"The Self-aware Command Respect"

17 Mar 74 , Vrndavana


Prabhupada:

srotavyadini rajendra
nrnam santi sahasrasah
apasyatam atma-tattvam
grhesu grha-medhinam
[SB 2.1.2]

Material world means apasyatam atma-tattvam, one who has no enquiry or vision of the atma. Atma, paramatma. Atma-tattvam. Tattvam means "in truth." Atma means this body also. Atma means the mind also. Atma means the soul also. So in the present material world they are interested in understanding atma -- the body. The medical science, physiology, biology, they are studying the science of the body. And some of them are studying the science of mind, psychology -- thinking, feeling and willing. But nobody is studying the deepest meaning of atma: soul. There is no such... Throughout the whole world there are schools and colleges and universities to study the physiology, psychology, biology, sociology, so many things. But there is no university, school, college throughout the whole world to understand the soul. Is there any? Eh? You have come from all parts of the world. Is there any school, college or institute to study what is the soul? They have no information even. Even Russia is so proud of scientific advancement falsely, but they have also no... They are thinking that the body finished, everything is finished. That's all. This is going on. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape. Atma I have already explained. Atma means body, mind. But one who is thinking atma only this body, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13], in this bag of three elements, kapha-pitta-vayu, he's go-kharah, he's ass. He's rascal.

So therefore it is said, apasyatam atma-tattvam: [SB 2.1.2] one who cannot see atma-tattva, the science of soul, they are busy only in this material body. Grhesu grha-medhinam. So grhamedhi and grhastha. Grhastha is good. Grhastha is interested in atma-tattva. Just like our students. Although they are grhastha, they are interested in atma-tattva. They are not grhamedhi. But those who are not interested in the science of soul, atma-tattva, but they are interested only in the science of body and mind, they are grhamedhi. Grhamedhi. They are not grhastha. So my point is that our philosophy, Krsna consciousness philosophy, is meant for understanding atma-tattva.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]

We are interested in that tattva, that atma-tattva, soul, ideal. So to understand this atma-tattva one has to become just the opposite number of these materialistic persons. The materialistic persons, they are interested only in sense gratification, materialistic persons. Or mental speculation. They are materialistic. There are so many big, big so-called sadhus, saintly persons, simply busy on mental speculation. They are not perfect. And those who are busy in understanding the bodily concept of life, they are also materialistic. The difficulty is that these, these materialistic persons, in different forms, they are accepted as the leaders. They are accepted as leader, as politician, as sociologist, as philosopher, mental speculator, or so-called incarnation of God, and magician, yogis, so many things. They are leading the whole society at the present moment. Therefore people are in chaotic condition.

So for them Sukadeva Gosvami says that they have many subject matter to hear. Srotavyadini... Nrnam, srotavyadini rajendra [SB 2.1.2]. The Pariksit Maharaja is addressed here as rajendra, the best of the kings. Rajendra, raja, he was king, raja. But indra means the best. Best of the... Because he was listening Srimad-Bhagavatam at the point of his death, therefore he's addressed especially, rajendra, "Because you are best of the kings." Generally, people are not interested. Or course, in those days, everyone was interested. But he was the most interested-rajendra. Srotavyadini rajendra nrnam [SB 2.1.2]. Nrnam means ordinary human beings, mostly engaged in the bodily concept of life or mental speculation, nrnam. Nrnam santi sahasrasah, they have got hundreds and thousands of subject matters because they are not conversant with the atma-tattva. But those who are interested in real atma-tattva, they are busy in understanding... Not understanding. Busy in Krsna consciousness.

So that, our aim is how to become fully Krsna conscious. And to become fully Krsna conscious, the examples are the Gosvamis. Just like sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha gosvamis. We are followers of the Gosvamis. But these Gosvamis are not these titular gosvamis. You should understand. The titular gosvamis are different. They are making a profession of gosvami. Real gosvami means the six Gosvamis. How one can become interested in atma-tattva, that example is given by the six Gosvamis, sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha. When we speak that these gosvamis, who are indulging in all sinful activities, that does not mean the Gosvamis... Gosvamis cannot take in sinful activities, take part in sin... That is not possible. But still, there are so many so-called gosvamis who are taking in sinful activities; still, they are being passed as gosvami. So we do not mean... When we speak of gosvami, we mean the six Gosvamis and their followers.

So Vrndavana, in Vrndavana, those who will remain here to..., especially to guide this temple, they must be followers of the six Gosvamis. So where is our Gurudasa? He is not present? Why? He is busy? Very busy? Where?

Pusta Krsna: He told me that Yamuna's feeling a little sick...

Prabhupada: Eh?

Pusta Krsna: Yamuna's feeling sick tonight. Went to see...

Prabhupada: Oh. Anyway, so these six Gosvamis, we have to follow. Now, this is... Not srotavyadini rajendra... [SB 2.1.2]. We are not interested with this bodily concept of life and... Although we have got this body, but we, we do not think that body is all in all, mind is the..., mental speculative... No. The Gosvamis, they are described, how the Gosvamis, six Gosvamis. First gosvami, the first qualification is sense control. Vaco vegam krodha-vegam udara-vegam upastha-vegam manasa-vegam. In this way, six kinds of vega, urge. Urge for talking, vaco vegam; krodha, or anger; mind, and that belly, stomach, and then genital. They are forcing. They are forcing. Material life means these six senses are forcing us to remain in the material... But a gosvami means one who has control over these six urges of the senses. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah [NoI 1]. As soon as one is practiced to control the urges of the senses, then he becomes a gosvami. That is the first definition of gosvami. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah. Being forced by the urges of these six senses... And there are so many people. They are being criminally charged, police inquiries, and still, they are gosvamis. So this is not good. Gosvami should be very ideal. We have given title "Gosvami." So you must be very ideal. Ideal is there -- six Gosvamis.

So we should be distinct from the so-called gosvamis. Those who will remain in Vrndavana, esp... Everywhere. Everywhere is Vrndavana. Wherever there is Krsna's temple, Krsna's sankirtana, that is Vrndavana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "My mind is always Vrndavana." Because He's always thinking of Krsna. Krsna is there -- He's Krsna Himself -- just to teach us. So similarly, anywhere you live, if you are actually follower of the instruction of Krsna, as Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], then that is Vrndavana. Wherever you live. Do not think that "Because in Melbourne we have got a temple, the Melbourne Deities are here, so that is not Vrndavana." That is also Vrndavana. If you worship the Deity very rigidly, follow the rules and regulations, so wherever you do, that is Vrndavana. Especially this Vrndavana dhama, where Krsna actually appeared. So this is Vrndavana, Goloka Vrndavana. Here, those who will manage this institution, they must be first-class gosvamis. This is my proposition. Not grhamedhi. Not grhamedhi. Gosvami. As...

Because this place was excavated by the gosvamis, sad-gosvami. Sanatana Gosvami came here, Rupa Gosvami came here. And then other Gosvamis, Jiva Gosvami, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, all joined together for executing the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu -- to write books about Krsna, His pastimes, His lila; very, I mean to say, highly spiritual understanding books they wrote. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. This is the business of the Gosvamis, the symptoms. The first symptom is, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. They were always busy-Krsna-kirtana. Krsna-kirtana means... Just like we perform kirtana with khol, karatala, this is also krsna-kirtana. And to write books, that is also krsna-kirtana. And to read books, that is also krsna-kirtana. Not that simply this kirtana is kirtana. If you write books about Krsna, if you read books about Krsna, if you talk about Krsna, you think of Krsna, you worship Krsna, you cook for Krsna, you eat for Krsna -- so that is krsna-kirtana.

Therefore gosvami means twenty-four hours engaged in krsna-kirtana, in this way or that way. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. How? Premamrtambho-nidhi. Because they were merged into the ocean of krsna-prema. Unless we have got krsna-prema, love for Krsna, how we can remain satisfied simply in the business of Krsna? That is not possible. Those who have not developed love for Krsna, they cannot be engaged twenty-four hours in the business of Krsna. We should consider that... We should save time always to be absorbed in Krsna business. The period we sleep, that is wasted. That is wasted. So we shall try to save time. Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Hari is another name of Krsna. Sada, twenty-four hours. Actually, the Gosvamis used to do. They are our examples. They were sleeping not more that two hours or utmost, three hours. So nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau **. They conquered over. This is gosvami. They conquered over these things. What is that? Nidrahara, nidra, ahara, vihara. Vihara means sense enjoyment, and ahara means eating or collecting. Generally, eating. And nidra. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. Conquered. That is Vaisnava. Not that out of twenty-four hours, thirty-six hours sleeping. (laughter) And at the same time, passing on as gosvami. What is this go...? Go-dasa. They are go-dasa. Go means senses, and dasa means servant.

So our policy should be, instead of becoming servant of the senses, we have to become servant of Krsna. This is gosvami. Because unless you conquer over, senses will always ask you, "Please eat, please sleep, please have sexual intercourse. Please have this, please have this." This is material life. This is material life, subjected to the dictation of the senses. That is material life. And one has to become... (sic:) Go-dasa means the mind is dictating, "Please eat more, please sleep more, please have sexual more, please have defense fund more..." So this is materialism. Defense fund means to keep money. That is defense fund. So... So this is materialism. The spiritualism means, "No, that is no." Nidrahara. The senses dictating, "Do this, do that, do that," and you have to become so strong that you'll rightly reply, "No, this is not." Then gosvami. This is gosvami. And that grhamedhi, grhastha-appearing like the same. But grhastha means no dictation of the sense. Then you become gosvami. Then, as Narottama dasa Thakura says, grhe va banete thake ha gauranga bole dake. Ha gauranga, "Always chanting Nitai-Gaura, and thinking of Nitai-Gaura," such person, Narottama dasa Thakura says... Grhe va... "He may be a sannyasi, or he may be a grhastha. It doesn't matter. Because he is absorbed in the thought of Nitai-Gaura." So narottama mage tanra sanga: "Narottama is always desiring to associate with such person." Grhe va banete thake, ha gauranga bole dake, narottama mage tanra sanga. Narottama is always desiring the society of such person. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau.

And gosvami has to become very dear to all classes of men. There are two classes of men: dhira and adhira. Dhira means one who has controlled the senses, and adhira means one who could not. Gosvamis are very kind to all classes of men. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau. So how you can...? How the gosvami can be...? When six Gosvamis were here in Vrndavana, they were so popular to the whole people. Even in this Vrndavana dhama, the village people, if they had some quarrel with husband and wife, they would to go Sanatana Gosvami, "Sir, there is some disagreement between us. You settle up." And Sanatana Gosvami will give his judgment, "You are wrong." That's all. They will admit. Just see how the popular they were. Sanatana Gosvami would give decision among their family quarrel also. So dhiradhira-jana-priyau. These ordinary men, they were not saintly persons, but they were devoted to Sanatana Gosvami. Therefore their life was successful. Because they would abide by the orders of Sanatana Gosvami, therefore they were also liberated. They may be personally wrong, but they abided by the Sanatana Gosvami. And Sanatana Gosvami was kind to them. This is the Gosvami. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau.

So you can become dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Adhira, those who are ordinary men, you can also call them, give them prasadam, treat them very nicely: "Just hear Hare Krsna. You come here. Chant Hare Krsna. Take prasada." They'll be your..., under your control. They'll be under your control. And as soon as they become under your control, they make advance. Immediately. Because under the Vaisnava, if he agrees to abide by, he becomes... That is called ajnata-sukrti. Because he offers you... Just like when we walk, they say, "Hare Krsna. Jaya Radhe." That is the method of offering respect. So if these ordinary people offer respect to the Vaisnava, they become advanced. So you must be Vaisnava. Otherwise why they will offer you respect? Respect cannot be demanded. It must be commanded. By seeing you, they will give you respect. Then dhiradhira-jana-priyau. This is gosvami. Automatically they'll offer respect. So unless you become perfectly clean and Vaisnava, pure Vaisnava... Automatically they'll give you respect. You haven't got to... Just like sometimes we see a person, by seeing us, they chant Hare Krsna. It is not that at the spot we are asking them to chant Hare Krsna, but automatically they are chanting. So that means we have to keep ourself so clean, nice Vaisnava, gosvami, that people will offer you respect. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau tri-bhuvane manyau saranyakarau. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau.

Nirmatsarau. Nirmatsarau means they were not en... Vaisnava is not envious. Vaisnava's only business is to see people, how they will... [break] ...let them go to hell. This is Prahlada Maharaja's philosophy. Soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]. The whole world is suffering from the material disease, and they are always unhappy. So let us preach this Krsna consciousness. They should try to save at least one man. That was the version of my Guru Maharaja, that "I have got so many temples and buildings. If by selling all these buildings, if I can save one man from this material disease, then my mission will be successful." He used to say like that. So that is gosvami. They are trying, always trying, how to save. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Just like Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Srila Rupa Gosvami, writing Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, quoting from so many Vedic literatures, giving evidence. Because formerly people would take it as truth when it is proved by the version of the Vedic literature. Nowadays, they have become more and more rascal. They would not take any evidence. They will take evidence of their only senses. If they like, they will accept. If they do not like, they will...

Formerly, the society was not so much degraded. They, as soon s you give evidence from the Vedic literature, they would accept. So these Gosvamis therefore were making research from the Vedic literature, from the Puranas, from the Vedas, from the Vedanta-sutra, and Upanisads, like that, Mahabharata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sama Veda, Rg Veda. You'll find in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu evidences... Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. What is the, what was the purpose? The purpose was to establish real religious principles. If actually Gosvami principles were followed strictly and real gosvamis would preach, then there would not have continued the so-called religious systems, or increase the so-called... Because any religious system which... That is the verdict of Bhagavata. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje, ahaituky apratihata [SB 1.2.6]. Religion means by following the system one will become a great lover of God, or Krsna. That is religion. Then why this system of religion is going on, maintaining slaughterhouse? That means the..., there was no attempt to preach sad-dharma, real dharma. Therefore, in the name of religion, they are maintaining thousands of slaughterhouse. You see? It is asad-dharma. Asad-dharma. But the..., they studied. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu... They wrote so many books just to establish what is real religion. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why? Lokanam hita-karinau. They were simply doing welfare activities for the people in general, lokanam. For everything. They...

Without following the principles, religious principles... The human life is given a chance by the nature, that "In this life you make a solution of this birth and death," janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. So these rascals do not know that janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi is actually problem. They are simply trying to solve so many temporary problems. They do not know the real problem is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. Therefore, following the real religious principle means sad-dharma. That is lokanam hita-karinau, the greatest benefit to the human society -- to stop their repetition of birth and death. That is the greatest... That is the business of the Gosvamis. Not this, this party or that party, capitalism and communism, this "ism," that... What they will derive? You may follow capitalism or communism or this "ism," that "ism"; after death, you'll be immediately under the grip of material nature, karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. "Now all your so-called rascal nationalism go to hell. You become a dog. Finish." That is nature's course. You have treated your life like cats and dogs. You did not take advantage of your human life. Now nature will give you, "All right, again you become cats and dogs." Punar musiko bhava. They do not know. They do not know the secret science of nature. You may be a very great leader, prime minister now. Next life you are going to be a dog in Scandinavia. (laughter) You see?

But how can you check it? What is your power? Suppose by nature... There are so many lives. Krsna says, tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. So you have to accept another body. Now, that is not in your hand, how to accept. That is, that will depend on your nature, karmana daiva-netrena, and nature will give you the suitable body. So if you waste your time in this human form of life like cats and dogs, then you are going to get... Otherwise, wherefrom the cats and dogs are coming? They are coming... Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya [Bg. 2.22]. We are changing this body. So why you deny that in your next time you cannot become? No. That is your theory, but nature's law is different from your theory. You rascal, what do you know? You learn from the authorities. So the Gosvami's business is to do, how to save these people, these rascals, from this repetition of birth and death.
So there are so many description of the Gosvamis. These eight slokas of Srini... Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau. Because they were nirmatsarau pujitau, they were worshiped by everyone. Pujitau. Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantara... And because they received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they were able to lessen the burden of this material world. Bharavahant...vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. So if you simply study these eight verses of the Gosvamis... Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. In Vrndavana, they lived, and they set the examples. And if you follow their footsteps, then your life will be successful. So, so many others, the so-called gosvamis, have become envious about us, but if you become one of them, then your life is not very... You just try to follow the real Gosvamis and make your life as gosvami. Then people will adore you. Sri-caitanya-gunanuvarnana-vidhau. The verses, you have translated? This krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau...?

Pusta Krsna: Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi...

Prabhupada: Bhuvo bharavahantara... No.

Pusta Krsna: Sraddha-samrddhy-anvitau.

Prabhupada: Sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau sraddha-samrddhy-anvitau. Eh?

Pusta Krsna: Papottapa-nikrntanau tanu-bhrtam...

Prabhupada: Papottapa-nikrntanau tanu-bhrtam...

Pusta Krsna: Govinda-ganamrtaih.

Prabhupada: Govinda-ganamrtaih. These were the symptoms of gosvami. You study this. I want at least twenty-five men to live here, to become ideal follower of these Gosvamis. They'll see how you'll be adored, how you'll be respected, how you'll be ideal. That I want.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.2 -- Vrndavana, March 17, 1974

La Trobe University Lecture

1 Jul 74 , Melbourne

Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers) Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your joining us in this Krsna consciousness movement. Krsna, when I utter the word Krsna, it means God. It is Sanskrit word, Krsna. Those who are Sanskrit student, you know krs-dhatu, "attraction," "one who attracts." God is the Supreme Being, full with six kinds of opulences; therefore He attracts everyone. This is the definition of the word Krsna. This Bhagavad-gita is spoken by Krsna, the perfect person. We receive knowledge from the perfect person. When we receive knowledge from imperfect person, the knowledge is not complete. At the present age, mostly the scientists, they cannot give us perfect knowledge, because there are so many "if's." They say, "It may be," "Perhaps," like that. But this is not perfect knowledge. The perfect knowledge means there is no "if," there is no "perhaps," there is no doubt. So we are receiving knowledge from Krsna, the supreme perfect being. He says that dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Asmin dehe. Asmin means this, this body. You have got your body; I have got my body. So within this body, there is the proprietor of the body. Asmin dehe. Dehinah asmin. Dehe means the proprietor of the body. I do not see you; I see your body, you see my body. But within the body the proprietor is lying, or he is situated. That we do not see. But we can understand. Suppose my beloved father is dead or somebody is dead. I cry, "My father is gone." So where is your father gone? He is lying there, unconscious. He may come to consciousness. But we say, "No, he is gone." Dead means gone. So factually I never saw my father who has gone. I saw the body of my father, and that is lying on the bed. Why I am crying, "My father is gone"? Therefore this is called ignorance. We do not see the real father within the body, or we do not see the real son within the body. We see the outward dress only. This is ignorance.

So we are preaching Krsna consciousness movement on the platform of the spirit soul, which we do not see with these material eyes. This is great ignorance. After death we cry that "My father is gone," "My son is gone." But where he has gone? He is lying on the bed. Now, even still, we do not come to the understanding what is the difference between the living body and the dead body. There are so many theories, but as I have already told you that we receive knowledge from the perfect person, Krsna. He says that within this body the owner of the body is there, and on account of the owner of the body presence, the body is changing. The owner of the body is sometimes in the childhood body; the owner of the body sometimes in a different boyhood body; the owner of the body is sometimes in the youthhood body. Similarly, as he is changing different types of body during this duration of life, similarly, after this annihilation of this body, when it is old... Just like old garment or old coat, old shirt cannot be used -- it is thrown away; another new shirt, new coat is taken -- similarly, this body, being annihilated, the soul accepts another body. This is a real knowledge. Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita very broadly. Just like here it is said that,

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayinah anitya
tams titiksasva bharata
[Bg. 2.14]

Our real business, real education, is to understand, "What I am? I am not this body." But that education is lacking. So our main business is to understand that "I am not this body, and the bodily pains and pleasure, they are due to the change of season only." Just like now it is winter season. We are covering our body. In the summer season we do not like so heavily dressed. So this feeling of pains and pleasure is due to this material body. Therefore Krsna says,

yam hi na vyathayanty ete
purusam purusarsabha
sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram
so 'mrtatvaya kalpate

Real business of human life is to understand the spirit soul, and so far the material body is concerned, just like seasonal changes, we feel pains and pleasure. Just like water. In this winter season, on account of the seasonal change, we do not like to touch water at the present moment. But the same water in the summer season will be very pleasing. So the water is the same, but due to seasonal changes, sometimes the water is very pleasing and sometimes it is very painful. So this material world, so long we shall remain in the material world, the pains and pleasure on account of this material body we have to feel. But if we come to the spiritual platform, that is, understanding of the soul, then in any condition we shall be happy.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita.

brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
[Bg. 18.54]

Brahma-bhutah means self-realized, that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul." This is the first realization, self-realization. So long we are not on this platform of spiritual understanding, we are equal to the animals. Animals, they do not know what is the difference between body and the soul. A dog is always thinking that "I am this body." Similarly, if a man thinks that "I am this body," he is no better than the dog because he has no realization of the self. Therefore the Vedic literature says, yasyatma-buddhih kunape sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih. Actually we are standing on a false platform, understanding this body as the self, and in relationship with the body we are considering, "This country is my country. This man is my family man" or "my national man." So all these bodily concepts of life is based on ignorance, because we do not know soul. Actually the human life is meant for being educated that he is not this body; he is soul. That is the Vedanta-sutra philosophy, to inquire about the spirit soul. That is our main business. Unfortunately... We are traveling all over the world. There is no institution, no school, no college, no university where this education is given, that "What I am? Am I this body, or I am something else? No. I am something else."

So this education can be given through this Krsna consciousness movement. On the basis of Sri Bhagavad-gita, everything is explained very vividly. The soul is eternal. The soul is transferred from one gross body to another gross body, just like we change our apartment from one apartment to another. But I exist. If I vacate one apartment and I go to another apartment, it does not mean I am finished. I may leave the apartment. Similarly, if we are leaving this body and we are going to another body, that means I am not finished. I am existing. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Na hanyate: "The soul is never annihilated even after the destruction of this body." Therefore the question is that "If I am eternal, why I am put into this condition of changing, of transmigrating from one body to another? Is there any possibility of not changing the body, to keep eternality?" Yes. That is possible. Actually we are, as spirit soul, the part and parcel of God. So God is eternal, God is blissful, God is in full knowledge, so we, being part and parcel of God, we have got the same quality.

Man: That's a lot of bullshit. How do you explain your Rolls Royce, Dickey?

Prabhupada: What is that? (big commotion in the audience) What is this? This is not good.

Man (1): Where's your love?

Man (2): Where's your gestapo?

Man (3): Fascists.

Man (1): Where's your love, I want to know. I want to know.

Prabhupada: [break] ...servants of God. We have come to serve God, His purpose. God is very kind upon every one of us. He comes Himself. He comes. He sends His son. He sends His devotee to reclaim. As I was explaining that in the material condition of life we have been changing from one body to another, this is not very good condition of life. Nobody wants to die, but he is forced to die. Nobody wants to take birth, but he is forced to take birth. Nobody wants to become old man, but he becomes old man. And nobody wants to become diseased, but he is forced to take some disease. This is our condition. Now this human form of body is a chance to understand what is our real inconvenience -- birth, death, old age, and disease -- and to think of whether there is any way out of this entanglement of repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are educating people how to get out of the clutches of illusion that continually, one after another, we have to take birth. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Real problem is this. So if we take to Krsna consciousness -- that means if we understand, "What is God? What I am? What is our relationship? What is the ultimate goal of our life?" If these things we understand, then we can get out of the clutches of illusion, repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. This is the Krsna consciousness movement, sum and substance. And to realize this, the method is very simple-chant the holy name of God. We are chanting the holy name of God: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So our only request is that you have got this human form of body -- don't misuse it. Don't waste it like animals simply by eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. You have got another business. A human being has got extra intelligence. That extra intelligence than the animal is meant for realizing himself, not to live like cats and dog. That is not human form of life.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is educational movement. It is not a religious sentiment; it is a science. And as we have got our books also. You have seen. There is demonstration of the book. We have got already twenty books of four hundred pages each, and we are going on, writing more books. Everything will be finished in eighty books. So if you want to know through science and philosophy, we have got our books. You can read. And even if you read the complete set, it will take your whole life to finish it. But if you cannot read or if you do not want to waste your time by such reading... It is not wasting; it is actually utilizing. But if you think so, then our request is that you simply chant the holy name of God.

Man (1): Have you got books on the use of flick knives, like your brother-in-law's there? Have a look. Declare yourself, mate.

Madhudvisa: Sir, listen, we'll have questions and answers in just a minute if you'd like to be patient.

Man (1): Knives...

Madhudvisa: If you'd like to be patient for a second, we'll have questions and answers and we can ask about the philosophy that we're talking about. (more yelling from audience) The people that want to listen in an orderly fashion are waiting to hear the meeting continue, and those who want to ask questions can please have respect for them and let us continue with the lecture, and then we'll have questions and answers afterwards.

Prabhupada: What is this?

Madhudvisa: They are simply talking about violence.

Prabhupada: They are not prepared to hear. So let them question and answer.

Madhudvisa: So our spiritual...

Prabhupada: You can answer.

Madhudvisa: Our spiritual master has traveled about ten thousand miles to come and speak to you. We did have... We've not come here to bribe anyone to come and listen to him. We have rented this hall. We have rented this hall here and we have invited people cordially to come and listen as representatives of the intelligentsia of Australia. Now if the intelligentsia of Australia cannot sit for half an hour and listen to a gentleman speak about love of God, it does not speak very well for you. We are simply not asking for disturbance. We are not asking for violence. We will meet violence with violence. We are not artificially pacifists. We are asking you to listen like gentlemen. We have come here in good will. We have come here not to cause any disturbance. So we ask you please to have that much respect for our spiritual master. Now at this time, if there is any question about Krsna consciousness philosophy... Not about fighting. We can go on the street and fight. We can solve everything out there. We have come here to speak about spiritual matters. If you want to hear about spiritual matters, let's speak together like brothers and sisters. Let's not cause a disturbance. I have an ego; you have an ego. If you do something to flip off my ego, I may get mad. If I do something to flip out your ego, you get mad. So we'll go out into the street and settle it like cats and dogs? No. We're not here at this university to act like that. We're supposed to have raised above that platform. So please, we ask you to present sober questions to our spiritual master. Yes, sir?

Young man (2): I'm a Christian. I follow Jesus. What is your spiritual master in relation to Jesus, and do you see Jesus as just another prophet like...

Madhudvisa: The question was, this man is a follower of Lord Jesus Christ, and he would like to know what our opinion is of Jesus Christ.

Prabhupada: We respect Jesus Christ as you do. Because he is the representative of God, son of God, and we are also speaking of God, so we respect him with our greatest veneration.

Young man (2): So you're comparing Krsna, Buddha, Muhammad to Jesus as the same, and Guru Maharaj-ji too, another Jesus. You're saying that.

Prabhupada: No. I am not Jesus. I am servant of Jesus.

Young man (2): You're a son of Jesus.

Prabhupada: Yes. I am servant of Jesus.

Young man (2): What does that mean?

Prabhupada: I don't say I am Jesus.

Young man (2): Do you have the powers of Jesus? Can you say to a person, "Rise up and walk," when they're paralyzed?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Madhudvisa: He wants to know if you have the powers of Jesus.

Prabhupada: Eh? No, I have no power of Jesus.

Man: Well, I've got the power of Jesus. (laughter) Cause I'm a Christian.

Prabhupada: That's all right. You are Christian, we are Krishnian-practically the same thing. (laughter and applause)

Man: And one other question.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Man: I believe Jesus is coming back and not Krsna. And what are you guys going to do when you see Jesus? (laughter)

Prabhupada: What is that?

Madhudvisa: Jesus. He believe Jesus is going to come back again.

Prabhupada: Well, he is coming, welcome. We shall welcome. It is very good news that Jesus is coming.

Man: Jesus had no reputation. He wore sandals and he was crucified between two thieves...

Young man: He didn't carry flick knives... Hare Krsnas.

Young man (2): And your spirituality is in a Rolls Royce on a padded seat, and you're all into money, you Krsnas. You want money. You rip off people in the streets.

Prabhupada: No. I don't want money.

Man: You said "Violence with violence." When you said "Violence with violence," that's what you believe. Jesus turned the other cheek, and he expects his followers to. (applause) [break]

Prabhupada: Yes, this Krsna consciousness movement is not a sentimental religious system. It is science and philosophy. The attempt is to awaken God consciousness. God is neither Christian nor Hindu nor Muslim. God is God. There may be angles of vision to approach God, but God is one. Therefore our attempt is that you become God conscious. Don't be limited by Christianism or Hinduism or Muhammadanism. So our formula is explained in the Srimad Bhagavatam. We have got the copies there. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje: [SB 1.2.6] "That is first-class religious system by which the followers become a lover of God." This is the, our formula. Either you go through Christianism or Hinduism or Muslimism. If you understand what is God and if you know what is your relationship with God -- in this way your goal of life how to learn to love God, that is achieved -- then it doesn't matter through which religion you achieve that perfection. But if you can achieve that perfection, that system is perfect. This is our formula.

Madhudvisa: I think part of the question was this. One other man who comes from the East, Krishnamurti, he stresses that when you are speaking in the Western world, you should speak and present yourself as a Westerner, not as an Indian or not as you would speak in India. Instead of sitting on the raised dais, Vyasasana, and dressing in robes of a monk, Krishnamurti would say, "Dress in Western clothes and sit on a chair." The question was, "What is our opinion of this?"

Prabhupada: Actually a God conscious person is neither Westerner nor Easterner. So anywhere he goes, the devotees, as they receive him, they accept. These devotees, they have arranged the raised seat, so we have accepted this raised seat. If they wanted to sit down on the floor, I would have gladly accepted. I have no objection, this or that. But as the devotees receive and they give honor, that is good for them, because actually we should honor the Supreme Lord, God, and His representative. Nowadays it is different. Students and people are learning not to honor. But that is not actually the system. According to Vedic system, the representative of God must be honored as God. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. Just like in India we had British rule. The governor general, he was viceroy. So he was given honor, as much honor we used to give to the king. So that is the etiquette. That is the system. It is not that the honor given to the viceroy exactly like to the king, he becomes a king. No. He is servant of God. But it is the duty of the citizen to honor the representative of the king as king. That is etiquette. That is our Vedic system.

Madhudvisa: Yes.

Woman: How do you explain the fact that Jesus said that "I am the way, the truth, and the light," and that "No man comes to the father but by me"?

Prabhupada: What is that? Hm?

Madhudvisa: She's asking how can we explain that Jesus said he is the only way?

Prabhupada: Yes, he is the only way. We also admit. Because he is the representative of God, so if you want to approach God, you must approach through His representative. That is His version. "I am the only representative of God," then you have to reach God through him, that is fact.

Madhudvisa: Another question? Yes, sir?

Man (3): Do you consider your movement the major form of enlightenment emanating from the United States today? (laughter) What order of priority had your movement in the White House psychological warfare department? (laughter) Will you also be coming on to our July 4th demonstration again this year to try and fuck it up and divert people away from taking up real political issues concerned with Australia?

Madhudvisa: All right, we can answer you one point at a time. (to Prabhupada:) I can answer them for you if you like. Our movement is not coming from the United States. If you have some paranoiac stigma about anything and everything coming from the United States, well, that's your hang-up, not mine. (applause) Second of all, our spiritual master, he came to the United States to start this Krsna consciousness movement because he got a free ticket on a boat to go there. Because it was the mercy of this one lady who gave him this free ticket on a boat. He came to America on the orders of his spiritual master. This is the reason he came to America to start Krsna consciousness. If you had sent him a free ticket, he probably would have come to Australia first. He was a monk. He was a monk, a penniless monk in India, and he was trying to follow the orders of his spiritual teacher by spreading love of God. He was not trying to start any kind of a political movement. Actually, he is trying to start a revolution in consciousness. I think that you are also interested in revolution. We are also interested in revolution also. But we are interested in the revolution which will help people to feel peace themselves, whether they're Communists or Marxists or Leninists or whatever "ist" you like. We're trying to help people feel happy whether they're in the city or whether they're in the country or whether they're under any... (people yelling) This is what we're trying to do. So we are also revolutionaries. We are also revolutionaries. And actually we request you to cooperate with this Krsna consciousness movement so that actually we can change the consciousness of the world, not just change from one political system to another political system. That's been going on since time immemorial, and we see there's no solution because people are changing their politics; they're not changing their consciousness. They're not changing their consciousness. They're not changing themselves inside. They're just changing their "ism" from Communism to Capitalism, and from Capitalism back to something else "ism." We're asking people to try to get a little bit beyond that superficial political system and find out what actually motivates each and every one of us. That is God consciousness, or love of God. That love of God is much more powerful than any temporary political system. (many people yelling)

Man: Hey, listen. If you're that bloody good, why'd you beat up my mate?

Men: Yeah!

Man: You're bloody Nazis from bloody Germany. (yelling)

Man: Hitler was a revolutionary too.

Madhudvisa: Are there are any questions, more questions about the philosophy?

Young man: Because Jesus loves me, so I love you, brother. Because I love you I'd like to know where is your book that you say has God's words... How come my God says in this book, which my God doesn't seem to say... How come my God, in His book, which can be proved by many methods, that love... God too is talking about love. Man, he loves everybody... (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => La Trobe University Lecture -- Melbourne, July 1, 1974

"Singing In Saintly Company"

13 Mar 74 , Vrndavana

Prabhupada: ...Mayavadi sannyasis why He was not engaged in reading Vedanta-sutra, and why He was indulging in chanting Hare Krsna mantra, that in this age, Kali-yuga, Vedanta-sutra, to study Vedanta-sutra and to understand the purport of Vedanta-sutra, is very difficult. It requires a very good Sanskrit scholarship. Although it is not very difficult to understand if it is taken by the parampara system, but because people try to understand Vedanta-sutra by scholastic demeanor (?), therefore it becomes difficult. It was discussed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. He was a very learned scholar. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya... (aside, about fan:) Make little curved. (someone turns fan off)

Tamala Krsna: You want...? Prabhupada wants the fan down more, on him.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Tamala Krsna: To keep the flies off. (fan noise resumes)

Prabhupada: Not so much. That's all.

Tamala Krsna: Touching his body.

Prabhupada: So the Mayavadi sannyasis everywhere, they are very proud of their Sanskrit education. Sometimes people ask our students whether you have learned Sanskrit. But Krsna consciousness understanding does not depend on Sanskrit scholarship. That is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said to the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati that "My Guru Maharaja studied Me as a great fool." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, presenting Himself. He was a learned scholar, undoubtedly, very learned scholar. In His youthful age He was known as Nimai Pandita. This pandita title, especially the brahmanas are given this pandita title. But He was specifically known as Pandita, Nimai Pandita, very good scholar. And He defeated the Kesava Kashmiri, a great, renowned scholar of Kashmir. The Kashmir country is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also. It is a very old country. And there were many learned scholars. And one scholar came to Navadvipa to defeat the panditas, the learned scholars of Navadvipa, but he was defeated by a young boy, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Nimai Pandita was at that time only sixteen years old. But He defeated only in composition, Sanskrit composition. The Sanskrit composition, there is rules and regulations. So you know the story. He pointed out many defects in the verses composed by the Kesava Kashmiri. So he was defeated.

So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a great scholar. There is no doubt of it. But in spite of His becoming a great scholar, He is presenting Himself as a great fool. He says, "My Guru Maharaja saw Me a great..." Even one is very great scholar, he has to abide by the decision of his spiritual master. Even one is very great scholar, and if his spiritual master says that "You are a great fool," he should accept it. This is called full surrender. For example, I'll give you a practical... My Guru Maharaja was very great scholar, and his Guru Maharaja, from literary point of view, he could not even sign his name, Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. And Bhaktivinoda Thakura asked Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to accept Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja as his, as his spiritual master, that "You go and take your initiation from Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja." So he thought that "I am a great scholar, and I am son of a magistrate, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and great Vaisnava. He'll be very much pleased to accept me." Of course, he was very much pleased. But in the beginning he refused. He refused. Because... Of course, that is only show. He was not proud. Just to teach us. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati explained that "I was little proud. So I was thrice refused by Guru Maharaja," although he was the only disciple. So the scholarship is not a qualification of becoming devotee. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching. Scholarship may help, but it is not necessary. Real necessary is that one should be humble and meek and follow the instruction of the spiritual master. This is real qualification.

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

Because bhakti does not depend on any material qualification. Bhakti is different subject matter. Aprakrta. Adhoksaja. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6].

So that is being taught, that... Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained His position to Prakasananda Sarasvati that "My Guru Maharaja, studying My character, he found Me a great fool. Therefore he advised Me to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." The idea is that by studying Vedanta-sutra, by becoming a very great scholar, to achieve transcendental position of devotional service is very, very difficult nowadays. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gift. But whatever you may be, if you chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra offenselessly, then everything is achieved, without any difficulty. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomara. Sarva-siddhi. Siddhi means perfection. Siddhi means perfection. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised... That is His propaganda. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam sarvatmanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... So His Guru Maharaja advised Him... He presented Himself like that to Prakasananda Sarasvati. Presenting Himself as fool means that the general mass of people, they are not fit for becoming very great Sanskrit scholar or very good philosopher or student of Vedanta philo... That is not possible in this age, in Kali-yuga. Mass of people, they are almost sudra. Sudra-sambhava. Scholarship, to study Sanskrit, to study Vedas, Puranas, they are meant for the brahmanas. Not even for the ksatriyas, or what to speak of vaisya. Vaisya, sudra and woman, they have been classified in the Bhagavad-gita as less intelligent. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim. But Krsna is so merciful. If you take the shelter of Krsna's lotus feet, whatever you may be... You may be scholar or not scholar. You may be rich or poor; women, sudra, vaisya, or papa-yoni. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. In Bhagavata also, Sukadeva Gosvami says, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa [SB 2.4.18]. Papa means born in low-grade family. They are called papa. Suddhyanti: they become purified. This is the verdict of the sastras, that bhagavad-bhakti does not depend on any kind of material qualification. Simply you have to become very sincere and serious. That is the only price.

Rupa Gosvami also recommended like that. Tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. Rupa Gosvami advised, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto 'pi labhyate. He advises that "Krsna consciousness, if it is available, you purchase. You purchase anywhere it is available." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's advice, that one should be eager to purchase this Krsna consciousness at any price. Generally, we think price means some, in terms of money, monetary transaction, say, hundred pounds or two hundred pounds or millions pounds, billion pounds, like that. The price is different. Here Rupa Gosvami says that "You price..., you purchase at any price." But what is that price? Tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. Laulyam, eagerness. That is price. That is the only qualification. You must be very, very eager to see the lotus feet of Krsna in this very life. You must be very eager to talk with Krsna in this very life. But not to become sahajiya. By service. Krsna talks with the devotee, but not with nondevotee. He says in the Bhagavad-gita, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Only persons who are always engaged in Krsna's service. He has no other business. Satata. Satata means twenty-four hours. He has no other business. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam. And the bhajatam. Bhajatam means in service. You must find out always some opportunity how to give, render service to Krsna. That is the qualification. It doesn't matter what you are. You may be this or that. It doesn't matter. But this eagerness for service can be acquired by anyone simply by sincerity. That is the price. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Rupa Gosvami says, tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam. "So that I, I have got too much eagerness." But no. Immediately Srila Rupa Gosvami warns, na janma-kotibhih sukrtibhir labhyate. This eagerness to achieve Krsna's mercy, to approach the lotus feet of Krsna in this life, determination, "I shall do anything. I shall sacrifice anything," this kind of determination is not very easily obtained. Na janma-kotibhih sukrtibhih. Sukrti means pious activities. Without being pious, nobody can approach Krsna. Krsna is not so cheap. You may show yourself that you have become a great sannyasi or Vaisnava or whatever it may be, but so long you'll be engaged in sinful activities, there is no question of Krsna consciousness. That sinful activities means illicit sex and intoxication, gambling, and meat-eating. These are the pillars of sinful activities. So one must be purified. Janma-kotibhih. These... To purify oneself from the resultant action of sinful activities, it takes many, many births. Janma-kotibhih sukrti. By counteracting the sinful activities, to engage oneself only in pious activities. So pious activities means brahmacarya... Samo damo titiksa. The brahminical qualifications. But it is very difficult nowadays to practice. Tyagena samena damena va.

Gurukrpa: Tapasya... Tapasya brahmacari...

Prabhupada: Ah! Tapasa brahmacaryena tyagena samena damena... [SB 6.1.13]. These are the process of pious activities. But who is going? It is very difficult. Therefore this nama-sankirtana, if we offenselessly perform nama-sankirtana, everything is done.
So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as a fool number one before His Guru Maharaja. He advised that "It will be difficult for You to study Vedanta-sutra or practice tapasya, brahmacarya, sama, dama, titiksa, tyagena, samena, damena, niyamena, yamena... [Bg. 18.42]" It is possible for a human being, but in this Kali-yuga all these functions, to do is difficult. Therefore this process is recommended, vasudeva-parayana, bhakti-yogena. Niharah. Niharam iva bhaskarah. Just like the, there is mist, fog, and as soon as the sun rises there, all fog is immediately disseminated. Otherwise, it requires so much arrangement. Your railway train cannot move. The ships in the sea, they cannot move. It is very difficult position. Similarly, our sinful activities has covered our heart just like a fog. We cannot see anything. But by bhakti-yoga, it can be immediately dissipated. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was thus advised by His spiritual master to chant Hare Krsna, and He got perfection. That was explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So His spiritual master congratulated Him like this, that,

bhala haila, paile tumi parama-purusartha
tomara premete ami hailan krtartha
[Cc. Adi 7.91]

When a disciple becomes perfect in spiritual advancement, the spiritual master feels very, very happy, that "I am a nonsense, but this boy, he has followed my instruction and he has achieved the success. That is my success." This is the spiritual master's ambition. Just like a father. This is the relationship. Just like... Nobody wants to see anybody more advanced than himself. That is the nature. Matsarata. If anybody becomes advanced in any subject matter, then I become envious upon him. But the spiritual master or the father, he does not become envious. He feels himself very, very happy, that "This boy has advanced more than me." This is spiritual master's position. So Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu expresses, He expresses(?) that "By..., when I chant and dance and cry in ecstasy, so My spiritual master thanks Me this way: bhala haila, 'It is very, very good.' " Paile tumi parama-purusartha: " 'Now You have achieved the highest success in life.' " Tomara premete: " 'Because You have advanced so much, ami hailan krtartha, I am feeling so much obliged.' " This is the position.

Then he encourages, naca, gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana: "Now go on. You have achieved so much success. Now again You go on." Naca: "You dance." Gao: "You sing and chant," bhakta-sange, "in the society of devotees." Not to make a profession, but bhakta-sange. This is the real platform of achieving success in spiritual life. Narottama dasa Thakura also says that

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

Narottama dasa Thakura says that "Birth after birth." Because a devotee, he does not aspire after going back to home, back to Godhead. No. Any place, it doesn't matter. He wants to simply glorify the Supreme Lord. That is his business. It is not the business of the bhakta that he is chanting and dancing and executing devotional service for going to Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrndavana. That is Krsna's desire. "If He likes, He'll take me." Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura also: iccha yadi tora. Janmaobi yadi more iccha yadi tora, bhakta-grhete janma ha-u pa mora. The, a devotee only prays that... He does not request Krsna that "Please take me back to Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrndavana." No. "If You think that I must take birth again, that's all right. But only, only my request is that give me birth in the house of a devotee. That's all. So that I may not forget You." This is the only prayer of the devotee. Because... Just like this child. She has taken birth having Vaisnava father and mother. So she must have been a Vaisnavi or a Vaisnava in her previous life. Because this is an opportunity from the... All our children, those who are born of a Vaisnava father, mother, they are very, very fortunate. From the very beginning of life, they are hearing Hare Krsna maha-mantra. They are associating with Vaisnava, chanting, dancing. Imitation or fact, it doesn't matter. So they are very, very fortunate children. Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastah-sanjayate [Bg. 6.41]. So they are not ordinary children. They are... These children, they're always hankering after associating with devotees, chanting Hare Krsna, coming to us. So they are not ordinary children. The bhakti-sange vasa. This is the very good opportunity, bhakta-sange vasa.

So our Krsna consciousness society is a bhakta-sanga, is a society of devotees. Never try to go away. Never try to go away. Discrepancies there may be. You should adjust. And this chanting and dancing amongst, within the society of devotees, has got great advantage, great value. Here it is confirmed -- and all the Vaisnavas have confirmed --

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

Janame janame mora means he doesn't want to go back. That is not his desire. "When Krsna will desire, Krsna will allow me. That is different thing. Otherwise, let me go on in this way, life in the society of devotees and chanting and dancing is my business." This is required. Not anything else. Anything else, anything desiring, that is anyabhilasa. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. A devotee should not desire anything except this, that "Let me live with the society of devotees and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." This is our life.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.91-2 -- Vrndavana, March 13, 1974

"Nrisimhadeva Appearance"

5 May 74 , Bombay

Prabhupada: ...boys who have played the Prahlada-caritra, Hiranyakasipu-vadha. Today is the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. It is called Nrsimha-caturdasi. So I am so pleased that within such a short time these boys have nicely learned how to play, and especially I have to thank Mr. Hiranyakasipu. (applause) (laughs) Mr. Hiranyakasipu has played his part very nicely.

So this is very instructive struggle between the atheist and the theist. This story of Prahlada Maharaja is eternally true. There is always a struggle between the atheist and the theist. If a person becomes God conscious, Krsna conscious, so he will find many enemies. Because the world is full of demons. What to speak of the devotee of Krsna, even Krsna, when He personally came, He had to kill so many demons. There was His maternal uncle, His mother's brother, very keenly related. Still, he wanted to kill Krsna. As soon as any son was born to Devaki, immediately he killed, because he did not know who will be Krsna. The prediction was that the eighth child of his sister will kill Kamsa. So he began to kill all the children. At last, Krsna came. But he could not kill Krsna. He was killed by Krsna.

So nobody can kill God. The demons, godless society, they simply want to kill God. But actually, God is never killed, but the demon is killed by God. That is the law of nature. This is the instruction from Prahlada Maharaja's life. We can understand that as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham [Bg. 10.34]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that "I am also death in the shape of taking away everything, whatever you possess." We are very much proud of possessing material things, material acquisition, but when Krsna comes... Just like Maharaja, Prahlada Maharaja saw Hiranyakasipu. His father also saw Nrsimhadeva. This Hiranyakasipu was very clever as the materialists, scientists, are very clever. Cleverly they are inventing so many things. What is the idea? The idea is "We shall live forever and enjoy sense gratification more and more." This is called atheistic advancement of civilization. So Hiranyakasipu was typical materialist. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu means soft bed, cushion. So materialist persons, they are very much fond of gold and enjoying sex. That is their business. So Hiranyakasipu is the typical example of this materialistic person. And Prahlada Maharaja, prakrsta-rupena ahlada. Ahlada means transcendental bliss. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih [Bs. 5.37]. Living entities' real identification is prahlada, blissfulness. But on account of material association, we are in miserable condition of life. So... (aside:) Stop these children.

So this Hiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal, and he underwent penances, severe penances, so much so, the whole universe became trembled. So that Brahma, Lord Brahma, had to come to pacify him, "What do you want?" So he wanted to become immortal. Lord Brahma said that "Although I have got very long duration of life,..." The duration of life of Brahmaji is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, sahasra-yuga-paryantam arhad yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. Sahasra-yuga, one group of yugas-Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali -- it becomes about forty-three lakhs of years. And multiply these forty-three lakhs of years by one thousand, that duration of time is Brahma's twelve hours, one day. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam arhad yad brahmano viduh. So that Brahma who lives for millions of trillions of years -- still, he has to die. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanu-darsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Wherever you go within this material world, either in the Brahmaloka or in the Patala-loka, you have to die. That is the problem. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "Real problem is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, birth, death, old age and disease." Just try to... So Hiranyakasipu wanted to solve these in a materialstic way, but that is not possible. So in a negative way he wanted that "I shall not die on the (indistinct).

His eternal servant. So he remains a humble servant of Krsna. Therefore he has no danger. Even if he has danger, he will be saved. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. Kaunteya pratijanihi: "Arjuna, you can declare it all over the world that anyone who has taken shelter at My lotus feet, become devotee, he will never be vanquisher." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66]. So these are the assurances. But the atheist class of men like Hiranyakasipu cannot understand this. That is the defect. They challenge always God. The dissension between the father and the son was that the son was believer in God, Krsna, and the father was not. So at the end the father saw what is God in the form of death. At that time he could not save him. So that is the difference between theist and atheist. The atheist always challenges, "Where is God? Can you show me?" Well, you will see. Not now. Just at the maturation of your all sinful activities, when death will come, you will see Him. This is going on.

So it is very instructive lesson, Prahlada Maharaja. Now it is getting late. Otherwise, I would have recited some of the verses recited by Sri Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja is one of our gurus. There are twelve gurus, or mahajana.

svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kaumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakhir vayam
[SB 6.3.20]

Actually, if we want to make progress in spiritual life, we have to follow the mahajanas, the great personalities. They are mentioned in the sastras. Without father and mother, he became manifest. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Without father and mother, he became manifest. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Of course, his father is Narayana, but not in the usual way. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Narada. Narada Muni is also one of the mahajanas. And Sambhu, Lord Siva. Kapila, Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti. Svayambhur naradah sambhuh kapilo manuh [SB 6.3.20]. And Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja is our guru in the disciplic succession. So mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. We cannot chalk out what is the path of religion. It is very difficult to find out because there are many different scriptures and there are many philosophers. Nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. Each philosopher has got different opinion. So how to get real path of religious way? That is recommended in the sastra that mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. You have to follow the footsteps of great personalities. And Prahlada Maharaja is one of them.

So Prahlada Maharaja was born in a demon's family. His father was a demon. Prahlada Maharaja used to address his father as Asura-varya, "the best of the demons." You have seen... He was patting his son, "My dear son, do like this, do like that. Tell me what you have learned the best thing." So Prahlada Maharaja said, tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam. He didn't, never said, "My dear father." "My dear the best of the demons." Tat sadhu manye. "I think that is very nice." What is that? Hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta [SB 7.5.5]. "That this worldly life, materialistic life, is self-killing just like a dark well. So one should give it up and go to the forest and take shelter of Krsna. That is the best way of life." So his father became very angry. So the atheist and the theist, they will never agree. But theist also never will submit to the atheist. This is the principle. Prahlada Maharaja was put into so many troubles by his father, but he never forgot chanting namo bhagavate vasudevaya namah. He never forgot.

So we should take lessons from this story that even in dangerous position, we should not be forgetful of Krsna. Krsna will save us. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita,

yam labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthite gurunapi
duhkhena na vicalyate
[Bg. 6.20-23]

Krsna consciousness is so nice that if one gets Krsna consciousness, yam labdhva caparam labham, aparam labham, any other benefit or gain is never considered. This is so nice. We are hankering after getting this, that, this, that, this, that, so many things. Dehi, dehi, dehi, dehi. But as soon as you get Krsna consciousness, you will be satisfied. As Dhruva Maharaja said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Cc. Madhya 22.42]. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. He was offered all benediction: "My dear Prahlada, whatever you like, you can ask." He never asked anything. But he was so kind. That is the example of a Vaisnava son in the family. Despite so much troubles given by his father, still, he begged from Narasimhadeva, "My Lord, my father has committed so many offenses. Kindly give him liberation." He did not ask anything for himself. So Narahari, Nrsimhadeva, immediately said, "Why do you speak of your father? Your father's father, his father, fourteen generations -- all liberated because a son like you is in this family." So this is the benefit. If a son becomes a pure Vaisnava, devotee, he can deliver fourteen generation. That is a special prerogative because he is born in a certain family. So what we can give service to the family, nation, materially? If we become devotee, we can give best service to the nation, to the family, to the humanity. That is the philosophy.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is preaching this philosophy that "You take to Krsna consciousness; your life will be perfect." And the method is very simple. It can be..., there is no secrecy. Just like this evening I was talking with a boy. He has got a mantra, very secret. But we say have no secret mantra. Our mantra, Hare Krsna, is open to everyone. Why it should be secret? If by chanting Hare Krsna mantra we can approach God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why it should remain secret? It should be distributed like anything so that everyone can go. So there is no secrecy. A secret mantra we don't approve. It must be very open. There is no secret. The sastra never says that mantra can be secret.

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

In this age of Kali... Kali means the age of quarrel, age of misunderstanding, age of disagreement. So in this age it is very difficult to come to the right conclusion by philosophy and other methods. Therefore in the sastra it has been openly declared,

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

Three times. Three times means yajna-dana-tapah-kriya. There are many other things: meditation, sacrifices, worship in the temple. So in this age all these things are impossible to be performed, but even a child can chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. That is proved here. Whenever there is Hare Krsna maha-mantra, even the child can take part, old man can take part. So this is the only method for God realization. There is no expenditure, but the gain is very, very great. That was the teaching of Sri Prahlada Maharaja, and we are following his footsteps. Let us stick to his principle, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186], and thus become more and more advanced in Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Nrsimha-caturdasi Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day -- Bombay, May 5, 1974

"Mr. Hiranyakasipu played nicely"

5 May 74 , Bombay

Prabhupada: ...boys who have played the Prahlada-caritra, Hiranyakasipu-vadha. Today is the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. It is called Nrsimha-caturdasi. So I am so pleased that within such a short time these boys have nicely learned how to play, and especially I have to thank Mr. Hiranyakasipu. (applause) (laughs) Mr. Hiranyakasipu has played his part very nicely.

So this is very instructive struggle between the atheist and the theist. This story of Prahlada Maharaja is eternally true. There is always a struggle between the atheist and the theist. If a person becomes God conscious, Krsna conscious, so he will find many enemies. Because the world is full of demons. What to speak of the devotee of Krsna, even Krsna, when He personally came, He had to kill so many demons. There was His maternal uncle, His mother's brother, very keenly related. Still, he wanted to kill Krsna. As soon as any son was born to Devaki, immediately he killed, because he did not know who will be Krsna. The prediction was that the eighth child of his sister will kill Kamsa. So he began to kill all the children. At last, Krsna came. But he could not kill Krsna. He was killed by Krsna.

So nobody can kill God. The demons, godless society, they simply want to kill God. But actually, God is never killed, but the demon is killed by God. That is the law of nature. This is the instruction from Prahlada Maharaja's life. We can understand that as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham [Bg. 10.34]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that "I am also death in the shape of taking away everything, whatever you possess." We are very much proud of possessing material things, material acquisition, but when Krsna comes... Just like Maharaja, Prahlada Maharaja saw Hiranyakasipu. His father also saw Nrsimhadeva. This Hiranyakasipu was very clever as the materialists, scientists, are very clever. Cleverly they are inventing so many things. What is the idea? The idea is "We shall live forever and enjoy sense gratification more and more." This is called atheistic advancement of civilization. So Hiranyakasipu was typical materialist. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu means soft bed, cushion. So materialist persons, they are very much fond of gold and enjoying sex. That is their business. So Hiranyakasipu is the typical example of this materialistic person. And Prahlada Maharaja, prakrsta-rupena ahlada. Ahlada means transcendental bliss. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih [Bs. 5.37]. Living entities' real identification is prahlada, blissfulness. But on account of material association, we are in miserable condition of life. So... (aside:) Stop these children.

So this Hiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal, and he underwent penances, severe penances, so much so, the whole universe became trembled. So that Brahma, Lord Brahma, had to come to pacify him, "What do you want?" So he wanted to become immortal. Lord Brahma said that "Although I have got very long duration of life,..." The duration of life of Brahmaji is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, sahasra-yuga-paryantam arhad yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. Sahasra-yuga, one group of yugas-Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali -- it becomes about forty-three lakhs of years. And multiply these forty-three lakhs of years by one thousand, that duration of time is Brahma's twelve hours, one day. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam arhad yad brahmano viduh. So that Brahma who lives for millions of trillions of years -- still, he has to die. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanu-darsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Wherever you go within this material world, either in the Brahmaloka or in the Patala-loka, you have to die. That is the problem. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "Real problem is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, birth, death, old age and disease." Just try to... So Hiranyakasipu wanted to solve these in a materialstic way, but that is not possible. So in a negative way he wanted that "I shall not die on the (indistinct).

His eternal servant. So he remains a humble servant of Krsna. Therefore he has no danger. Even if he has danger, he will be saved. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. Kaunteya pratijanihi: "Arjuna, you can declare it all over the world that anyone who has taken shelter at My lotus feet, become devotee, he will never be vanquisher." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66]. So these are the assurances. But the atheist class of men like Hiranyakasipu cannot understand this. That is the defect. They challenge always God. The dissension between the father and the son was that the son was believer in God, Krsna, and the father was not. So at the end the father saw what is God in the form of death. At that time he could not save him. So that is the difference between theist and atheist. The atheist always challenges, "Where is God? Can you show me?" Well, you will see. Not now. Just at the maturation of your all sinful activities, when death will come, you will see Him. This is going on.

So it is very instructive lesson, Prahlada Maharaja. Now it is getting late. Otherwise, I would have recited some of the verses recited by Sri Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja is one of our gurus. There are twelve gurus, or mahajana.

svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kaumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakhir vayam
[SB 6.3.20]

Actually, if we want to make progress in spiritual life, we have to follow the mahajanas, the great personalities. They are mentioned in the sastras. Without father and mother, he became manifest. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Without father and mother, he became manifest. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Of course, his father is Narayana, but not in the usual way. Therefore his name is Svayambhu. Narada. Narada Muni is also one of the mahajanas. And Sambhu, Lord Siva. Kapila, Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti. Svayambhur naradah sambhuh kapilo manuh [SB 6.3.20]. And Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja is our guru in the disciplic succession. So mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. We cannot chalk out what is the path of religion. It is very difficult to find out because there are many different scriptures and there are many philosophers. Nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. Each philosopher has got different opinion. So how to get real path of religious way? That is recommended in the sastra that mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. You have to follow the footsteps of great personalities. And Prahlada Maharaja is one of them.

So Prahlada Maharaja was born in a demon's family. His father was a demon. Prahlada Maharaja used to address his father as Asura-varya, "the best of the demons." You have seen... He was patting his son, "My dear son, do like this, do like that. Tell me what you have learned the best thing." So Prahlada Maharaja said, tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam. He didn't, never said, "My dear father." "My dear the best of the demons." Tat sadhu manye. "I think that is very nice." What is that? Hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta [SB 7.5.5]. "That this worldly life, materialistic life, is self-killing just like a dark well. So one should give it up and go to the forest and take shelter of Krsna. That is the best way of life." So his father became very angry. So the atheist and the theist, they will never agree. But theist also never will submit to the atheist. This is the principle. Prahlada Maharaja was put into so many troubles by his father, but he never forgot chanting namo bhagavate vasudevaya namah. He never forgot.

So we should take lessons from this story that even in dangerous position, we should not be forgetful of Krsna. Krsna will save us. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita,

yam labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthite gurunapi
duhkhena na vicalyate
[Bg. 6.20-23]

Krsna consciousness is so nice that if one gets Krsna consciousness, yam labdhva caparam labham, aparam labham, any other benefit or gain is never considered. This is so nice. We are hankering after getting this, that, this, that, this, that, so many things. Dehi, dehi, dehi, dehi. But as soon as you get Krsna consciousness, you will be satisfied. As Dhruva Maharaja said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Cc. Madhya 22.42]. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. He was offered all benediction: "My dear Prahlada, whatever you like, you can ask." He never asked anything. But he was so kind. That is the example of a Vaisnava son in the family. Despite so much troubles given by his father, still, he begged from Narasimhadeva, "My Lord, my father has committed so many offenses. Kindly give him liberation." He did not ask anything for himself. So Narahari, Nrsimhadeva, immediately said, "Why do you speak of your father? Your father's father, his father, fourteen generations -- all liberated because a son like you is in this family." So this is the benefit. If a son becomes a pure Vaisnava, devotee, he can deliver fourteen generation. That is a special prerogative because he is born in a certain family. So what we can give service to the family, nation, materially? If we become devotee, we can give best service to the nation, to the family, to the humanity. That is the philosophy.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is preaching this philosophy that "You take to Krsna consciousness; your life will be perfect." And the method is very simple. It can be..., there is no secrecy. Just like this evening I was talking with a boy. He has got a mantra, very secret. But we say have no secret mantra. Our mantra, Hare Krsna, is open to everyone. Why it should be secret? If by chanting Hare Krsna mantra we can approach God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why it should remain secret? It should be distributed like anything so that everyone can go. So there is no secrecy. A secret mantra we don't approve. It must be very open. There is no secret. The sastra never says that mantra can be secret.

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

In this age of Kali... Kali means the age of quarrel, age of misunderstanding, age of disagreement. So in this age it is very difficult to come to the right conclusion by philosophy and other methods. Therefore in the sastra it has been openly declared,

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

Three times. Three times means yajna-dana-tapah-kriya. There are many other things: meditation, sacrifices, worship in the temple. So in this age all these things are impossible to be performed, but even a child can chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. That is proved here. Whenever there is Hare Krsna maha-mantra, even the child can take part, old man can take part. So this is the only method for God realization. There is no expenditure, but the gain is very, very great. That was the teaching of Sri Prahlada Maharaja, and we are following his footsteps. Let us stick to his principle, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186], and thus become more and more advanced in Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Nrsimha-caturdasi Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day -- Bombay, May 5, 1974

"Maha-mantra Includes Lord Rama"

1 Apr 74 , Bombay


Prabhupada: (leads word-for-word chanting)

"...kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.39]

ramante yogino 'nante
satyanande cid-atmani
iti rama-padenasau
param brahmabhidhiyate
[Cc. Madhya 9.29]

Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan [Bs. 5.39]." Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, Vamana, Parasurama, Balarama, Buddha -- there are innumerable incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ramadi, of whom Lord Ramacandra is the chief. So ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan [Bs. 5.39]. Krsna simultaneously existing with His innumerable incarnation like Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, ity adi. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarot [Bs. 5.39]. So Krsna accepted so many innumerable incarnations, but the Supreme Personality, parama-purusa, is Krsna. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu, krsnah svayam, krsnah svayam samabhavat [Bs. 5.39]. In spite of His coming in different multi-incarnations, He personally also descends. Krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo [Bs. 5.39]. The Supreme Personality. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. This is the prayer offered by Lord Brahma.

Then again, in the Satvata Purana the explanation of Rama is given. Rama, the word comes from the ram-dhatu, ramante. Ramante means fulfilling desires. So ramante yogino 'nante. Those who are yogis.... Karmi, jnani and yogi. And amongst the yogis, the bhakti-yogi is the topmost.

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

So yogis, they are not interested with material enjoyment because material enjoyment is temporary. So ramante yogino 'nante. Everyone is seeking after happiness, blissful life. But those who are less intelligent, mudha, they are satisfied with temporary so-called happiness of material existence. But yogis are not like that. Yogis are interested in the permanent happiness. Ramante yogino 'nante, not ante.

Antavanta ime dehah. Anta means this body. Antavanta ime deha nityasyoktah saririnah: [2.18] "But within the body, the proprietor of the body is nitya." So nityo nityanam. If I am nitya, eternal, then I should be interested in eternal happiness. But the eternal happiness is not possible to enjoy by this body. Therefore it is said, ramante yoginah anante. So ananta-ramana, that is the description of Rama. Rama means ananta-ananda, unlimited happiness. Iti rama-padenasau param brahmabhidhiyate [Cc. Madhya 9.29]. Rama is param brahma, and Krsna is also param brahma. Krsna is recognized by Arjuna after understanding Bhagavad-gita, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So there is no different between Rama and Krsna. Krsna is also param brahma and Rama is also param brahma. [break] ...day of Lord Ramacandra. So we Vaisnava, we have equal faith and obeisances to all visnu-murtis, ramadi-murtisu, Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, Narayana, Mahavisnu.... There are advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs. 5.33]. But we Gaudiya Vaisnava or Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava, we are worshiper of Lord Krsna murti. Lord Ramacandra's murti and Krsna's murti, there is no difference. But as I have already explained, Krsna param brahma full-fledged, and Lord Ramacandra is also param brahma, but He did not exhibit His full-fledged opulence. So these are very confidential things, but still, on the birthday of Lord Ramacandra we offer our respectful obeisances at His lotus feet so that He may be merciful upon us to bestow His bhakti, devotional service.

We are all fallen souls. We have no power to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But as it is directed by the sastra, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [Brs. 1.2.234]. So although there is no difference between Sri Rama and Sri Krsna, but one devotee is attracted by one feature of the Lord, and the other is attracted by other feature. Sometimes it so happened that Krsna disappeared from the rasa dance and the gopis were very much eager to find out Krsna again. So when they were too much eager to see Krsna, where He is, Krsna appeared as Narayana, four-handed Narayana. The gopis saw narayana-murti but did not become attracted by Him. All the gopis said, "Oh, He is Narayana. Let us offer our respect," and they went away. Actually there is no difference between Krsna and Narayana. (aside:) What is that? But gopis were not very much interested with Narayana. They wanted Krsna, although there is no difference between Narayana and Krsna. Similarly, although there is no difference between Rama and Krsna, some devotees are attracted with rama-murti and some devotees are attracted with krsna-murti. But factually there is no difference.

But in the sastras it is said that if you chant the name of Visnu, Visnu-sahasra-nama, by chanting one thousand times Lord Visnu's name is equal to one name of Rama. And by chanting three times the name of Lord Rama it is equal to one name of Krsna. This is the verdict of the sastra. So when we chant Hare Krsna, Rama is there already, three times. It is not that because we are chanting Hare Krsna we are neglecting Rama, no. With each Krsna name there are three times Rama name. That is the verdict of the sastra.

Besides that, we are chanting also Hare Rama. Hare Rama and Sita-Rama the same thing. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna or Hare Rama Hare Rama, there is no difference. This is also rama-nama, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. In the sastras it is recommended, Agni Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Kali-santarana Upanisad, the

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

[My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.]

Besides that, when we chant Krsna's name, we chant also Lord Rama's name. Just like in the prayer offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

krsna krsna krsna krsna
krsna krsna krsna he
krsna krsna krsna krsna
krsna krsna krsna he

krsna krsna krsna krsna
krsna krsna raksa mam
krsna krsna krsna krsna
krsna krsna pahi mam

rama raghava rama raghava
rama raghava raksa mam
krsna kesava krsna kesava
krsna kesava pahi mam

So devotees, they always chant together Krsna's name and Rama's name. So when there is question of rama-nama, there is Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. That is rama-nama.

So there is no partiality, that "These people are simply after Krsna." Of course, we are little more attached to Krsna, but that does not mean we do not know who is Lord Ramacandra. We know that He is also Krsna Himself in His different feature of pastime.

ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.39]

Now let us begin our regular class. (begins chanting Jaya Radha-Madhava) [break]

Pradyumna: Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya (twice -- devotees respond). (leads chanting of verse, Bg. 4.12, with devotees responding)

kanksantah karmanam siddhim
yajanta iha devatah
ksipram hi manuse loke
siddhir bhavati karma-ja

[break] "...world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world."

Prabhupada:

kanksantah karmanam siddhim
yajanta iha devatah
ksipram hi manuse loke
siddhir bhavati karma-ja

So last night we were discussing,

ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
mama vartmanuvartante
manusyah partha sarvasah
[Bg. 4.11]

Everyone is seeking the Absolute Truth in different way. So the worship of the demigods, that is also, in one way, searching after the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore in the Vedas, the demigod worship is also recommended. Upasana-kanda.

The Vedas are divided into three kandas, or division: karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, upasana-kanda. Therefore the other name of Veda is trayi. Trayi na sruti-gocara. Stri-sudra-dvijabandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara [SB 1.4.25]. That is stated in the Vedic literature. Stri, sudra and dvija-bandhu.... Dvija-bandhu means born in brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya family, especially brahmana family, but he is not possessing the qualities of brahmana or ksatriya, as now it is going on. Everyone is presenting himself as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, but he hasn't got the necessary qualification. A brahmana's qualification is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, satyam saucam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. Similarly, ksatriya. Sauryam viryam tejo yuddhe capy apalayanam, isvara-bhavas ca. In this way there are ksatriya's qualification.

Similarly, krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. The vaisyas are described to be engaged in agricultural work, giving protection to the cows, and excess grains to trade, where there is necessity to carry there and take something in exchange.

Similarly, sudra: paricaryatmakam karma sudra-karma svabhava-jam. Sudra means he is satisfied by serving somebody. Just like a dog. He is satisfied having a nice master, that's all. Sometimes it is compared, the sudras, like the dogs. So kanksantah karmanam siddhim. This guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13] -- brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya that will be explained in the next verse.

So karma, to get success in one's particular type of occupational duties sometimes they worship the demigods. That is described here. Demigods, they are also living entities, and all living entities are part and parcel of Krsna. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. So demigods, they are also part and parcel. We are also part and parcel. There is no difference. But they are more fortunate to get the post of Candra, Surya, Indra, Brahma. Brahma is also a living entity. Therefore, to get success in our material welfare activities, sometimes, not sometimes, always, we worship demigods.

So that is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, that demigod worship is also My worship, but that is avidhi-purvakam. That is not the vidhi. Vidhi is to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But sometimes, just like we give some reward to the doorman to enter into the room of a great officer, similarly, demigod worship means to get the result very quickly. And we may ask any type of benefits and reward from the demigods. Tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. That will be explained in the Seventh Chapter.

So demigod worship may be bring quickly the resultant action, desired result, but antavat tu phalam tesam [Bg. 7.23]. The result is antavat; it is limited. But bhakti is not limited. Bhakti is unlimited. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. But people.... Tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. Those who are less intelligent, instead of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they worship the demigods. Kanksantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah. Therefore people are more interested in worshiping demigods than Krsna. The demigods.... In India especially we will find. There are many devotees of the demigods. Not devotees. Devotion is only applied in connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigod worship, they are not devotee, but they are interested to get the reward from the demigod. Otherwise they are not interested.

But bhakti is not like that. The bhaktas, they are not after any reward from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is difference between bhakti and other demigod worship. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is teaching us bhakti. He says, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye: "My Lord, I do not wish to ask from You opulence, riches, nice wife or many followers." These are material opulences. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "I do not want all these things."

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
[Cc. Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4]

That is the desire of devotee. He doesn't want even liberation. Janmani janmani. He wants to serve the lotus feet of the Lord birth after birth. That is his aspiration.

So ksipram hi manuse loke siddhir bhavati karma-ja. So karma-kandiya, those who are on the platform of fruitive activities, generally they are attracted by the demigod worship. But vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah [Bg. 2.56], those who are detached from material happiness, they becomes attached to Krsna. Man-maya mam upasritah. That is already explained. Now we have to make our choice whether for temporary benefit we shall worship demigods or for permanent benefit we shall worship Krsna. That is our choice. But people generally make their choice: ksipram hi manuse loke siddhir bhavati, immediate result. Immediate result. That will be explained that immediate result, it may be very palatable in the beginning, but it is.... It will produce bitter result at the end. But that we do not consider. We want immediate.

The immediate result and remote result is described in Sanskrit word, sreyas and preyas. Preyas means immediate benefit and sreyas means ultimate benefit. So those who are interested in the ultimate benefit go back to home, back to Godhead. For them, worshiping the Supreme Lord is most beneficial. And those who are interested in the matter of temporary benefit, dhanam dehi, rupam dehi, yaso dehi. Just like by worshiping goddess Durga we want all these things. But we forget that whatever we get, material benefit, with the end of this material body, everything is lost. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that "At the end, I, as death, I take away all your material possession." Sarva-haro mrtyuh.

So that is not good. We, because we are eternal -- nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13) -- we should be after eternal happiness, eternal benefit. That should be our business. Therefore we should not be karma-ja, not karmi. Neither we should become jnanis. We should become yogi. And what kind of yogi? Bhakti-yogi. Because there are different types of yoga practices. Out of that, bhakti-yoga is the topmost. Because Krsna says, bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Without being in the bhakti-yoga, neither you can be happy, nor you can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna. Evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah [SB 1.2.20]. If you want to be happy, then bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah, it can be possible. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. That is stated, nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18].

This class is held for the benefit of the human society. And this is the process of nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. If you regularly hear about Krsna.... Why regularly? Constantly. If we practice in such a way that we shall hear about Krsna, talk about Krsna, chant about Krsna, eat about Krsna, work about Krsna, sleep about Krsna, walk about Krsna, that is Krsna consciousness movement. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. Anything we do in relationship with Krsna is pious. Punya-sravana-kirtanah. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. This is the instruction of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Dovetail everything with Krsna activities, Krsna consciousness. That is the recommendation. Then our life will be successful.

And Krsna is sitting within your heart. When He sees you, that you are very serious about Krsna, then He helps you.

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

Krsnah abhadrani vidhunoti. We have got many dirty things within our heart, but as soon as we begin to hear about Krsna.... Just like we are hearing about Krsna. Krsna is speaking about Himself. Krsna is speaking about the situation of this material world. He'll speak about the spiritual world. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. So if you regularly hear, that is the beginning of success of life, hearing.

The Vedas are called hearing, sruti. One has to hear Vedas from the right person. That is the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. To achieve success in self-realization or God realization, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, sthane sthitah: "You just remain in your present position. You remain as a grhastha or as a brahmana or as a sannyasi, as a businessman, professional man. It doesn't matter." Sthane sthitah: "You remain as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. It doesn't matter. But..." Sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih: "Just try to hear about Krsna," sruti-gatam, aural reception. Sruti-gatam means aural reception. Tanu-van-manobhih. "And try to employ your body, words," tanu-vak, and manah, "mind, engaged in Krsna's service." Tanu-van-manobhih. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir ye prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi.
Krsna's another name is Ajita: He is never conquered. But any person who hears about Krsna, jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam, simply mental speculation, giving up this bad habit, jnane prayasam udapasya, leaving aside, namanta eva, very humbly and meekly, if one hears from the realized soul about Krsna, then in any position, sthane sthitah, because he is hearing from the realized soul, then one day it will be possible to conquer the unconquerable. Prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyam.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is to give chance to everyone to hear about Krsna. This is the first process, sravanam. And when one has heard very nicely about Krsna, they can, then he can speak about Krsna. And he must speak. You cannot remain without speaking. That is the result of sravanam. Sravanam kirtanam. One who has heard nicely, he must speak or preach. And preaching and hearing about whom? Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Visnu and Krsna, the same thing.

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

These nine different process of Krsna consciousness movement is being pushed on by the members of Krsna conscious society all over the world. And we have opened also here in Bombay, the most important city of India. So we request you all to come every day and try to understand this philosophy of Krsna consciousness based on Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, all authentic scriptures.

There is no concoction, there is no manufacturing, malinterpretation. We are presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is, without any deviation. So if we take advantage of this process of understanding, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17], then gradually we shall be bereft of all sinful activities, resultant action of sinful activities. Hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani. Abhadrani means inauspicious things accumulated within our heart. By this Krsna kirtana, as recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], the heart is cleansed. It is just like mirror. Ceto-darpana-marjanam. So as soon as our heart is cleansed, then we can understand immediately what is Krsna, what I am, what is my relationship with Krsna and how I should act in relation to Krsna. This is perfection of life. (aside about microphone) What had happened? Thank you very much, Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.12 Bombay, April 1, 1974