Illusory Contemplations

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.31
Los Angeles, December 9, 1973


 

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Because of his possessing spiritual assets, the doubts of duality were completely cut off. Thus he was freed from the three modes of material nature and placed in transcendence. There was no longer any chance of his becoming entangled in birth and death, for he was freed from material form."

Prabhupada: Visokah, without any bereavement. Brahma-sampattya, by achieving spiritual assets. This is the sign how one is advanced in spiritual life. That will be tested by this word visokah, without any bereavement. That is explained in Bhagavad-gita the same thing: brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Prasannatma means there is no more lamentation and no more hankering. That is prasannatma. We are subjected to two things. Ah... If our possessed... If our possession is lost, then we lament, and if we don't possess, then we hanker. So here, visokah sampattya. When one is fully identified with Brahman... Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So when you fully surrender and you become freed from other desires: only surrender to Krsna. That is our only business. No more any other business. That is brahma-sampattya. Sanatha-jivitam.

Just like the child is sitting on the lap of the father. So the child is confident that "I'm secure." So it has no more any second desire. In the material world, because we have not surrendered to Krsna we are always wandering helpless. Everyone here feeling helpless. Even though one is millionaire, even though one is president, but he's feeling helpless. This is the position, material conditional life.

bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah
prasanta-nihsesa-mano-rathantarah
kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah
praharsayisyami sanatha-jivitam

This is a prayer by Yamunacarya. He's aspiring, bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah: "I shall always live in Krsna consciousness." Bhavantam. He's addressing the Supreme Lord, Krsna, bhavantam. Bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah. Nirantara means without any stop, continually. "When I shall live in Krsna consciousness without any stop?" Bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah. Prasanta-nihsesa-mano-rathantarah. Manas means mind here on the chariot, and the mind is the driver and the senses are the horses. So we are being driven here and there by the... This chariot is this body. The mind is the coat-man or the chariot driver, and the senses are the horses. So, in this way, we are being forced to wander in so many planets, in so many species of life. This is our material condition. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya.

This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita:

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

So isvara, the Supreme Lord, is there. Now He's giving chance, "You living entity, you did not surrender to Me. You wanted to enjoy this material world. So you take this chariot and take this driver and go on." This is going on. Krsna is very kind. Ye yatha mam prapadyante. "Whatever you want, you do it. But you'll never be happy." That is the point. "You can do whatever. I will give you chance. I'll give you." Just like you want a Rolls Royce car. "All right, it is." If you want this car, "All right." So you are changing this car. Sometimes you are carried by the doggish cars, sometimes goddish car. These are all cars, but we are different from the car. We wanted to sit down in a certain car, so Krsna is giving us the chance. Bhramayan sarva-bhutani yantrarudhani [Bg. 18.61]. Yantra means car or machine. It is very easy to understand. So this is going on because we are identifying with the car. Just like foolish man, if he rides on a Rolls Royce car, he's thinking "Now I am very rich man. I have bought a Rolls Royce." Similarly, if one body has got inferior car, he thinks that "I am poor"; identifying with the car.

But he's not car. He's different from car. This knowledge is required. This is called visoko brahma-sampattya. When we understand our spiritual identity, then we are no more lamenting or jubilation, equalit... equilibrium. Read the purport. It is very important verse.

Pradyumna: "Doubts of duality begin from the misconception of the material body, which is accepted as the self by less intelligent persons. The most foolish part of our ignorance..."

Prabhupada: That we were discussing in our walking, that the basic principle of this modern civilization is wrong. Everyone, the so-called advanced scientists, so-called advanced philosopher or politician, everyone is thinking that "I am this body." So on the basic principle they're wrong. Therefore the so-called advancement of civilization is wrong. It's... At one point mathematical calculation, if you have done mistake in one point... Two plus two equal two. Why if you have made up three, the mistake, then the whole calculation will be mistaken. The balance, it will never tally. Similarly, our present civilization... Not present; it is always there. Now it is very strong bodily conception of life, so the basic principle is wrong. Therefore what..., whatever we are advancing, that is wrong. Parabhava That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Parabhavas Basic principle is wrong, abodha, in ignorance. In ignorance. Abodha means without any perfect knowledge.

So we are born without any perfect knowledge. That is natural. We have to sent..., we have to be sent to school for learning. Therefore these books are there. Why for these books are being written? Just for the learning of the human society. So they can learn it. Cats and dogs cannot read these Bhagavata or Bhagavad-gita. It is meant for human society. So they should take advantage of this knowledge. But if they remain in the darkness of ignorance, then what is the meaning of their advancement? It has no meaning. So that is going on. They too do not accept knowledge from the authority. They manufacture. How you can manufacture? You are a fool, so whatever you manufacture, so-called knowledge, that is also foolish. How can we depend on your foolish knowledge? Abodha-jata. Everyone is fool. He cannot manufacture. He has to learn to take knowledge from a person who knows. The he's perfect. That is our system. We are taking knowledge from Krsna. We are taking knowledge is perfect. We are taking authority. As we are, we are defective. Our position is sometimes we do mistake -- "two plus two equals five." But it is not fact. So two plus two must be four. But if we make "five" or "three," that means the whole background becomes wrong. That is... we are liable to do that mistake. And illusion. Illusion means two plus two equal to four; I have written "five," but I am seeing it is all right. I'm seeing it is all right: "two." Therefore one should not correct himself. Another person should take the editorial correction work, because the man who has written he sees that it is right. This is called illusion.

So to commit mistake, to get into illusion, overpowered by illusion, and cheating. Cheating means you have made mistake, "two plus two equal to five." "Yes," you're persisting, "Yes, it is right." That is cheating. Everyone in this material world, they're born foolish and still they're manufacturing knowledge. That is cheating. That is going on. The so-called scientists, so-called philosophers, their basic principle is wrong, and they're presenting some theories and that is being accepted by people. That is cheating. For example, just like the insistence of the scientists that "Life is production of matter." They have no experience, neither they can make any experiment in the laboratory that from matter one can produce life. But every child knows that "My father is life and my mother is life, so I am produced from that combination. I am also life." So life comes from life. The dead body of father, the dead body of mother cannot produce. Any man can understand. Very simple. But these rascals, so-called scientists, they're insisting that life is produced from matter. Insisting, simply. Their only idea is to prove that there is no God. Imitation.

That Dr. (indistinct) said that imitation barking is very much appreciated. People go to see imitation bark. If you give a sign board that "Here is an expert imitator who can imitate the sounds of all animals," you will purchase tickets ten dollars and go and see how this man is imitating. But you don't care for the real dog who is barking. This is the position. The scientific advance means the imitation barking. That's all. The dog is already there. Everyone can see. The barking is there. But if a scientist can imitate how dog barks, then he's advanced. The already life is being produced millions and millions of lives. Now they are going to check life production. Or we see if a rascal scientist says that "Now I produced one life in laboratory." "Oh, wonderful!" The... Real life they are going to check, and some imitation life he has produced, he gets Nobel Prize. This is going on. This is going on. Simply wasting public money. That's all. The so-called sci...

And now they have failed to go to the moon planet. Now they are trying to go to the Venus planet. People are not asking that "You have spent so much money, forty million dollars for one coat(?), going to the moon planet, so what you have done? Ha?" Now suppose when Columbus discovered this American... Not discovered... Anyway, the people are interested to come here to colonize. Similarly, if you've actually discovered moon planet -- not discovered; it is already there -- if you have gone there, now go and live there, colonize there, then it is successful. "No, we have gone there. We have seen there is a big crack and we are studying that." That is our advancement. In this way foolish people are exploiting innocent public. Yes.

This is our charge against this so-called advancement of life. And they are forgetting real thing. They do not understand what is soul. They do not understand. They do not understand that the soul is transmigrating from one body to another. Soul is immortal. Soul is eternal. These things are described in the Bhagavad-gita. In the beginning, this is the beginning lesson: dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram [Bg. 2.13]. This is the beginning of spiritual understanding. But they do not understand this beginning lesson, and still they are advanced. This is going on. Simply cheating. So this cheating process is going on under the misconception that "I am this body." The basic principle is cheating. Wrong. And on the wrong platform they are building phantasmagoria, big, big ideas.

Go on.

Pradyumna: "The most part of our ignorance is our identifying this material body with the self. Everything in relation with the body is ignorantly accepted as our own. Doubts due to misconceptions of ‘myself' and ‘mine,' in other words, ‘my body,' ‘my relatives,' ‘my property,' ‘my wife,' ‘my wealth,' ‘my country,' ‘my community' and hundreds of thousands of similar illusory contemplations, cause bewilderment for the conditioned soul."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is our ignorance. Just like this example is given in the sastra that the river waves are flowing, water is flowing, and by the combination of the waves many straws come together at one time, and, after some time, again they are distributed, thrown here and there. We have got everyone experience. Similarly, in this material world everyone of us we have gathered together like the straws. Actually we are under the waves of the material nature. So, when we gather together, we make a community that "We are Americans," that "We are Indians," that "We are this," "We are that," "We are family..." That is exactly like that. By chance we meet together; again, by the waves of the nature, we are separated. No more son, no more country, no more... Everything's finished. This is going on. But so long we've gathered together, we take it very seriously. We forget that at any moment we'll be kicked out of this gathering. That is ignorance. They do not try to understand what is our real position.

Real position is that we are being carried by the waves. We have no independence. That is... Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings, mayar bo..., Khaccho habudubu bhai: "You are being carried away by the waves of material nature. You are sometimes becoming drowned, sometimes you're floating. In this way your life is going on." You have no fixity. The fixity is when you are Krsna conscious. Jiva krsna-dasa e visvasa...  When he takes to Krsna consciousness and develops this cult, then he becomes perfect one day. Then tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9], he comes back. Krsna gives guarantee, "After giving up this body, he comes to Me." That is perfection. Otherwise now I am in this family. Suppose now I am American or Indian. Is there guarantee that next life I should be able to become American or Indian? No. There's not. Krsna does not say that. Krsna says, dehantaram, tatha deha... You have to change your body. You have to change your body. Tatha deha... As you are changing constantly our body, this fact. Similarly, if when this body is no more useful, then you're transferred to another body. That's very simple to understand. Suppose you are living in a room, if it is not good then we change another body. But that does not mean "I'm finished." But these foolish people, the so-called scientists, so-called advanced philosopher, they do not understand this simple. And still they are very much proud of their education. This simple thing they do not understand and they are very proud of edu...

Go on.

Pradyumna: "By assimilating the instructions of the Bhagavad-gita one is sure to become released from such bewilderment."

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore you have to understand Bhagavad-gita is left for you. Krsna has left before going away from this planet. He gave the instruction: "This is the position. You are like this. Your position is like this. You are now in trouble. You are in material existence. Why you are struggling for existence simply making your mind as the guide?" Manah sasthani indriyani prakrti-sthani karsati. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that "These living entities, they are My part and parcel. They're as good as I am, but..." Manah sasthani indriyani prakrti-sthani karsa... "They have made the mind, given the power of attorney to the mind, and therefore they are forced to the struggle for existence." This is the statement of Bhagavad-gita.

So sane man should take lesson from Bhagavad-gita that "If I am as good as Krsna, Krsna is eternal, I am eternal; Krsna is spiritual, I am spiritual; Krsna never dies or never takes birth, I do not take birth; I never die," in this way actually we understand that I'm identical in quality with Krsna. Then that is called brahma-sampattya, this knowledge, brahma-sampattya visokah. This is it. Then you become free from all lamentation.

Go on.

Pradyumna: "One is sure to become released from such bewilderment because real knowledge is to know that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, is everything, including oneself."

Prabhupada: Yes. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudur... [Bg. 7.19]. But Krsna says, "The living entities, My part and parcel." So just like father and son -- the son is part and parcel of the father's body. So when the son is under the protection of father, that is his natural life. But if the son foolishly wants to live separately, although the father is the most opulent, (Sanskrit verse), full wealth, full opulence, full power, full wisdom, everything. Krsna, the father, is full, and everyone can share the father's property. That is the lawful inheritance of the father. Then why you should suffer here? This intelligence is not coming. They are so fool. They are so... The father is coming, canvassing, "My dear sons, why you are struggling? You give up this nonsense engagement. Your so-called leadership of the family, so-called leadership of community, nation, these are all false. This is creation of maya, illusion. Don't be bewildered with all these things. Just come back to Me. I've come to call you." Oh, but they'll not accept. This is their dog's obstinancy. So what can be done? They... Everyone can share the father's property. Here is also... the material is also God's property. But they'll not understand. They'll make the division, "This portion United States of America." Then why you've got this United States of America? It is Krsna's property. Why you are saying, "No, this is Chinese, this is Russian," and they're fighting unnecessarily, unnecessarily?

So it is a factual thing that if people are saved, this Krsna consciousness movement, all these false identification will stop. Isavasyam idam sarvam. The United Nation, if you simply understand that "Why you are talking of unity? You're already unity, in unity, because this property belongs to Krsna. So why you are claiming that this is mine?" We have created disunity. This is a fact. Otherwise, if the whole... They have now created United Nation. They can govern the whole world under United Nation; let it be accepted that the whole property belongs to the human society. Then what is the trouble? But that thing they will not accept. This is foolishness. This is maya. Actually it is the property of God. We come here as guests, fifty years or sixty years or hundred years, then we are kicked out: "Get out!" That we do not understand. Because we are allowed to live here for a certain number of years we think it is my property. This is ignorance.

So brahma-sampattya. So actually if you want to be happy, then you have to acquire this brahma-sampattya visokah, then there will be no more lamentation. Everyone is... Know that it is our Father's property, Krsna's property. So there is (indistinct) supply. Why you are fighting? There is no cause of fighting. Actually this is a fact. There's so much space still vacant -- especially I've seen in Africa and Australia -- ten times population can be accommodated and ten times foodstuff can be produced. But that they will not do. They will not allow. "No, this is my property. You cannot come here. Bow! Bow! Bow!" This is the immigration department, the "Bow! Bow! department." They say, "Why you have come here? Why you have come here?" We say, "It is God's property. Why you are making barking? Is it not your father's property?" But this ignorance is prevailing.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is a challenge to all the rascals and fools, that's all. So those who have taken this movement very seriously, they should be very sober and understand at least you must expose all these rascals. That will be very much appreciated by Krsna.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.31 -- Los Angeles, December 9, 1973

Hearing The Gita As Arjuna Did

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.30
Los Angeles, December 8, 1973



 

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Because of the Lord's pastimes and activities and because of His absence, it appeared that Arjuna forgot the instructions left by the Personality of Godhead. But factually this was not the case, and again he became lord of his senses."

Prabhupada: Hmm. So here it is explained what is Bhagavad-gita. Gitam bhagavata. Bhagavata means "by the Supreme Personality of Godhead," and gita means "spoken." They say "sung," you can say. But gita means "spoken by." Therefore it is called Bhagavad-gita, "the instruction given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally." Therefore it is called Bhagavad-gita.

Now Arjuna said that science was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If we read Bhagavad-gita, then we must follow the person of Arjuna, because Arjuna directly heard Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he says that this science, gitam bhagavata. So why there should be interpretation? Because the person who heard directly from Bhagavan, the Supreme Per..., he said that this is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So one who is hearing directly, he's saying something, but you are saying something. You have no right. This is called parampara system. The person who heard Bhagavad-gita directly from Krsna, whatever he says, that is to be accepted. You cannot interpret. This is the parampara system.

So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gita, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called parampara system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called parampara system. You cannot jump over to the superior guru, neglecting the next acarya, immediate next acarya. Just like our, this Gau..., Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult; we cannot understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly. It is not possible. We have to understand through the Gosvamis. Therefore you'll find in the Caitanya-caritamrta and at the end of every chapter, the writer says,

sri-rupa-ragunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsna-dasa

This is the process. He does not say that "I've understood Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly." No. That is not understanding. That is foolishness. You cannot understand what is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore repeatedly he says, rupa-ragunatha-pade... "I am that Krsna dasa, Kaviraja, who is always under the subordination of the Gosvamis." This is parampara system. Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura also says, ei chay gosai jar mui tar das, "I am servant of that person who has accepted this six Gosvamis as his master. I am not going to be servant of any other person who does not accept the way and means of..." Therefore we say or we offer our prayer to our spiritual master, rupanuga-varaya te, rupanuga-varaya te, because he follows Rupa Gosvami, therefore we accept, spiritual master. Not that one has become more than Rupa Gosvami or more than... No. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane vas. This is the parampara system.

Now here, the same thing is repeated: Arjuna, who directly heard from Krsna. Sometimes some people say that "Arjuna heard directly from Krsna, but we don't find Krsna in our presence, so how can I accept?" It is not a question of direct presence, because you have no idea of the absolute knowledge. Krsna's words, Bhagavad-gita, is not different from Krsna. It's not different from Krsna. When you hear Bhagavad-gita, you are directly hearing from Krsna because Krsna is not different. Krsna is absolute. Krsna, Krsna's name, Krsna's form, Krsna's quality, Krsna's instruction, everything Krsna's, they're all Krsna. They're all Krsna. This has to be understood. They're not different from Krsna. Therefore Krsna's form here, He's Krsna. He's not a statue. "He's a marble statue." No. He's Krsna. He has appeared before you because you cannot see Krsna. You can see stone, wood; therefore He has appeared in that form. You think that it is stone and wood, but He's not stone and wood; He's Krsna. This is called Absolute Truth. Similarly, Krsna's words are also not different from Krsna. When Krsna's words are there in the Bhagavad-gita, it's Krsna.

Just like the South Indian brahmana. As soon as he opened his... He was illiterate, he could not read Bhagavad-gita. But his Guru Maharaja said that "You shall read every day eighteen chapters of Bhagavad-gita." So he was puzzled, that "I'm illiterate, I cannot... All right, take me the..., the Bhagavad-gita." So he was in a Ramanatha temple. He took the Bhagavad-gita and went like this. He could not read. So his friends who knew him, they were joking, "Well, brahmana, how you are reading Bhagavad-gita?" He did not answer because he knew that his friends are "Joking me because I do not know... I'm illiterate." But when Caitanya Mahaprabhu came, he was also puzzled, "Brahmana, you are reading Bhagavad-gita?" He said, "Sir, I am illiterate. I cannot read. It is not possible. But my Guru Maharaja ordered me to read. What can I do? I've taken this book." This is trying follow guru's word. He's illiterate. He cannot read. There is no possibility. But his Guru Maharaja ordered, "You must read Bhagavad-gita daily, eighteen chapters." Now what is this? This is called vyavasayatmika buddhih. I may be quite incomplete. It doesn't matter. But if I try to follow the words of my Guru Maharaja, then I become complete.

This is the secret. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [SU 6.23]. If one has strong faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as much faith in the guru, yatha deve tatha gurau, then the revealed scriptures become manifest. It is not the education. It is not the scholarship. It is faith in Krsna and guru. Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Not by education, not by scholarship, never says. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-krpaya, by the mercy of guru, by the mercy of Krsna. It is a question of mercy. It is not a question of scholarship or opulence or richness. No. The whole bhakti-marga depends on the mercy of the Lord. So we have to seek the mercy. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi, janati tattvam... Prasada-lesa, lesa means fraction. One who has received a little fraction of mercy of the Supreme, he can understand. Others, na canya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan. Others, they may go on speculating for millions of years. It is not possible to understand. So Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Therefore we are presenting because we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it was understood by Arjuna. We do not go to Dr. Radhakrishnan, this scholar, that scholar, this rascal, that ra... No. We do not go. That is not our business. That is parampara.

So Arjuna here says, bhagavata, "What I heard from that personality, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan." Bhagavan means full of six opulences. I've described it many times. So here is the direct hearer, listener. He says bhagavata. How you can say that Krsna is not Bhagavan -- ordinary person? How you can say? One who heard the message, he says directly. This is called parampara system. This is called parampara. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. So if we understand Bhagavad-gita, as Krsna..., as Arjuna understood. that is perfect. That is Bhagavad-gita As It Is. And if you try to understand Bhagavad-gita as some rascal commentator says, then you are reading somebody else; rubbish. There's no meaning. You're simply wasting your time. He may be such scholar, such big politician, like this. In our country, big politician, they have commented; big, big yogis, they have commented; big, big scholars they have... They're all useless. Take it: useless. If you read such commentary of Bhagavad-gita, it is simply waste of time. If you actually want to study Bhagavad-gita, then as Arjuna understands. Arjuna directly listened from Krsna.

So in Bhagavad-gita Arjuna says, after understanding Bhagavad-gita from Krsna, he said, "You are Parabrahma." Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Bhavan. Bhavan means "Your Lordship." "You are Parabrahma, the Supreme Brahma." He's the Supreme Brahma. Brahma means spirit and brahma means the greatest. So he has explicitly explained that spirit soul, we are all spirit soul, every one of us. But He is the supreme spirit soul, param. Param means the supreme. He's not ordinary. So He comes as ordinary, not ordinary, as human being, but He is the supreme human being. That is the difference. Supreme human being. But one who cannot understand, one who thinks, "Oh, Krsna is like us. He has got also two hands, two legs, one head. We have got also. He is like me," he is a mudha, rascal. Therefore it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, avajananti mam mudhah: "These rascal fools, they deride." Manusim tanum as... Param bhavam ajanantah, "They have no knowledge of the param bhavam." So the param bhavam, that is understood by the devotees. That is the difference. Budha bhava-samanvitah, Krsna has said. Budha bhava-samanvitah. Param bhavam, this bhava... Bhava means assimilation -- "Oh, Krsna is so great." This is called bhava. That is real understanding, when you understand really this bhava stage. Bhava-bhakti. Bhava-bhakti. Simply engaged in Krsna's service. Param bhavam. Person who has not come to this stage of bhava, he cannot understand Krsna. Param bhavam ajanantah. The bhava stage comes.

Everyone can attain that bhava stage. There is process. This process is described by Rupa Gosvami how to come to the bhava stage. Bhava stage means just prior to perfection. One must come to the bhava stage, next stage is perfection. Next stage is full perfection. So how to come to this bhava stage, that is Rupa Gosvami has described, adau sraddha. First of all little faith. Just like many outsider also come here, "What these people are doing, these Krsna consciousness men? So let us see." So sraddha. That is called sraddha. Sraddha, real sraddha means complete faith. That is described by Caitanya-caritamrta. Sraddha-sabde visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya. One who has got this much faith, strong faith, that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this faith, not flickering, firm faith, "Yes, Krsna is the Supreme Personality..." That is called sraddha. That is beginning of sraddha. If you have got still doubt, then you have not come to the stage of sraddha even. Superfluous. You may come, but when you actually believe that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and if I engage myself in Krsna's service, I am perfect" -- two things -- that is sraddha. And the more you increase this sraddha you become advanced. The beginning is this sraddha. Adau sraddha.

So how this sraddha, this faith can be increased? Sadhu-sanga. If you keep yourself associated with the devotees, then this sraddha can be increased. If you simply believe, "Yes, Krsna is Supreme Personality," but you do not live with the sadhus or devotee, then it will drop. It will finish. So just to keep the standard, the temperature right, you must keep always yourself warm. If you go away, then your (indistinct) is gone. Again you become cold. You see. This is the process. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. Everything is perfect. The first thing is that you must believe that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yes. And to keep this faith strong and going on, you must keep association with devotees. Otherwise whatever little faith you got, it will be lost. It become again under the clutches of maya. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. And if you actually associate with sadhu, then the next stage is bhajana-kriya, initiation, how to worship Krsna. Then anartha-nivrttih syat. If you are actually engaged in devotional service, anartha, which are not required, things will vanish. Just like we ask our students, "No illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling, no meat-eating." Simply by hearing it you cannot follow it. It is not possible. If you make bhajana-kriya, if you're actually following -- chanting sixteen rounds -- then you can follow the others. Otherwise, if you are spiritually weak, you cannot. The government is spending so much money to stop this intoxication, LSD, in your country. They're all failure. But here, with our pure association, a person can give up immediately. Just see how much the association is strong. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu..., bhajana-kriya. Anartha.

Then after one is free from these sinful activities, then he comes to the understanding stage. So long one is sinful, he has no possibility of understanding. Yesam tv anta-gatam papam. One who is completely free from all sinful activities, anta-gatam, finished, yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. And how you can become free from sinful activities unless you act piously? Because we must have some engagement. If you have no pious engagement, then you cannot become free from sinful activities. You must act. If you do not act piously, then you must act viciously. This is the way. The Mayavadi philosopher, they simply wants to stop impious activities. But they do not engage themselves in pious activities. Therefore they fail. They fail. You must have side by side. Param drstva nivartate. If you get something better, then you can give up inferior. But if you do not get better, you cannot give up the inferior. That is not possible.

So you can give up this impious activities provided you are engaged fully in devotional service. Otherwise it is not possible. Simply by moral instruction, that "Stealing is very bad. Don't steal," nobody likes it. Nobody likes it. It is practical. One man has stolen, and he's arrested and he's going to the police custody. So everyone has seen, and he has heard also that the government says that if you steal, you'll be punished. In the Bible or in any other religious scripture it is said that stealing is not good. So he has heard it, and he has seen it that a man who has stolen, he is going to jail. So these two things are experienced: hearing and seeing. In spite of all his experience, why does he steal? Because he has no good association. He knows that stealing is bad; otherwise why he steals at night? Nobody can see. He knows he is doing some bad thing. But why he cannot give up that bad thing? Because he's not associating with good person. That is it.

So association is so... Therefore we have named this Krsna Consciousness Society. Not Krsna consciousness only. Krsna Consciousness Society. A society's so beneficial we should understand. So, in this way, atha bhajana-kriya anartha-nivrttih syat. If we prosecute our devotional activities and keep our association with the devotees, then we can be free from sinful activities. And when you are completely free from sinful activities, then we get nistha. Yes, it is full faith. Nistha means full faith. Tato nistha. Tato rucih. Ruci means taste. Why you are hearing about Krsna daily, the same thing? We are speaking nothing new. "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and you have to surrender." This is our daily business. But why you are coming to see..., hear the same hackneyed words? Because it is very pleasing. This is called ruci, taste, "Yes, I want to hear this repeatedly. Yes. Krsna is the Supreme Lord, I am the eternal servant." You have got a taste. Unless one gets the taste, then you'll say, "What is this hackneyed word?" Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, twenty-four hours you can chant because you have got the taste. Others cannot do. This is called ruci. And ruci means asakti, attraction: "I must go. I must chant. I must do." Tato nistha, tato rucih, atha asaktih. Tato bhavah. Then bhava: "Ah, Krsna. I will associate with Krsna. Then Krsna's love, that is perfection."

So those who are not attained to this stage, first stage is how to become free from sinful ac..., anartha. Anartha you don't require, but you are habituated. And maya is so strong, you don't require to smoke, but the maya is advertising, "Here is one cool cigarette, or this hot cigarette, or this..." This is called maya. You don't require it. It has no existence. There is no pleasure, but still you are attached to it. That is called maya, illusion. That is called illusion. So we have got so friend, so nice friends all over the world, that we... You do not require... They are simply illurimous(?), "Here is whisky, here is this wine, here is that wine, here is this woman, here is this illicit sex, here is this cigarette, here is meat-eating, here is..." This is going on.

So therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is the only humanitarian work who can save the human society. All are helping them to go to hell. This is a fact. All are helping simply... So many innocent human beings are being slaughtered by education, by culture, by so-called society, friendship... It is very vicious cycle. Therefore here it is said, Krsna sai... Arjuna said, yatha..., sangrama-murdhani, kala-karma-tamo-ruddham. This nice instruction of Bhagavad-gita becomes choked up by the time, kala. The time, you know, everyone, time's business is to destroy. You construct very nice house -- ten years or, say, five years after, you have to again replace it because the time has destroyed it, so many things. The time..., time destroys. This is the business of time, kala. And karma, our karma, because we are always engaged in sinful activities, karma. Kala, karma, and tamas, ignorance. Ignorance. Tamas means darkness, and the symptom of tamo-guna is laziness and sleep. Those who are lazy and sleeping, you must know he's under the influence of tamo-guna. And rajo-guna, always acting foolishly. Just like these people are running. They're rajo-guna. But actually in this world there are two gunas -- rajas and tamas, ignorance and foolishly active. Foolish active is very dangerous. There are four classes: lazy intelligent, busy intelligent, lazy foolish, and active foolish. The active foolish is a fourth-class man. So at the present moment they're very active, but they're all foolish. Therefore the world is in danger. Active foolishness. Foolish, if he stops, he does not work, it is better. But as soon as he becomes active he becomes more dangerous.

So this rajas-tamo-bhava is prominent. There is no sattva-guna, goodness. It is very rare. The symptom of goodness is that he can see everything right. That is goodness. Prakasa. Just like in sunshine you can see everything clearly. Similarly, one who sees clearly things as they are, they are in the goodness, mode of goodness. There are three modes of the material nature. One who's acting foolishly, he's in rajo-guna, and one who does not know what is the meaning of life, simply laziness and darkness, that is tamo-guna. So those who are in the tamo-guna, jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah. So they will go to the again to the animal kingdom. They'll go again animal kingdom. Rajo-guna may have their human birth again, but that is also very difficult. But if you stay in the sattva-guna, then your life is successful even if you do not get Krsna in this life; you'll get next life if you keep yourself sattva-guna. Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah, they will gradually be promoted to the higher planetary system or in the spiritual world.

Therefore we are trying to keep ourselves, our students always in the sattva-guna. Cleanliness, sattva..., to remain a brahmana. If you remain a brahmana then you'll not fall down. You'll not fall down. Otherwise, if you remain in tamo-guna, then you are going to be next animal. This is the process of nature. You cannot check. You may be very great scientist, but you cannot check the process of nature. That is not... Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya. That is not possible. That is natural. I've given the instance that if you contaminate some poisonous disease you must suffer. That is natural way. Not that why you shall suffer. No, you must suffer because you are already contaminated. Therefore the contamination of the material world is going on, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. If you contaminate with the tamo-guna, then you must suffer. If you contaminate rajo-guna, you must get disease. That is not in your hand. You cannot say. But people are so foolish they do not know how nature is working. They're puffed up with little knowledge and thinking they're master of the thing. That is not possible.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.30 -- Los Angeles, December 8, 1973

Becoming Anxiety-less

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.29
Los Angeles, December 7, 1973



 

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Arjuna's constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna rapidly increased his devotion, and as a result all the trash in his thoughts subsided."

Prabhupada: So material existence means full of anxieties. This is the sum and substance of material existence. Everyone is full of anxieties. Not only humans. Just like Karandhara was speaking, there are so many bad news. What is that? Where is Karandhara?

Karandhara: Energy crisis, food shortage.

Prabhupada: Yes, energy crisis, food shortage, and what else?

Karandhara: Economic turmoil.

Prabhupada: Hm. And even Mr. Nixon is in such exalted post, he's also full of anxiety, when he'll be kicked out. You see. So find out any man who is not in anxiety. Not only human being but also animals, birds, beasts -- everyone. That is the symptom of material existence, anxieties.

So spiritual life means anxiety-less. This is the difference between material life and spiritual life. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54], in the Bhagavad-gita it is described what is spiritual life. As soon as you are identified with the Absolute Truth, Brahman, then symptoms will be prasannatma, jubilation: "Oh, I do not belong to this material world. I belong to the spiritual world. I am part and parcel of Krsna. Why should I suffer so many things?" That is jubilation. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. The prasannatma means na socati na kanksati. He has no lamentation, no hankering. Here people are always full of anxieties because they have got hankering, "I want this. I want that." And there is lamentation. What they possess, if it is lost, they cry, "Oh, my things are lost." And what they do not possess, they hanker. So their anxiety is there, either he possesses or not possesses. This is material anxiety. If you have no money, then you will hanker after money, "How to get money, how to get money, how to get money?" And when you get money, then how to utilize it, how to, where to keep it, in the bank, or in the house, or who will take away? Somebody will take away. So where is anxiety-less? You possess or not possess, the real disease is anxiety. So when one becomes brahma-bhuta, self-realized, identified with the Absolute Truth, then he has no more anxiety. This is the best education, when you become anxiety-less. That is perfection of education.

So when Prahlada Maharaja was enquired by his father that "What nice thing you have studied, my dear boy, in your school?" so he replied, "My dear father, the best education I have received, how to become anxiety-less." That's all. Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam. "Not only for me, but for everyone. But you will not understand, my dear father, because you are demon number one." (laughter) He is addressing his father, asura-varya, asura-varya. Asura means demon, and varya, varya means the first-class. (laughter) He is not addressing his father as "My dear father," "My dear best of the atheists." Therefore his father was very angry, "This child, he talks with me on equal level and does not fear me. Kill him!" Asura. He is prepared to kill his son even, if he does not agree with him. You see. We are also prepared. If one is not devotee, if he is son, we can kill him. The same. But our is for Krsna, and the asuras is for himself. That is the difference. He wants to do everything for his personal satisfaction, and we want to do everything for Krsna's satisfaction. That is the difference. The same propensities are there, but when it is applied for Krsna, then it is purified, and when it is applied for personal self, it is impure. This is the difference.

So Prahlada Maharaja said, "The best education is that which makes one anxiety-free." That is best education. Now where is that education? Is there any education throughout the whole world, in so many universities, especially in your country there are nice, very, very... Rather, they have created so much anxieties that the boys, they are frustrated. They are giving up everything, becoming hippies. Where is anxiety-less? They increase anxiety. Increase anxiety. Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam. "My dear father, the best of the asuras, I think that anyone who has accepted this material body is full of anxieties." Asad-grahat. Asad-grahat means..., asat means temporary. Because he has accepted a body which is temporary, he is full of anxieties. That is the real problem. We, if we want to be anxiety-less, no anxiety, then we have to refuse to accept this material body. Otherwise there is no possibility. All anxieties are due to this material body. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat.

This is the problem. Now somehow or other, we have come in contact with this material body. We, "I am not this material body, you are not this material... We are soul." That realization required, that "I am not this material body. Therefore I am not American, I am not Indian, I am not white, I am not black. I am pure soul." Aham brahmasmi. This is the real business of human society. Athato brahma jijnasa. The swine is enquiring, "Where is stool? Where is stool? Where is stool?" But a human being is also engaged for that purpose, "Where is stool?" or "Where is food?" Stool is his food, and we are also, whole day and night with motorcar going this or, "Where is food? Where is food?" Diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [SB 2.1.3]. The whole day is spent, so many motorcars going this way and that way. What is the business? "Where is money? Where is food? Where is shelter?" And as soon as you get shelter, money, and food, kutumba-bharanena va. Then "How to feed my children, how to feed my wife, how to feed my country, how to..., society?" That's all. This is anxiety. This is anxiety. They... Nidraya hriyate naktam. At night they want to become anxiety-less by sleeping or by sex life. They want to forget anxiety. This is their business. Nidraya hriyate naktam. They think that "If I sleep, then I shall be... Let me drink so at night there will be very deep sleep." That is not possible. You dream very ferocious dream, you are dreaming. So... And sex life, that is also temporary free.

So these are not the methods. Method is, here it is recommended by Arjuna, vasudeva-anudhyanam. Anudhyanam. Anu means constantly, and dhyanam means meditation. They have manufactured so many meditation -- without Vasudeva. That so-called transcendental meditation club and yogasana, but go there, what you meditate upon? Zero. That is there. They cannot say, "What is that meditation? And where is that transcendental meditation?" No rascal will be able to explain. But they'll call big, big words, "Transcendental meditation." And what is that transcendental meditation? Please explain. "Oh, that cannot be explained." You see. Is it not? But we have got (indistinct), vasudeva-anudhyanam. You just say. Vasudevanghry-anudhyana-paribrmhita-ramhasa. Here is Vasudeva, Krsna. You come here and see, very minutely, how Vasudeva is dressed nicely, how He is playing on His flute, how He is situated with His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani, how He is enjoying her company. So nice thing for meditation. But why you are after zero? (laughter) Just see the rascaldom. Here is such nice object for meditation, and they are trying to meditate upon zero. Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, klesah adhikataras tesam avyaktasakta-cetasam. Klesa, that "Trouble is more." We can meditate upon Krsna, immediately. We are constantly seeing Krsna here. So as soon as I close my eyes, I see Krsna. That is not very difficult. Anything you see, you'll be able to immediately have the form within your heart, immediately. So there is no difficulty, but they will create some difficult task. Therefore Bhagavad-gita (says), klesah adhikataras tesam. To fix up the mind on Vasudeva, or Visnu, that is also difficult. But those who are trying to fix up their mind on zero, their position is more difficult, adhikataram. Adhikataram means more.

So people are voluntarily accepting some nonsense method, and they are not happy. That is their misfortune. Misfortune. Naradhama. The, everything is there, but because they do not know... Duskrtina, naradhama. Duskrtina, duskrtina means misfortunate, or always engaged in sinful activities. They'll not meditate upon Vasudeva; they'll meditate on something, some color, some zero, or something like that. We do not know what kind of meditation there is. But real meditation, recommended in the Vedas, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yogi. Yogis see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by meditation. Meditation, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa, mind is absorbed in the Supreme Personality. That is the real process of yoga system and meditation -- to see the form of Visnu. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa, this is the recommended process, standard recommended process.

So here, if you simply think of Krsna -- Krsna recommends also that, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. This Krsna consciousness movement is nothing, just to train people how to think of Krsna and how to become devotee of Krsna. That's all. So you may become devotee... But you will become devotee. If you think of Krsna, naturally you will become devotee. So... But think of Krsna, is it very difficult task? Very simple, very easy, even a child can do it. Here is Krsna. You can think of. So you go on thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking, you will be attached. You will be attached. You will be attached. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. And thinking of Krsna in association of the devotees. Not alone, then you will go to hell. Alone will not do. Association is so strong that anyone who is coming to our association, we..., not that we are everyone teaching, but by association, he wants to become devotee. By association, automatically. So the association is so powerful. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says,

tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vasa
janame janame haya ei abhilasa

He is praying, "My dear Lord, this is my ambition, birth after birth." What is that? "That to be engaged in the service of the acarya guru, and in the association of devotees. This is perfection." Janame janame haya ei: "This is my desire. I don't want to stop my birth, but simply I want that I may take birth -- it doesn't matter -- but bhakta-sane vasa, let me live with the devotees." That is the...

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says,

kita-janma hau yatha tuwa dasa
bahir-mukha brahma-janme nahi asa

He says that "If I forget You and take by birth as Lord Brahma, I don't want it. I don't want it." What is the use of taking a birth like Brahma? "But I shall like to take my birth as even a small insignificant insect, where a devotee is there." This is the ambition of devotee. "I shall prefer to become an insect." Because there are different varieties of living entities, beginning from Brahma down to the insect, insignificant. In the middle, there are so many varieties -- aquatics, trees, plants, demigods, and men, human being. So many thing. So this is the end and one end to another. Abrahma-bhuvanal... Kita-janma, insignificant ant, nobody cares for, and Brahma is very important, supreme person within the... So Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that "I will not prefer a birth like Brahma if I forget You. But I will prefer to become an insect if I remain with Your devotee." Because if one remains with a devotee, he will not forget Krsna. That is the advantage. Just like when you go, people address you, "Hare Krsna." Oh, it is very great benefit. Automatically they chant Hare Krsna. We have seen it all over the world. And when I was going from London to Nairobi, we stopped at Athens, the dead of night. We are in the..., what is called? That transit room.

Devotee: Transit lounge.

Prabhupada: Yes, lounge. So as soon as they saw us, "Hare Krsna!" You see. So this is advantage. Aho bata sva-paco 'to gariyan yaj-jihvagre vartate nama tubhyam. Even a dog-eater chants Hare Krsna, he becomes glorified.

So this chance should be given. Let them chant Hare Krsna, either willfully, or jokingly, or any way, let him chant Hare Krsna. This is the movement. Let him chant once, let his tongue utter this transcendental vibration, Hare Krsna, his life will be successful. It is such nice movement. You haven't got to do anything. Simply you come here and see Radha-Krsna, you will be benefited. It is very easy. Su-sukham kartum avyayam. And once you get the impression of Radha-Krsna for meditation, and if you increase, then life, you are success. Life is successful. Because as soon as you become little inclined to see Radha-Krsna, Krsna within your heart, that means you have developed His love. Just like if you love somebody, you want to close your eyes and see his face, his..., your child, or your lover. Similarly, as soon as you practice this, how to see, meditate upon Krsna, that means you develop. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Then gradually it will increase, and you will be perfect. It is very easy. This process, Krsna consciousness is so easy, and so pleasant, anyone can take. There is no difficulty. And if you become Krsna consciousness, completely, always thinking of Krsna, bahu anudhyanam, always, anudhyanam, thinking of Krsna, thinking of Krsna -- anyone can do it -- then you become perfect. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. That is the problem. Our, what is that problem? Problem is that we are full of anxiety. Why you are full of anxiety? Because you have accepted this material body. So if you stop accepting material body, there is no anxiety. That can be done by vasudeva-anudhyanam, constantly thinking of Krsna.

So you haven't got to pay any price. You are not losing anything. But you are becoming a great, perfect man. Why do you, don't you accept this process, Krsna consciousness? Why you are after something, false thing? Just see how unfortunate people are in this Kali-yuga. They will not accept the real thing without any payment, without any loss. Everything is gain. They will accept something nonsense and go to hell. Just see. This is Kali-yuga. The Kali-yuga is so powerful that it will not allow you to accept the real thing. You will be after non-real thing and waste your time and valuable life. This life is meant for Krsna realization. It is not meant for anything, any other business. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings, hari hari biphale janama gonainu: "My dear Lord, I have simply wasted my time." Why? Manusya-janama paiya radha-krsna na bhajiya. "I got this valuable human form of life but I did not worship Radha-Krsna. This is my fault." Janiya suniya visa khainu, "It is just like knowingly, I have taken poison."

So anyone who is not taking to Krsna, Krsna consciousness, as Krsna advised, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [Bg. 18.66], he is simply drinking poison. Drinking poison. That's all. And what is the effect of poison? You will die. Not only this life, life after life, bhutva bhutva praliyate. He will accept this life, again he'll give up, again another body, again another. And that you do not know. There is no guarantee what kind of body you are going to get. But they are so rascals, they do not understand that "I am going to get another body." And there are so many varieties of body. If I get the body of a tree, now standed up for seven thousand years... How much risk we are taking. But all this risk can be avoided in this human form of life simply by thinking of Vasudeva, simply by thinking of Krsna. Why people are reluctant? This is their misfortune. Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta karaca says, ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. This Krsna consciousness can be accepted only by the most fortunate person. Not less fortunate, alpa-medhasa. Those who have got little brain, or little fortunate, they cannot. They cannot. Sukrtina. Sukrtina. Sukrtina means very fortunate, very pious. And duskrtina cannot take it. Vasudeva..., thinking of Vasudeva, Krsna, is very easy, but those who are sinful, they cannot take to it. That is the difficulty.

Therefore we say, "Stop these four pillars of sinful life: illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling." These are the four pillars of sinful life. If you accept these four pillars, then your route, sinful life is very strong. Break this, from the very beginning. There will be no more sinful life. If you simply stop, where is the difficulty? If you do not smoke or do not drink, will you die? We have got so many devotees, they do not smoke, they do not drink. Are they dying? They do not play any gambling. Are they dying? They do not take meat. Are they dying? They do not illicit sex. Are they dying? It is artificial. Maya's... Artificial. Just like so many cigarette package are advertised, although there is written on the, what is that? It is dangerous...

Devotee: "Smoking is hazardous to your health."

Prabhupada: Yes. Still the rascal will take. Still... The things will be advertised. The government is writing on the packet, "It is dangerous," but they are not closing the factory of the cigarette. That will... Because they want income. (laughter) You see. This is going on. Cheating. And if you don't like it, why don't you stop this? But that they will not do. Simply a show-bottle. So this Krsna consciousness movement is that we want to stop this show-bottle business. Everyone must be a real leader, then people will be happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.29 -- Los Angeles, December 7, 1973

Mistaking Suffering For Enjoyment

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27
Los Angeles, December 5, 1973



 

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead [Govinda] because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space."

Prabhupada: Go on reading the purport.

Pradyumna: "Herein Arjuna refers to the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, which was imparted to him by the Lord in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. The Lord left behind Him the instructions of the Bhagavad-gita not only for the benefit of Arjuna alone, but also for all times in all lands. The Bhagavad-gita, being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom. It is nicely presented by the Lord Himself for all who have very little time to go through the vast Vedic literatures, like the Upanisads, Puranas and Vedanta-sutras. It is put within the study of the great historical epic Mahabharata, which was especially prepared for the less intelligent class, namely the women, the laborers, and those who are worthless descendants of the brahmanas, ksatriyas and the higher sections of the vaisyas. The problem which arose in the heart of Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra was solved by the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Again, after the departure of the Lord from the vision of earthly people, when Arjuna was face-to-face with being vanquished in his great acquired power and prominence, he wanted again to remember the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita just to teach all concerned that the Bhagavad-gita could be consulted in all critical times, not only for solace from all kinds of mental agonies, but also for the way out of the great entanglements which may embarrass one in some critical hour. The merciful Lord left behind Him the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita so that one can take the instructions of the Lord even when He is not visible to material eyesight. Material senses cannot have any estimation of the Supreme Lord, but by His inconceivable power, the Lord can incarnate Himself to the sense perception of the conditioned souls in a suitable manner through the agency of matter, which is also another form of the Lord's manifested energy."

Prabhupada: Just like we have no knowledge of Krsna, conditioned soul. Therefore for our understanding, He is so merciful, He descends as arca-murti. This Deity which we are worshiping, that is called arcavatara, incarnation of arca. He's accepting our worship, our prayer, our everything. He has descended just suitable for our handling. That is His mercy. Therefore we should not consider that this arca Krsna is made of stone, as atheists will say, that "These foolish persons are worshiping... Heathens, they are worshiping." No, we are not worshiping stone. We are worshiping Krsna. But that they do not know. Krsna has appeared before us. Because at the present moment, we cannot see except stone and wood, therefore, suitable for our vision, He has appear in such a way. Otherwise how we can appreciate? Here... They are searching after what is God, but here is God. Here is God. Therefore in the sastra it is forbidden, arca, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. It is forbidden that when you worship Deity, you should not think that it is made of wood or stone or something else material. No. What is this material? Material is... Matter means energy of Krsna. Just like the sunshine, or like the illumination of this light. It is the energy of this lamp. So it is not different. Similarly, as Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh, this earth, water, air, fire, anything material, that is expansion of His energy.

So He can accept your service through His energy. That is His omnipotency. That is called omnipotent. You cannot do anything of your personal affairs with your energy, but... You can sometimes do. Suppose if you have got money. Even being present on the spot, by spending money you can get the things done. The money will act for you. Similarly, Krsna being omnipotent, He can take your service through His agency, through His potency. And potency means sakti. Sakti-saktimator abhedah. Krsna and His potency is not different. So Krsna by His causeless mercy, He has appeared before you in a manner by which you can touch Him, you can handle Him, you can dress Him, you can give Him. This is Krsna's mercy. It is not idol worship. Therefore it is forbidden. Don't think it is idol. Go on.

Pradyumna: "Thus the Bhagavad-gita or any authentic scriptural sound representation of the Lord is also the incarnation of the Lord. There is no difference between the sound representation of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One can derive the same benefit from the Bhagavad-gita as Arjuna did in the personal presence of the Lord."

Prabhupada: You can derive the same benefit as Arjuna by reading Bhagavad-gita. People say that Arjuna was enlightened because Krsna was present before Him. But Krsna is present before you also, by His words, by His sound representation. Just like Hare Krsna mantra, Krsna's name, it is not different from Krsna. Nama, abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Nami... Here in the material world the name and the person whose name, that is different because it is material. If you want water, this water substance or water is different from the name water. You cannot quench your thirst simply by chanting "Water, water." That is not possible. Because it is material. But you can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the significance of spiritual and material. Otherwise, how people are satisfied simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra? Let him chant some other name, material. No. You cannot chant more than three times. Then you will feel tired. But you can go on chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra for hundreds and millions of years. It will, still you will not feel tired. That is the difference. Therefore His name and He is not different. Abhinnatva.

nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

This is the shastric injunction, Nama, the holy name of Krsna, is abhinna, nondifferent from Krsna. Nama cintama... Purnah suddhah, full, complete. Not that little less, no. Full. Purnah suddhah. And uncontaminated. Just like Krsna is uncontaminated, similarly, His name is also uncontaminated. Purnah suddho nitya. Eternal. As Krsna is eternal, name is also eternal. Purnah suddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvat. Because they are not different one with another, so the most important word is desa-kalartha-yuktani. Desa, time and space. Bhagavad-gita is... Because nondifferent from Krsna. As Krsna is everywhere, similarly, Bhagavad-gita can be appreciated in every country, every season, every circumstances. That is desa-kalartha-yuktani. Then hrt-tapa upasamani ca. Hrt-tapa. There is a hrt-tapa. Hrt means heart, and tapa means... Real meaning is temperature, or temperature rooted. Just like agni-tapa. Agni. Agni means fire, and tapa, it has got temperature. So to a certain degree you can tolerate. But when the degree... Just like in India we have got temperature in summer season 120 degrees. Here, just like in your country, the temperature is less. In other country... The temperature in, I mean, the Middle East, the temperature is 135 degrees, Arabian countries.

So there are three tapas, three kinds of miserable condition, this material world. That also can be taken, tapa. Tapa means suffering, excessive heat and cold. That is called tapa. So hrt-tapopasamani ca. The teachings of Bhagavad-gita... We are suffering always within the heart. As Narottama dasa Thakura says, that visaya visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale. Visaya. Visaya means this material enjoyment. So it is just like poison. The more we are entangled in material enjoyment... There is no enjoyment. It is suffering. But we are taking suffering as enjoyment. Just like in this winter season, we cover ourself very nicely with gloves, with overcoat. It is simply counteracting the suffering. But a man who has got a nice overcoat and gloves, he is thinking he is enjoying. This is maya. He forgets that he is simply trying to counteract the suffering. Actually, he is suffering. But having a nice coat or nice place, he is thinking that he is enjoying. That is foolishness. That is called maya. There is no enjoyment in this material world. Simply we are trying to counteract the suffering. This counteraction of suffering, we are accepting as enjoyment. So this material world means you must suffer. That is the position of the material world. Otherwise why you have come to material world? Just like in the prison life, how you can expect enjoyment there? But a man... Suppose a big politician is put into the jail and he is given a very nice, comfortable bungalow and everything, but he is in the jail. But he is thinking that "I am enjoying." He forgets that he is in the jail. He is in the jail. That is called ignorance, maya. He is suffering and he is accepting. Just like the pig. He is eating stool, but he is thinking he is enjoying. This is going on.

So hrt-tapa. In this, I mean to say, ocean of suffering, visaya visanale, diva-nisi, the more we want to enjoy, the more sufferings enter. More suffering. You can understand. Just now we got this car, horseless car. But now there is a problem. They are thinking, "If there is no petrol available, then what will happen?" So this is material existence. Visaya visanale, diva-nisi... Anxiety. That anxiety is suffering, "What will happen? What will happen?" That is material existence. Sada samudvigna-dhiya. Always full of anxiety. This is material life. So Narottama dasa Thakura says that visaya visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale: "The heart is burning on account of this material existence." Juraite na kainu upaya. "But I did not try to find out the means by which I can get out of this." Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kena taya. The medicine is this Hari, Krsna, Krsna's teachings, Krsna's name, Krsna's glorification. That is the real medicine. But we have no attraction for these things. We are simply trying to counteract the suffering, and we are accepting this counteraction as enjoying. Bhagavad-gita: haranti smaratas cittam.

So actually, if we want to enjoy life, then we should take the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna. We shall chant Hare Krsna mantra. That will give us relief from the blazing fire. Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam **. This is the only way. Otherwise...

So when Arjuna was too much perturbed by absence of Krsna, he was simply remembering the instruction of Krsna which he received in the Battle of Kuruksetra.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27 -- Los Angeles, December 5, 1973

Blazing Fire Within The Heart

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27
New York, March 6, 1975



 

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Nitai: "Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space."

 

Prabhupada:

desa-kalartha-yuktani
hrt-tapopasamani ca
haranti smaratas cittam
govindabhihitani me

So this word hrt-tapa upasamani... Hrt means heart, and tapa means miseries or burning, heat. Tapa means burning heat. If there is fire and there is heat, sometimes it is intolerable. So hrt-tapa means the burning fire blazing within the heart. So that is always. Anyone who is in this material world, he has got this disease, burning fire within the heart, anyone. That means severe anxiety, everyone. Even a small bird, he is also full of anxiety. You give him some grains. It will come. It will eat. At the same time, it will look this way, that way, this way, full of anxiety. Although there is food, he is eating, still, there is anxiety, "Somebody may come, kill me." So everyone is full of anxiety. That is the material nature. Nobody can say "I have no anxiety." That is not possible. If he says like that, he is a liar. That is not possible. Is anyone here who can say that he or she has no anxiety? Of course, when you take to Krsna consciousness, there is no anxiety. That is the distinction. Anxiety there is, but to relieve this anxiety one has to take to Krsna consciousness. Otherwise not. You cannot get relief. (child says, "Prabhupada") Yes. (laughter) So you may say that "Sometimes we have got anxiety, and sometimes we are very nice." So even accepting that, Arjuna says, desa-kala-artha-yuktani. Desa, kala, the time and space within this material world, and artha means purpose, everything, any time... Arjuna does not say that "sometimes." At any time, if we are materially attached, then this hrt-tapa must be. Hrt-tapa means burning fire, blazing fire within the heart. It will continue.

Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says that visaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale. This means anyone who is engaged in these material affairs, Visaya... Visaya means material necessities. Everyone has got material necessities: ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna, how to eat, how to sleep, where to sleep, where to get apartment, where to secure money to get food, and how to secure sex pleasure, where it is available, man or woman, and how to defend. "I have got so much bank balance. It may not be taken away. I have got this property." In this way everyone is suffering. That's a fact. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says, visaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale: "The heart is burning." The same word. It is in simple Bengali, and this is in Sanskrit. Visaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale, juraite na koinu upay. So if a man simply goes on suffering like this, then he is not a human being. Human being means if there is suffering, he must try to alleviate it, to mitigate the suffering. That is human being.

That is... Nature gives us this human form of body, intelligence, that if there is danger, if there is anxiety, he tries to get out of it. The animals also do, but they cannot do very nicely. Just like animals are slaughtered. So they know when they are put into one, what is called, pound and they know that they will be slaughtered, but they have no means to get out of it. So the human being can do that. If I foresee, "There is some danger, I can make some way to get out of it." That is human intelligence. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says that "Although I had the intelligence to get out of these material anxieties, the blazing fire within the heart, but I did not take it." And what is that? Now, hari-nama prema-dhana...

Devotees: Golokera...

Prabhupada: Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmilo kene tay. This is the remedy. Golokera prema-dhana, this hari-nama-sankirtana, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, this sound vibration, it is not material. Suppose if I would have advised my disciples that "You chant ‘Mr. John, Mr. John, Mr. John,' " this movement would not have spread. (laughter) How long one can chant this "Mr. John, Mr. John"? Therefore it is the proof, that all over the world, we have got about hundred centers. Everywhere, hundred, two hundred, three hundred disciples are there. They're chanting, dancing, with Hare Krsna mantra. Why? Because it is not material sound vibration. This is the proof. Don't think that Hare Krsna chanting and chanting the name of Mr. John is the same, no. This is the proof. You can go on chanting twenty-four hours, Still, you will not feel tired. This is the golokera... This is the proof, that this hari-nama-sankirtana, golokera prema-dhana, it is the property for loving. It is the thing which will lead you how to love God, prema-dhana. You will gradually develop your propensity to love Krsna. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam: "All glories to the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra." Why? Now, bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam.

In this material life there is a fire always. Bhava-maha-davagni. Davagni means the forest fire, the fire in the forest. Nobody goes to set fire in the forest, nobody has got any business to do that. But still, there is fire. It takes place. Everyone knows. Automatically, by the collision of dry branches of bamboo and others there is electricity and dry leaves that set fire, in this way, a big fire. So similarly, in this material world nobody wants that there may be fire and we all burn. No, nobody wants. But it happens. There is another Bengali song like that. Sukhera lagiya ei ghare bandhinu agune puriya gelun(?): "I constructed this house to live very happily. Unfortunately, there was set fire. Fire was set and everything finished." So this is material world. We should always know.

So Arjuna says that "When I remember the teachings of Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita, then it relieves me. Then it relieves me." Hrt-tapa upasamani. Hrt-tapa, that blazing fire within the heart, immediately becomes relieved. So that is also fact. Bhagavad-gita... Whenever you are perplexed, you read Bhagavad-gita you will immediately get relief. That's a fact. Gandhi also said that. Gandhi was a politician. Although he could not understand Bhagavad-gita neither he could understand Krsna, still, he said that "When I read, I get great relief." He was always very busy, so many political problems always coming. So there was no spiritual understanding of these politicians. Sometimes they take the spiritual shelter, so-called, for getting some benefit out of it so that his political movement may be increased or enhanced. So we do not wish to discuss, but Bhagavad-gita, even if you read without any actual knowledge of the Bhagavad-gita, still, you will feel relief. Still you will feel relief. Just like if you go to the fire, you will feel some warmth. That's a fact. Even you do not know how to enjoy fire, still, because you are near the fire, you will get some warmth. So Bhagavad-gita is like that. Even if you do not understand, by simply hearing the words of Krsna... Simply we chant this, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], and gradually you do that...

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

If we discuss Bhagavad-gita amongst the societies of the devotee... That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mad-bhaktesu abhidhasyati. Bhagavad-gita should be discussed amongst the devotees. Sometimes we discuss Bhagavad-gita amongst the non-devotees. That is due to higher order, higher order -- Guru Maharaja asked that "You go and speak." So we are doing that. Actually, Bhagavad-gita is to be discussed amongst the devotees. So our hard task is that first of all we have to make one devotee and then let him understand Bhagavad-gita, our double task. Because nobody wants to become devotee. So we are canvassing door to door, country to country, village to village, "Sir, please come in our temple. We shall give you nice prasadam. You simply chant Hare Krsna and hear something about Krsna." So still, people will not come. Still, they will not come. We have to canvass. We have to do so many things. That is the influence of maya. Maya is so strong that unless one is very much determined, maya will be very strong for him.

So still, if we understand that this life is meant for understanding Krsna or to advance in Krsna consciousness, if this much we understand, then also, our life is successful. But we do not take it seriously. We do not take it seriously. That is the difficulty. Actually, as Narottama dasa Thakura says, that visaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale, juraite na koinu upay, "My heart is always burning on account of this material condition of life, and I did not make any means to get out of this entanglement"... So everyone should be intelligent. Intelligent person will admit that his heart is always burning. That's a fact. Now, if we want to get out of it, then, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises, all the acaryas advises, and here Arjuna also... Arjuna directly listened to Krsna, and he says, "This is my practical experience, that when I..." He was a politician, a fighter. He had so many anxieties. So he used to remember the instruction given by Krsna directly to him.

So that instruction and when we read Bhagavad-gita, that instruction, these two instructions, they are not different. Don't think that "Krsna was present before Arjuna, but in my presence there is no Krsna. Simply I have got this book." But you should know that the book and the instruction there in the Bhagavad-gita and Krsna, they are absolute, one. There is no difference. We can take advantage of Krsna's presence by reading Bhagavad-gita.

I have narrated several times the story of a brahmana in South India. He was illiterate, and he was reading Bhagavad-gita. So his friends, village friends, they knew that "This man is illiterate. How he can read Bhagavad-gita?" So they were criticizing. "Hello, brahmana. How you are reading Bhagavad-gita?" So he did not say anything because he knew that "These friends are criticizing me because I am illiterate. He knows." So when Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was attracted. He was illiterate, and he was reading Bhagavad-gita, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was attracted. Just see. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, "My dear brahmana, what you are reading?" So he also could understand that "Here is a person who has not come to criticize me. He is serious." "Yes, sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gita, but I am illiterate. I am illiterate." "Then what you are reading?" "No, I am simply turning the pages. I cannot read anything." "Then why you are reading if you cannot?" "No, my Guru Maharaja ordered me. My Guru Maharaja asked me that ‘You shall read Bhagavad-gita daily, eighteen chapters.' " Guru maharaja knew that he is illiterate, but still ordered. This is called guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa **. This is called firm faith in guru. Guru ordered him that "You read." Guru must know him, that he is illiterate. So what he will read? Why guru is ordering him? But because he had firm faith in guru and he was trying to read, Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to see him. Just see. How this line is important: guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa **. Ar means anything more, you don't try to understand. Whatever your guru says, you just try to carry it out. So what is the next line? Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete...

Pusta-krsna: Sri-guru-carane rati...

Prabhupada: Sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati **. Don't try to make very good advance by manufacturing your own way. Simply, sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati. That is first-class. That is Vedic instruction. Vede gay janhara carito. The Vedas says,

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
 [SU 6.23]

To understand Vedic literature means one must have firm faith in Krsna and firm faith in guru, not that "My guru is not so learned, so let me capture Krsna directly." That is useless. That is useless. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. One can get the seed of the plant or creeper of bhakti, how? Guru-krsna-krpa. By the mercy of guru and by the mercy of Krsna, not that krsna-krpa. First guru-krpa, then krsna-krpa. So this brahmana attracted the attention of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was illiterate, and he could not read even one word. What is the truth in it? The same thing. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya **. He took guru's order very seriously, that "My Guru Maharaja has ordered me, and I must carry out. Never mind I cannot read. Let me open the pages and see. That's all." So he was doing that. So others criticized him that "This man is illiterate. What he is reading?" But Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not criticize. Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, "Oh, what you are reading, My dear brahmana?" So he explained, that "This gentleman has not come to criticize me." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew that "He is a perfect knower of Bhagavad-gita." Still, He inquired, "Well, if you are not reading, then how you are crying? I see there are tears in your eyes. What is the meaning?" Then he admitted, "Yes, sir. Yes. That is." "Why you are crying?" "No, as soon as I take this Bhagavad-gita in my hand a picture comes before me that Arjuna is sitting on the chariot ordering Krsna, and Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is carrying out his order and driving the chariot. So that makes me amazed. Therefore I am crying, that ‘How Krsna is merciful, that He accepted a menial service for His devotee. He is so kind.' " Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately embraced him: "Yes, brahmana, your reading of Bhagavad-gita is perfect." So it doesn't matter whether one is illiterate or literate. Everyone has got these ears. So we should hear from the realized person, guru Vaisnava, not professional, no. That will not help us.

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
 [Bg. 4.34]

Tattva-darsinah. Tattva-darsinah means one has seen the truth, not superficially knowing. One who understood that this is the truth, so go there and submit there. Pranipatena. Prakrsta-rupena nipatena. Fully surrender there and then question, then try to inquire if you cannot understand. First of all, first business is pranipata: "Sir, I surrender unto you." Sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam. Arjuna also did so. "My dear Krsna, we are talking like friends. This will not solve the problem. Therefore I am submitting unto You as Your disciple." Sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam. "I surrender unto You. Now You can teach me." Because as soon as you accept guru, you have to hear him, surrender, full surrender. You cannot unnecessarily argue. Of course, if there is any doubt, you can question submissively. But not that, "I shall test my guru, how he is learned." That will not help. One must surrender. So tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. Arjuna did that. Therefore Arjuna learned the Bhagavad-gita, and it was always relief for him when he was perplexity. Haranti smaratas cittam. Haranti. What is that haranti? Hrt-tapa. Hrt-tapa, the blazing fire within the heart, within the core of the heart, immediately becomes minimized, haranti. Smaratas cittam. As soon as I remember, my consciousness, my heart, core of heart, becomes immediately relieved. How it is relieved? Why it is relieved? Govinda abhihitani me: "Govinda instructed." Govinda means Krsna. Govinda means Krsna. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. Govinda.

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

Govinda is sarva-karana-karanam. So that Govinda is instructing to Arjuna personally. How fortunate is Arjuna. But Krsna is so kind that if you actually serious to understand... So just like this brahmana took instruction from his spiritual master and began to read Bhagavad-gita, and he realized what is Krsna, what is Govinda, similarly, if we take seriously the instruction of our spiritual master and try to read Bhagavad-gita according to his instruction, then gradually we shall realize Krsna. And if you simply realize Krsna, what is Krsna... That is not difficult. Krsna is personally speaking about Himself. You haven't got to speculate like nonsense. Just like Gandhi speculated, "I do not believe that ever any person like Krsna lived." Do you know that? This is Gandhi's statement, and he is mahatma. The mahatma's definition is there in the Bhagavad-gita: mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manasah [Bg. 9.13]. That is mahatma, not to take advantage of Bhagavad-gita. Of course, there are... So we do not want to criticize anyone, but sometimes it so happens. Big, big scholars, big, big politicians, they misguide people. That is the position of India. So many big, big leaders and politician and so-called swamis and yogis, they have exploited people by bluffing, and now India's position is: it is neither spiritual nor material. (laughter) That's all. Dhuno ke pap.(?)

Just like it is, the example is, if there are two boats and if you place your leg this boat and that boat, the position is very precarious. (laughter) Neither in this boat, neither that boat. Fully. So our position is that. We are learning technology, and the western countries, they are advanced in technology always hundred years more. Some years ago there was a big exhibition in Delhi. The show was that India had manufactured cycle and sewing machine. That is their proud. The cycle, I think, two hundred years ago (laughs) was manufactured in the western countries and so also sewing machine. So India was very much proud, that "Now we have got cycle." When they are manufacturing big, big 747 airplane, we are manufacturing cycle. (laughter) Just see. Medicine also. Technology, that is also technology. They are advanced in... They were meant for this... They have got brain. They can advance in material civilization because fully... So we cannot compete. We cannot compete, although it is, this technology is the business of the sudras. Technology is not the occupation for the brahmanas, ksatriyas, or vaisyas, no. In our country still, there are blacksmith, weaver, oil crusher. Still they are in the village. But they are sudras. So this technology means craftsmanship. That is not knowledge. That is not knowledge. Just like I do not know how this microphone is working. If it is wrong, some man who knows the art, he repairs it immediately. That does not mean he has got knowledge. That particular department, he has got knowledge, that's all. Knowledge means that one who knows God. That is knowledge. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This is knowledge. So the western countries, they have taken -- advancement of knowledge means manufacturing a big motor car. That's all. That is also good. But simply for manufacturing motor car, simply for driving motor car, if we forget our real business, God realization, then it is ruinous. Mudha. Mudha, then we become mudha.

This life, human life, it is not cats' and dogs' life. It is human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. One can realize the Absolute Truth if he is inquisitive. Brahma-jijnasa. Just like you are advancing by inquiring. Jijnasa. Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. Jijnasuh. This is human life. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Uttama means which is not material, which is beyond material... Ut-tama . Ud-gata-tama yasmat. Tama means darkness. Here they are so-called scholars, big big professor, scientist, and... but they are in the darkness, tama. Tama means darkness. They do not know what they are. Ask any scientist, any philosopher, "What you are?" He will say, "I am this body. I am Indian. I am American. I am white. I am black. I am this. I am that. I am Christian. I am Hindu." He will say. But all these designation is outward, external. Eho bahya, age kaha ara. But everyone is going on, big, big man, identifying himself with this body. So they are all fools, tama, in darkness.

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

So according to Vedic civilization, any person, he may be very big man, but if he does not know beyond his body, then he is no better than animal. This is Vedic version. So we should not remain animal, this human life. As Arjuna said... There are so many problems. In the Bhagavad-gita Arjuna was taught by Krsna, yudhyasva: "Fight!" He never said, "Sit down, my dear Arjuna. You are My friend. Please sit down and sleep on this chariot, (laughter) and I will do everything. I am God." This is going on. "God will do everything for me, and I will sleep. That's all." This is going on. "If God does not do anything for me, then I don't want God. He must be my order-supplier." This is going on. This is going on in the name of religion. "God, give us our daily bread. If you don't supply, I don't want You." That's all. Everyone. So something is better than nothing. If one goes to God for asking bread, at least he is better than the rascals who at all do not go to God, atheist class. That is... They are admitted.

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

So we should take this instruction of Arjuna that govinda abhihitani me: "Govinda has narrated the mystery of Bhagavad-gita unto me, and when I remember, not read, the instruction, immediately there is minimizing the..." Smaratas cittam, hrt-tapa upasamani. Upasamani means relief immediately. So read Bhagavad-gita. Our this Krsna consciousness movement is based on this Bhagavad-gita. We do not manufacture anything. Yata mata tata patha. This is rascaldom. This is rascaldom, that if you manufacture some way for relief, that is not possible. Because you are imperfect, how you can manufacture? Your senses are imperfect. You cannot manufacture. If you manufacture, then you will simply waste your time. Then real religious life means dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19], to abide by the orders of Bhagavan, the Supreme Person. Sri Bhagavan says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] "You simply always think of Me, man-manah, you become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your obeisances. Then you are sure that you are coming back to Me." Very simple method. If you chant Hare Krsna... and here is Krsna present. Just offer Him obeisances and worship Him, decorate Him, give Him nice food. In this way you become devotee of Krsna. Then your life is successful. Where is the difficulty? Anyone... We are opening so many temples. Why? This rascal will come, offer obeisances, hear something about Krsna, offer something for worshiping Krsna, and chant Hare Krsna, So do that. Your life is successful. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27 -- New York, March 6, 1975