. We don't encroach upon others' plate. That is not civilized family. Similarly, if we become God conscious, Krsna conscious, then the whole problems of the world -- sociology, religion, economic development, politics -- everything will be solved. That's a fact.

Therefore we are trying to spread this Krsna consciousness movement for total benefit of the human society. We request the intelligent persons, especially the student community, to join this movement, to try to understand scientifically what is this movement. We have got many books, at least two dozen books, big, big, voluminous. So you can read them, you can try to understand this movement, and join with us.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Visnujana: Srila Prabhupada, there's a seat for you here, you can watch. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 -- Pittsburgh, September 8, 1972