We're Taking Death As Life

We're Taking Death As Life

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.7
Vrndavana, December 9, 1975

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Harikesa: Translation: "In tender childhood age, when everyone is bewildered, he passes ten years. Similarly, in boyhood, being engaged in sporting and playful things, another ten years. In this way twenty years are wasted. Similarly, in old age, when a person becomes invalid and he is unable to execute even material activities, he passes another twenty years wastefully."

Prabhupada:

mugdhasya balye kaisore
kridato yati vimsatih
jaraya grasta-dehasya
yaty akalpasya vimsatih
 [SB 7.6.7]

So fifty years out of one hundred years, fifty years wasted by sleeping. And then balance fifty years, twenty years in childhood and youthhood, sporting, playing; another twenty years in old age... Jaraya grasta. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9]. These are inevitable. As birth is inevitable, death is inevitable, similarly, old age is inevitable. So in this way our time is wasted because we do not know how valuable this human form of life is. There is no such education. They think human life is as cheap as dog's life, but factually it is not. Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. One gets this human form of life, 8,400,000 species of life, especially advanced life, the Aryan civilization... Aryan means advanced, advanced in spiritual knowledge. The materialists, they claim Aryan only from the bodily conception, but that is not the fact. Anyone who is advanced in spiritual life, they are called Aryans. Anarya-justam. Arjuna was chastised by Krsna that "You are talking like non-Aryan." Anarya-justam. So non-Aryan and Aryan, what is the difference? The Aryan civilization means this varnasrama-dharma, four varnas, four asramas. And non-Aryan means there is no division. Everyone is one or equal. That is advocated now at the present moment. In India also, they think of casteless society, no caste. But it is not caste. It is division of culture. Brahmana means advanced in culture, ksatriya means less advanced than the brahmana, and vaisya means less advanced, and sudra is less advanced, and the pancamas, fifth grade, sixth grade, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah [SB 2.4.18], they are less. In this way high grade and low grade division of the society, one who follows the high grade culture, they are called Aryans, Arya. In many places in Vedic literature the superior person is addressed as Arya.

So without being culturally advanced, they do not know the value of life. They waste their life. The advanced persons, they try to reduce waste of time. We have already discussed that the Gosvamis, they were ministers. They came to Vrndavana not for begging but for advancing the spiritual culture of life. Vrndavana is not meant for making a solution of the economic condition. One who has no, nothing to eat outside, they should come and beg capati and roti from door to door. The Rupa Gosvami did it, madhukari. Rupa Gosvami used to beg. Not beg, collecting twenty capatis. And only one or two, that's all. Not to collect the capatis and sell it in the market and get some money and purchase bidi. This is not Rupa Gosvami. And just to have a loin cloth, imitating Rupa Gosvami, and having so many illicit connections, this is spoiling. Rupa Gosvami came on the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to rejuvenate, re-excavate this land of Vrndavana. And they were engaged in the service of Lord Caitanya for preaching work. Whatever we are preaching now, it is based on the principles laid down by the Gosvamis. Narottama dasa Thakura has sung, rupa-raghunatha-pade, haibe akuti, kabe hama bujhabo sri-yugala-piriti. The loving affairs of Radha and Krsna, that is not ordinary material things as we conceive. Generally people are very much interested in painting picture of Radha-Krsna's love. These pictures are very popular because they think, "Krsna is like us. He is after young girls. So He's a great support for us. We are also after young girls, so Krsna has done. So we are doing that." So Krsna affairs -- different. Narottama dasa Thakura says,

rupa-raghunatha-pade, haibe akuti,
kabe hama bujhabo sri-yugala-piriti

It is not so easy to understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna. It is meant for the most advanced spiritually. That is not ordinary thing. Not only the loving affairs of Krsna and Radharani, but everything... They are not material. They are all spiritual. It has nothing to do.

So how it is spiritual, that we have to understand through the teachings of Rupa Gosvami, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Nectar of Devotion. Without reading all these books, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Bhagavad-gita, if we jump over Srimad-Bhagavatam to understand Radha-Krsna, that is not good, and therefore it is not effective. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau... The Gosvamis... You'll find in The Nectar of Devotion. So many Vedic literatures are quoted. So that is required, sastra-vidhi. Then we'll be fixed up. Vidhi-bhakti is very important, then raga-bhakti, then prema-bhakti. So we should not imitate prema-bhakti without going through vidhi-bhakti. This is vidhi-bhakti. Just like we rise early in the morning, perform mangala-arati, all regulative principles, then wash the temple, dishes, and then dress the Deities, then again arati, then class. In this way, according to... Because we have no natural..., we have not awakened yet our natural love for Krsna, so it requires practice, practicing this vidhi-bhakti, compulsory. Vidhi-bhakti means the injunction of the sastras and the order of spiritual master, one has to follow. Not whimsically we can do anything. Vidhi-bhakti is required. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah na sa siddhi... Na siddhim... [Bg. 16.23]. What is that?
Harikesa: Navapnoti...

Prabhupada: Navapnoti siddhi na sukham na param gatim. So in the beginning, neophyte stage, not that "Because we have come to Vrndavana, immediately we have become advanced." No. Vidhi-bhakti must be followed, regulative principle, by the injunction of the sastra and the order of the spiritual master. Vidhi-bhakti. Krsna Himself says, yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya. Rupa Gosvami has said also, sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratriki-vidhim vina. Again, vidhi.

sruti-smrti-puranadi-
pancaratriki-vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate
 [Brs. 1.2.101]

If you do not follow the vidhi as they are given in the Vedas, sruti, and smrti, as in the Bhagavad-gita, sruti-smrti-puranadi, and the Puranas, Padma Purana, Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Sattvika-Purana... So sruti-smrti-puranadi and pancaratrika, Narada-Pancaratra.

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
 [Cc. Madhya 19.170]

This is Pancaratrika. Our... In this age, Pancaratriki-vidhi, not Vaidic. Vaidic is very very strict. Unless one is born by a brahmana father, he is not given the advantage of becoming a brahmana. That is Vaidic vidhi. But Pancaratriki-vidhi means although he is not born of a brahmana family, if he has got a little tendency to become a brahmana. Brahmana means brahma janati iti brahmanah. One who is inquisitive to understand Brahman -- brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11] -- he should be given chance. Just like there is a little fire. Fan it. Fanning, fanning, fanning, and it becomes a big fire. So our process is that. Anyone, we pick up anyone, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa, what to speak of the sudra. Striyah sudras tatha vaisyah. In the ordinary way the stri, woman, sudra, the fourth-grade man, and vaisya, they are taken together, not very intelligent. But Pancaratriki-vidhi offers facility even persons who are lower than these striya, sudra, vaisya. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah, ye 'nye ca papa [SB 2.4.18]. And less than that, ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah... A devotee, a pure devotee of the Lord, and if these persons take shelter of a pure devotee of the Lord, then sudhyanti -- they become purified by following the injunction of the spiritual master. He knows how to deal with them, how to elevate them to the brahminical position. So that is not artificial. Sastra says, Bhagavata says, "Yes. By such expert management these kirata-hunandhra, lower than the sudras, sudhyanti..." Sudhyanti.

Now, just like people protest because we are giving the position of a brahmana to the mlecchas, yavana. Yavanah khasadayah. Khasadayah means Mongolians, the Chinese, Japanese and the Philippines. So they are khasadaya. The Manipuris, Assamese, they are considered as khasadaya. So there is no distinction. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given open declaration: krsna-bhajanete nahi jati kuladi vicara. Anyone who is desirous of becoming Krsna conscious, it is open. Anyone can come. By proper training by the expert spiritual master everyone can be raised to the brahminical platform and then Vaisnava platform. sudhyanti. So how sudhyanti? Sudhyanti. So how sudhyanti? The general process is that unless one is born in brahmana family, he is not suddha; he is impure by birth. That is fact. But the devotee can change. This is new birth, undoubtedly. Just like these, our European, American students. They are new birth. They have given up their old birth practices. So birth is changed. Punar janma. So that is possible only by Krsna consciousness. If one has to change his body without changing body... The body is changed, but we see that the same body..., but it is not the same body. It is cin-maya. The same example, that the iron rod put into the fire, it becomes red hot, so it is no longer iron; it is fire. Similarly, if we constantly keep ourself in touch with Krsna consciousness, then the body is no longer material; it is spiritual. Therefore a spiritual body is not burned. They are kept, samadhi. Just like in Western countries they give samadhi to any, everyone, tomb, entombing. In India the tomb is offered to a very advanced spiritually person. You'll find many tombs in Vrndavana because their body is spiritual. No, no... This is the idea.

So there are so many things to be done for cultivating spiritual life in the human form of life. So Prahlada Maharaja is giving account that "Fifty years in sleeping and twenty years in playing and twenty years in old age and ten years, simply being absorbed, 'What to do?' -- then life is spoiled." Don't do this. Don't do this. You have got the... There is a Bengali song, payecha manava janma, emona janam ara pabe na(?): "Fortunately, you have got this human form of life. You'll not get this opportunity." Don't spoil. So let us follow. We have come to Vrndavana. Let us follow the Gosvamis. Rupa raghunatha pade haibe akuti. We should be very, very anxious to follow the principles laid down by the six Gosvamis.

rupa-raghunatha-pade, haibe akuti,
kabe hama bujhabo sri-yugala...
rupa-raghunatha-pade, rahu mora asa
prarthana karaye sada narottama dasa

Prarthana karaye sada narottama dasa. The Narottama dasa, he has sung so many Vedic songs. Narottama dasa's song, although it is written in Bengali, it is considered as sruti, Vedic. Srinivasa Acarya has eulogized Narottama dasa Thakura that "Your songs are Vedic evidences." Whatever Narottama dasa Thakura has said in simple Bengali song, they are all Vedic injunction. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura's Prarthana are very popular and famous amongst the Vaisnava, Gaudiya Vaisnava, and others also. So we should not waste our..., mugdhasya, bewildered, befooled or illusioned, mugdhasya. Don't be illusioned. Even balye, in childhood, they should not be because there is no question of balya or vrddha. Any, at any moment the life can be finished. You know. There is no guarantee, "Because a child is a child, oh, he has got hundred years' age, so let him play now." No, that is not. He should be trained up. This is the duty of the father and mother. Na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. "One should not become father, one should not become mother, if he is not very careful to save the child from the imminent death." The imminent death does not mean motor accident. Imminent death means we are in the cycle of birth and death. It is the duty of the father and mother, the duty of the guru, the duty of the relative, to save one another from the cycle of birth and death. This is real upakara, to save from the cycle of birth... Na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. This life, we are thinking that "I am eighty years old or ninety years old." But it is not eighty years, ninety... It is mrtyu. Mrtyu. You are dying every moment. It is the life of mrtyu. Therefore one has to save. Na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. A child is grown up, five years old. Suppose he'll live hundred years. So that means he has already died five years. Therefore it is mrtyu. Or we have grown eighty years old. That means... Suppose I live hundred years. Still, I have already died eighty years. Therefore it is mrtyu. The whole life is mrtyu. Every moment you are dying, dying, dying, dying, from the very birth. Suppose a child is born one hour before. So one hour passed means he has died one hour out of hundred years, the beginning of death. This is called mrtyum. So we are thinking, "We are growing. We are living." This is all mugdha, bewildered. Where you are growing, you are living? You are dying every moment.

So dying, death is going on. It is called mrtyu-loka. So long you are in the material world, you are simply dying. That's all. At the end, when the balance of life, it becomes finished, we take, at that time, it is mrtyu. But no, from the very birth there is mrtyu, always, dying, dying, dying, dying. So mugdha. We are thinking, "We are living and growing, young. We are getting strength." But he does not know that he is dying. Therefore it is explained, mugdhasya: "illusioned." He is taking death as life, mugdhasya. So one should not be so bewildered, mugdhasya, and waste time by playing. Human life is not meant for... Similarly, jaraya grasta-dehasya. Akalpasya. This is also very important. Generally the old man does not know what is going to happen. He is in the hands of the nature. Ask anybody, any big, big man, old man, "What you are going to do?" I met some very important old man in London, one... He was Lord...

Hamsaduta: Brockway. Lord Brockway?

Prabhupada: Brockway, I think. I asked him, "What you will do? What is the end of your life?" "No, I shall die peacefully." That's all. He does not know that what is going to happen. Because the Christians, they do not believe in the next life; they think this life is finished, everything is finished. But that is not the fact. Because they cannot find out the soul. But that requires expert knowledge. Just like gold mine, apparently it appears that it is a stone. But one who is expert, soil expert, he can understand, "Here is gold." Just like when I was in South Africa, even in the city Johannesburg there are so many gold mines within the city, gold mines. So ordinary man, how it will... How he'll know that there is gold in the soil? He must be expert. To find out the soul within this body, it is not the business of rascals and fools. He must be very expert, exactly like the soil expert. And then, by analysis... This is called neti neti, na iti. It is very easy. If you think, study your body, take this finger, so you'll say, "My finger." Nobody will say, "I finger." Just like we sometimes examine little child, "What is this?" "Finger." "So a finger, which finger?" "My finger." "Head?" "My head." "Leg?" "My leg." Everything, "my, my." And where is "I"? This is intelligence. Everything, he is studying, "my," and who is "I"? This very question will establish the fact, dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13], that "I" is within this body. Therefore I am speaking, "my."

So if one is expert in understanding, in analyzing this body, neti neti -- "This is blood. This is skin. This is this. This is this. This is urine. This is stool" -- then whole body we analyze. Then where is that "I"? We cannot see. But why you cannot see? As soon as the "I" is off, then whose stool, whose skin, whose bone? So in this way, if we analyze, then we can understand that asmin dehe, within this body, the "I" is there. And what is this "I"? Again, aham brahmasmi. This is further advancement. But these rascal -- "Aham brahmasmi means 'I am God.' " No. Take, consult Bhagavad-gita what is this aham. Aham means the part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman. Krsna is Parabrahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So Krsna says, "These Brahmans, these living entities, they are My part and parcel." That is aham understanding, "I." What I am? I am part and parcel of Krsna.

So one has to study the body, where is the "I," then what is the relationship of the "I," what is the position of the "I," "What I am?" This is intelligence. This is intelligence. Caitanya Mahaprabhu begins from here to teach Sanatana Gosvami that this "I," I, you, we are -- jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. This is the beginning of Caitanya's teachings. Therefore, rascals, they cannot understand what is the movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They think that "This crazy fellow, unnecessarily chanting and dancing," because they cannot understand what is this movement. This movement starts when one can understand what is "I." From that point it starts. So what they will understand? Unless one comes to the understanding point what I am, what he will understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement? That is the defect. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so kind that without understanding, being a fool number one, if he simply joins Caitanya Mahaprabhu's chanting and dancing, he understands immediately, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], immediately, and he understands "What I am."

So we should not waste our time, mugdhasya balye kaisora, and foolish old man, full with disease and invalidity. No. We should immediately begin our spiritual life, aham brahmasmi. That is called brahma-bhutah. If we come to this point, aham brahmasmi, "I am Brahman; I am not this body," that is very fortune, good fortune. But people are... All men, whole, throughout the whole world, they are under this bodily concept of life, and they cannot find out where is the soul, "Where I, where I am." So they are all fools and rascals. So if one comes by cultivation of knowledge, spiritual knowledge, comes to understand that "I am within this body," that is called brahma-bhutah, brahma-jnana, aham brahmasmi.

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

In this way the beginning of devotional life is there. Take advantage of Krsna consciousness and make your life perfect.

Thank you very much.

[break] ...of decreasing distress. And those who are trying for going to the heavenly planet for enjoying life more and more, increasing happiness, they are also wasting time. And the whole system of dharma is like that, increasing happiness and decreasing distress. So Krsna says both these processes, increasing happiness or decreasing distress, this is sarva-dharman parityajya: [Bg. 18.66] "Avoid these two ways of life. Simply surrender unto Me." Then shall I go on suffering? Due... "When there is happiness, it is all right. Then I shall go on suffering without any attempt to minimize it?" "Yes. Yes." That is said in the Bhagavad-gita. Tams titiksasva bharata: "My dear Arjuna, even if you think there is some distress, still, you should tolerate."

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

Just like nowadays it is very cold. It will not stay. Say for two months, three months, it will stay, and again there will be summer, and that is also very unbearable. And that will also not stay. Say for two months. So agamapayina. These things, seasonal changes, they come and go. Don't be bothered about these things. So long you have got this body, this sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah... The same thing: sometimes it is distressful, sometimes it is very pleasant. Just like water. Water now is distressful. If you have to take your bath, you have to make it hot; otherwise it is very distress. And similarly, same water in the summer season, it is very pleasing. The water is there, but it is sometimes distressful, sometimes pleasant. So they are agamapayino. In touch with the skin it is sometimes pleasing, sometimes distressful. So this distress and happiness will be possible... Sukham aindriyakam daitya deha-yogena dehinam. As soon as it is in touch with the body, such kind of distress and happiness will be fact. But don't be agitated. Your real purpose is that you must increase your Krsna consciousness in any circumstances. And that is your business, human life. Don't waste your life. Don't be misguided.

He is advising to the sons of the demons because the demons, they cannot understand. But it is the duty of the Vaisnava to preach, although Krsna advises that "You don't preach the truth of Bhagavad-gita to the demons." He said, "Those who have not undergone austerities, those who are not very serious, don't speak about these lessons of Bhagavad-gita, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]." Means they'll not understand. But still, the devotees, they take the risk that "All right, let me try to convince this person that 'Take to Krsna consciousness.' " Even Krsna says that "Don't try, because they will not be able to understand," still, they try. That is a devotee. Therefore devotee is more merciful than Krsna. Devotee is more merciful. Even there is no hope to understand, still, he goes door to door: "Please take to Krsna consciousness. Please take to Krsna, and you'll be happy." It is not always... Just like you are trying to spread Krsna consciousness with so much endeavor. It's not that cent percent people of the world will take. That is not possible. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Only the fortunate persons will be able to take it. So we should not be disappointed that "Nobody, majority of people, do not take this. What is the use of? Let me sit down in Vrndavana and chant Hare Krsna mantra." No. The Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He also did it. He never sat down tightly in Vrndavana. He also did it. He traveled all over the India and took so much trouble. So preaching is very important, and you should engage. That will help you. Every one of you should be pure in your activities and try to preach Krsna consciousness as far as possible. If you remain pure, then your preaching will be successful and you'll get encouragement. That is the instruction of all Vaisnavas.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! (end)

 

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The Victors and the Victimized

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.6
Vrndavana, December 8, 1975

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Harikesa: "Every human being's duration of life is maximum one hundred years. Out of these one hundred years, persons who cannot control the senses misuse half of them. Therefore such persons' duration of life is fifty years. The other balance, fifty years, is completely lost because at night he sleeps eight to twelve hours."

Prabhupada:

pumso varsa-satam hy ayus
tad-ardham cajitatmanah
nisphalam yad asau ratryam
sete 'ndham prapitas tamah
 [SB 7.6.6]

Now, ayur-vyayah. Prahlada Maharaja has already explained how these foolish persons are simply wasting time for economic development: "I shall get money, and with money, dharma, artha, kama, I shall satisfy my senses." This is going on, dharmartha-kama. Nobody is trying for moksa. Dharma-artha... They come to the temple just to become a dharmi, but the real purpose is: "My dear Lord, I am very poor man. Please give me some money." Dharma, artha. And what he will do with money? Kama: "I shall satisfy my senses." This is going on.

So Krsna gives them. Ye yatha mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11]. It is not that Krsna does not give... Krsna satisfies always. For this reason, it is recommended that even if you have got some lusty desires to fulfill, still, you go to Krsna and He will satisfy it. Don't go to other demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnana yajanty anya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. Generally people go to other demigod for fulfilling their lusty desires: "Mother, Goddess Kali, I am very great devotee of you. Kindly allow me to eat meat." That's all. Mother says, "All right, bring one black goat and offer me and then take prasadam." This is meant for the meat-eaters. The purpose is to restrain him. Instead of purchasing meat from the slaughterhouse, the sastra says, "All right, you meat eat in this way." This is restriction. This is not indulgence. Loke vyavaya-amisa-madya-seva nityastu jantuh nahi tatra codanah. To eat meat, to have sex life, amisa-madya-seva, and to drink intoxication, these things are naturally there, so why sastra should encourage them? "Yes, you can eat meat by offering puja, worship to Goddess Kali." "Yes, you may have sex life by marrying." In this way, they're sastras. They are mentioned. But this is not encouraging. This is restraining, that if he is not married, he will enjoy sex life like cats and dogs. Therefore sastra says, "All right, don't become cats and dog. Become a human being and get married and have your sex life under restrain." Similarly, "If you are raksasa -- you want to eat meat -- don't eat like raksasa. Better offer a goat to be sacrificed before Goddess Kali." This is sastra. Because the goat will be benefited. Because it is offering his life before Goddess Kali, he will immediately get the body of human being, immediately promotion. He is benefited, and he has the right to kill this man. These are the injunction in the sastras.

So sastra never encouraging this, but those who are in the tamo-guna, in the darkness, just to raise them gradually to the sattva-guna, some concession is given. Just like government. Government opens liquor shop. The liquor shop is opened not to encourage. Nowadays, of course, the situation is different. But the fact is that if the government does not open liquor shop, these rascals will distill liquor every home. Therefore government gives some concession. These are concession. These are not required at all. For human being they are not required. Therefore we restrict, "No intoxication, no meat-eating..." It is not required. Simply we are habituated to indulge in these sinful activities. They are not required. To speak frankly, there is no necessity even for marrying. There is no necessity. If one can remain a brahmacari all through, that is a great benefit. Great benefit. Yan-maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. What is the benefit? It is increasing botheration. But they are trying to get out of botheration. Just like we see advertisement, "One, two, three -- bas -- no more children." And other... "What I shall do?" "Now, kill, that's all. Kill them by contraceptive method or directly. Don't allow more than one, two, three children." They understand that "This is botheration." And the sastra also says, "Botheration."

yan-maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham
kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham
trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah
kandutivan manasijam visaheta dhirah
 [SB 7.9.45]

"All right, I have begotten one child. I have to take care of, so much care always." But, "All right, you have trouble, taken so much trouble. Stop here. No more." "No, again." Trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. There's so many botherations, but still, we do it practically. Why? It is said that ajitatmanah, cannot control the senses, become victimized, victims of sense enjoyment, ajitatmanah.

So Prahlada Maharaja is speaking of these ajitatmanah, those rascals who cannot control the senses. First their business is sleep as much as possible -- twelve hours, fourteen hours. In the Western countries sometimes sixteen hours or twenty-four hours. In the beginning, in that Second Avenue, 26, when our morning prayer was going on, at seven, not very early, and so many other tenants, half-naked... Mr. Judah was our landlord. "Mr. Judah, what is this going on? What is going on? Stop it. Stop it. Stop." So Mr. Judah used to say, "No, no, they'll not stop. I cannot say. You go to the police." So sometimes police were coming to stop us, but we did not stop. (laughter) So ajitatmanah. Ajitatmanah. Jitatmanah... The human life is meant for gaining victory over the senses. "No, better be victimized by the senses" -- this is modern civilization. Modern civilization means the more you become victimized by senses, you are advanced. So here, the ajitatmanah, their first business is to eat voraciously and to sleep unlimitedly. This is ajitatmanah.

So this ajitatmanah in another place, Bhagavata, it is said, pasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam. Nidraya hriyate naktam.

nidraya hryate naktam
vyavayena ca va vayah
apasyatam atma-tattvam
grhesu grha-medhinam
 [SB 2.1.2]

This family life, grhesu, grha-medhinam, who are very much attached, this is maya. Prahlada Maharaja, from the age of five years he condemned, hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam: "The grha, this so-called family life, is a dark well." We are thinking we are very happily living with nice wife and children and working very hard, getting money. But sastra says, "You are fallen in the dark well." Grham andha-kupam. And "All right, let me remain here." "No." Atma-patam. If you remain in this way, then you will kill your soul. Atma-patam. Therefore in the Vedic civilization there is compulsory: "Get out." Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. "Now you are fifty years old past. Immediately get out." "No, I have got so many duties. I have got this." "No, no." Vrajet, "compulsory." This verb is used, vidhilin, where there is no argument; you must. Just like when natures calls you, you must do it, similarly... This is Vedic civilization. Not that unless you are killed or being shot down by somebody else, you are not leaving the grham andha-kupam. This is not Vedic civilization. Vedic civilization is that brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. You must be prepared, especially the higher castes, especially the brahmanas. The brahmanas must observe the four adhyatmika principle: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha... Brahmana, they do not go even to the grhastha life. Remain brahmacari. But even he goes, only for twenty-five years. It is said, pumso varsa-satam hy ayuh. So divide this varsa-satam, hundred years: twenty-five years, brahmacari; twenty-five years, grhastha; twenty-five years, vanaprastha; and last twenty-five years, sannyasa. That is real civilization, not that no brahmacari, no vanaprastha, no sannyasa, simply grhastha. They are not grhastha. They are called grhamedhi. Apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam [SB 2.1.2]. There are two words, grhamedhi and grhastha. Grhastha means that is only for twenty-five years, not more than that. That is grhastha. And those who are grhastha up to the point of death, or unless he is killed, that is grhamedhi. Grhamedhi means he has made his center the wife and family. Just like one cow is, I mean, tied with the rope and with a fixed up wood, and he is going round this way, and he is thinking that he is going round the world. Yes. So grhamedhi means he has fixed up his center, the wife and children, and going round throughout the whole life, no ending. They are called grhamedhi. And grhastha means grhastha-asrama. Grhamedhi-asrama nei. Grhamedhi, only grhamedhi. And grhastha-asrama. Grhastha-asrama means it is as good as other asrama, sannyasa-asrama, grhastha-asrama. If he lives according to the regulative principle, that is asrama. That is also not for all the time, only for twenty-five years.

So those who do not observe these rules and regulations, they are called ajitatmanah, uncontrolled victims of senses, victimized by the senses, ajitatmanah. So their business is to sleep as much as possible. They are never practiced to get up early in the morning. Unless they are bound or knot(?), they cannot take to this practice. These are ajitatmanah. So nisphalam. These ajitatmanah means they are passing their days without any benefit, nisphalam, without any result. Human life is meant for good result. Arthadam adhruvam. Durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. That is the Prahlada Maharaja's description. That is the fact. The human life is so valuable, and I shall waste it simply by sleeping? Therefore the Gosvamis, our predecessor gurus, they have shown. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau **. They conquered over these things, nidra, sleeping... Nidra is very dangerous according to Vedic civilization. It is simply waste of time. If one is not serious about the value of this human form of life he may waste his time by sleeping. But no. The... If we follow our predecessors, our Gosvamis, who were all ministers... But they came to Vrndavana to practice... What? Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau, to conquer over sleeping, eating and mating. And coming to Vrndavana, if we indulge in that way, then what is the use of coming to Vrndavana? Go to hell and live there. So Vrndavana life is that. You have to practice nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. That is wanted.

So those who are ajitatmanah, although they have got one hundred years' age, still, fifty years they are wasting at least because they will sleep at night twelve hours. So fifty years wasted. And the other fifty years? That will be described in the next verse: twenty years by sporting, because a man, a boy, up to... It is natural, every country. They are students. Instead of becoming brahmacari... Brahmacari guru-grhe vasan dantah. Instead of becoming santa, danta, very peaceful, they are indulging in sporting. This is introduced in India also. I have seen in Calcutta many young men. At twelve o'clock, no, they are playing football. Why? There is no engagement. What he'll do? Unemployment. There is no employment. Because education means to become servant, to write one application and go office to office: "Sir, give me some service." "No, no, no. No vacancy. Get out." This is education. After taking the M.A., B.A. degrees, they have no employment. So what they'll do? They'll form party of anarchist and Naxalite and play football, because they must have some engagement. Oh, this is advancement of civilization. Instead of utilizing the valuable form of human life, there is always wasting. And at night they are sleeping, and at noon they are playing football, you see, wasting in this time. So this will be explained next verse, mugdhasya balye kaisore kridato yati vimsatih: [SB 7.6.7] "By so-called sporting life, twenty years passed, fifty years by sleeping, and twenty years by football." Then seventy years passed. And jaraya grasta-dehasya yaty akalpasya vimsatih. And when he is old man: "Here is pain. Here is rheumatism. Here is...," what is called, "diabetes and so on, so on." So by treatment, by blood examination, by this..., vimsati, another twenty years. So twenty years sporting, twenty years diabetes and fifty years sleeping -- then what is left? Where is the opportunity for Krsna consciousness? This is modern civilization.

So we are trying to save people from this modern civilization. This is... Modern means in this age it is, excessively has increased, but this process was existent. This is the way of material life. So in the Satya-yuga it was less, in the Treta-yuga it was more, and the Dvapara-yuga, it is still more, and Kali-yuga, it is full. This is the difference of ages. Therefore kalau, in this age, nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. Kalau sankirtanaih prayaih yajanti hi sumedhasah. There is no hope for liberation from this material bondage except chanting this Hare Krsna mantra. Other things, it is not possible. If you want to revive the old Vedic civilization, brahmacari and grhastha, vanaprastha, and brahmana, ksatriya... These are all spoiled. Everything is spoiled. Then what is the position? Kalau sudra samabhavah. In this age simply they are sudras. "So how the sudras will be delivered? By your Krsna conscious..." Yes. They'll be. Not only sudras, those who are less than sudras. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa [SB 2.4.18]. Not only sudras, the less than the pancamas, the fifth-grade, sixth-grade, seventh-grade, tenth-grade, all rascals and all sinful men, they will be all delivered simply by Krsna consciousness. Papi tapi yata chilo hari-name uddharilo. Take this chanting of Hare Krsna and your life will be saved.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.6 -- Vrndavana, December 8, 1975

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Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.6
San Francisco, June 23, 1968

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Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana) So Prahlada Maharaja's proposal is that kaumara acaret prajnah. Intelligent Who is intelligent? He should begin Krsna consciousness from childhood. Not that we have to wait. And he is presenting an analytical study of the whole life, that unless we begin Krsna consciousness from childhood, hardly there will be opportunity to practice this transcendental method. Because in the beginning he has said that this life, human form of life, is very rare. The present educational system, they do not know it, that how important this human form of life is and how it has to be utilized. So that is being explained.

So he is analyzing the whole life, that pumso varsa-satam hy ayuh [SB 7.6.6]. Accepting that we have got one hundred years of life, but we have to waste half of it, fifty years, by sleeping at night. So immediately fifty years minus. Nisphalam yad asau ratryam sete 'ndham prapitas tamah. When we sleep, we have no activity. We cannot make any advance, any department of knowledge. Sometimes we sleep more by intoxicating habit. So nisphalam yad asau ratryam. The whole night is wasted because we cannot produce anything. There are two kinds of production: material production and spiritual production. Arthadam. Artha means factual profit. So there are two kinds of profit. Those who are materialists, they calculate profit by dollars, and those who are spiritualists, they calculate profit: "How much I have advanced today in spiritual or Krsna consciousness?" Both of them are profits. So either make this profit or that profit, but don't waste your time. That is the proposal. But the best profit is, for human form of life, to advance in Krsna consciousness. So he has analyzed that mugdhasya balye kaisore kridato yati vimsatih [SB 7.6.7]. So fifty years immediately minus from our life. Then, by playing in youthhood and childhood, another twenty years. Seventy years minus. Then jaraya grasta dehasya yaty akalpasya vimsatih. Then, when old age comes, by disease, by invalidity, another twenty years minus. That means fifty plus twenty plus twenty. Out of hundred years, ninety years gone. Then,

durapurena kamena
mohena ca baliyasa
sesam grhesu saktasya
pramattasyapayati hi
 [SB 7.6.8]

The balance ten years, because the whole life we have spoiled in material activities, in the balance, ten years are wasted: "What I have done, and how to pull on? Oh, this was not successful. How I have to make successful? This boy was not educated. That boy was not properly brought up. He has gone out home...," so many anxieties. That means if we do not practice from childhood, then in the advanced age it is not possible. That is the proposal of Prahlada Maharaja.

There is a proverb in Bengali that kancaya noyale bhas pas korbe nyastas (?). Bhas means bamboo. Bamboo, while it is green, you can bend it, but when its yellow or dry, oh, it cannot be bent. It will break. It will be break. Therefore school children... Just like Prahlada Maharaja is instructing his class fellows. School children, from five years old, they should be given lesson about Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. Otherwise, in advanced age, oh, it is not possible. Generally, we find in our class or in this Krsna conscious movement, the youngsters, they become little more interested, but we don't find any old men. Why? Because whatever they have been taught, they cannot forget. It is very difficult to forget what he has been already taught. So they do not become interested.

ko grhesu puman saktam
atmanam ajitendriyah
sneha-pasair drdhair (baddham)
utsaheta vimocitum
 [SB 7.6.9]

"One who has passed his life simply being attached to household affairs, sneha-pasair, and when the affection of household life is too strong, it is very difficult to get out of it." That will be very nicely explained, one after another.

Therefore, according to Vedic civilization, there is compulsory get-out from household life. Compulsory get-out means pancas ordhvam vanam vrajet. Pancas means fifty years. "As soon as one passes over fifty years of age, he should get out." That is the injunction of the scriptures. No more in household affairs. The life is divided into four parts, four divisions. First of all brahmacari. Just like Prahlada Maharaja is teaching. Brahmacari, a boy from five years old is taught, and up to twenty-five years. And if he is not... Of course, he is properly taught, but if he is not properly convinced that "Worldly life is botheration. Better remain brahmacari for throughout the whole life..." There are many brahmacaris in India still, naistika-brahmacari. They are called naistika-brahmacari. That means they had never any experience of sex. They are called naistika-brahmacari. Just like my Guru Maharaja was naistika-brahmacari. He never married. So boys are taught like that, the inefficiency of this family life, encumbrances, because the aim is to advance in Krsna consciousness.

So we have to minimize our bodily necessities of life and we have to expand the spiritual necessities of life. That is the perfect way of civilization. In the modern age, the more we can increase the demands of artificial demands of the body, it is called civilization. And when one is engaged, minimizing the demands of the body and utilize the valuable time for advancing in spiritual consciousness, they are accepted as uncivilized or not advanced, in so many words. But actually, India's civilization was based on this principle. We can find in the history of old days that they knew everything. From the books we can understand they had advanced knowledge for material civilization. Because we find description of aeroplanes, description of television. But they were used very, I mean to say, only limited circle, not that extensively. Because the whole process of civilization was to divert your attention too much for material advancement, but whatever little span of life you have got, just utilize it for spiritual advancement and get out of this material entanglement. That is the basic principle of civilization. Therefore the social life, human society, was divided into eight divisions. They are called varna and asrama. In the Bhagavad-gita also, you will find, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. Four divisions of society, for spiritual advancement and for material advancement both. For spiritual advancement, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa.

So first twenty years, twenty-five years, or twenty years, because education begins from five years... Up to five years the child is given full liberty -- whatever he likes, he may do. Lalayet panca-varsani. It is said that you can give liberty to the child only for five years. And tadayet dasa-varsani. And as soon as he is on the fifth year, you must be very strict on the child, on the boy, so that he may not be spoiled. Very strict. Simply engage him in proper education. Tadayet dasa varsani. And prapte tu sodase varse. And as soon as he is on the sixteenth year... Sodase means sixteenth year. Prapte tu sodase varse putram mitravad acaret: the son, the boy should be treated as friend. No more punishment. Then there will be reply. So there must be restraint. So from sixteenth year to twenty-fifth year, higher education. And after higher education, if the boy is still after sense gratification, he should be allowed to get himself married and enter into family life. That family life is allowed for another twenty-five years. When youthhood is very strong, let him beget some children and... Of course, there is regulation of children. One has to take care of the children and he has to educate children, not that irresponsibly begetting children. No. So family life.

Then as soon as he reaches fiftieth years or little advanced, when he might have a grown-up child at home, then the father and mother leaves home. Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. The gentleman, when the boy is grown up, he may get his boy married and get out of home. The wife may remain with him as friend, but there is no sex life. That is called vanaprastha. Vanaprastha means retired life. And that is also another training. First training is brahmacari so that when he becomes householder, he lives very restrained and regulated life. And then, after satisfying his senses, when he is grown up to fiftieth year, he is advised to get out: "No more sense gratification. Now you prepare yourself for the remaining days of your life for spiritual culture." That is called vanaprastha. So vanaprastha means retired life and training for completely renouncing this worldly life. And when he is prepared, the wife is asked to go back home. The grown-up boys will take charge of her. The woman is always protected. In childhood she is protected by the father, in youthhood she is protected by the husband, and in old age she is protected by the grown-up boy. That is the system. She is never given independence. In the Manu-samhita it is stated, na striyam svatantratam arhati: "Woman should never be given independence." That is good for her, yes. Just like a child should not be given independence -- then he will be spoiled -- similarly woman also should not be given independence. That is the injunction of Manu-samhita. They should be always given protection. The child, woman, brahmana, the cow, and the old man -- they should be given proper protection. That is the injunction.

Anyway, the vanaprastha, when the gentleman is completely educated for renouncing this world, then he sends back the wife to grown-up boys and he takes sannyasa. This is sannyasa dress. This is preparing, not... Preparing is finished. Sannyasa means he should distribute spiritual knowledge from door to door. That is his business. He has no family attraction, he has nothing to think for his maintenance, because the society is advised to take care of brahmacari, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Just see. This is spiritual communism. One section of people, the householders, they have to maintain the three other divisions. We have divided the society into four divisions: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Only the grhasthas are allowed to make money, to earn money. But the brahmacari and the vanaprastha and sannyasi is to live at the cost the grhasthas. Brahmacaris shall go from door to door and beg alms and bring it for the spiritual master. The spiritual master is a sannyasi. So whatever the brahmacaris bring, they cook and they eat and they cultivate spiritual Krsna consciousness. That is the system. That means it is the duty of the grhasthas, or the householder, to maintain the other three section of the people. And that is varnasrama-vibhagasah.

Now, in another place you will find in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that the perfection of varnasrama, these four divisions as we have stated... And in the grhastha there are still four divisions. That divisions are brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra. Those who are doing intellectual works, just like studying philosophy, science, astronomy, so many intellectual works, they are called brahmanas. And those who are in the administration class, they are called ksatriyas. Those who are in production, mercantile industry for producing things, they are called vaisyas. And those who are laborer class, they are called sudras. So these eight divisions. And that is known as varnasrama-dharma, the institution of eight divisions. The Hindus means those who follow these eight divisions of human society. That is called Hindu. Now it has become a name only, but actually this is... Actually this is Hindu religion..., this is not Hindu religion. This is actually the occupation or the basic principle of human civilization. If you do not divide human society in such eight divisions, there is no proper advancement of human society's ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to make perfect in this life or to realize the Absolute Truth. That is ultimate goal. In other place the Bhagavata says... The ultimate goal, they do not know. Not nowadays... In all the days there are a class of men who are called demons, and here Prahlada Maharaja instructing to the children of the demons, those who have no idea of what is the ultimate aim of life. They are called demons. The Aryans and the demons, sura and asura. Aryan means those who are advancing. And those who are static, not advancing... Static means limited with the animal propensities of life, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. This is animal propensities of life. And when there is question of spiritual advancement, that is called human society. Because the spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, cannot be injected in the animal society. So na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum: [SB 7.5.31] they do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is this Krsna consciousness, to understand God, to understand oneself, "What I am, what is God, what is my relationship with God." This is human civilization. So Prahlada Maharaja is trying to instruct his class fellows like this.

So he says that unless you practice from childhood, when you will be grown-up, then you will be encumbered with so many things that there will be practically no possibility. And this Krsna conscious movement, by chanting Hare Krsna, is recommended in this age because that classification of eight divisions of human society is gone. And it is not possible to introduce it again. I am not speaking that it cannot be introduced in this country or that country. Even where it was being practiced, in India, there also it is gone. There also it is in the name only, that which you have understood... You have perhaps heard, "the caste system." The... Instead of accepting the scientific divisions of the human society, they have misused it in the form of caste system. Just like a person, a gentleman born in the family of a brahmana, he is brahmana. But originally the idea was different. The original idea is: in the society those who are intellectuals, those who are engaged in intellectual work, they are called brahmanas. To understand Brahman, to understand the situation of this world, they understand spiritual knowledge. Those who are engaged in such cultivation of knowledge, they were called brahmana. But at the present moment anyone who is born in the family of a brahmana, he is called a brahmana. But actually he may be a cobbler. But that is not the idea.

So these eight divisions of human society, scientific division of human society, is now lost. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed that kalau, "In this age," nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha, "there is no other alternative for advancement of human society's goal of life." Because human society is meant for advancing in the goal of life, and that goal of life is Krsna consciousness. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says... That is the sublime gift of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And Sri Rupa Gosvami adored Him, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te: [Cc. Madhya 19.53] "My dear Lord, You are the most munificent, magnanimous incarnation, because You are distributing love of Krsna." This is very rare thing, love of Krsna. Krsna personally failed. He canvassed, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You give up everything. Just surrender unto Me, Krsna, personally." But nobody surrendered; only a few persons of the Pandavas, Arjuna, Bhima, or the gopis in Vrndavana. But at that time there were others. And later age, people misunderstood Him. But the idea is that Krsna also came to distribute love of Krsna, but He actually could not induce people to this cult. They misunderstood Him. But Lord Caitanya, by His grace, by this sankirtana movement, He very easily distributed this love of Krsna. Therefore He is called namo maha-vadanyaya: "My dear Lord, You are the most magnificent, munificent personality, incarnation, because," krsna-prema-pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53], "You are distributing krsna-prema, love of Krsna, the most important thing, the goal of life." And that was the mission of Lord Caitanya. He said, kalau, in this age, when everything has become topsy-turvied, there is no more chance for systematizing the whole human society. It is lost. The regulating processes are lost now, and neither it is possible to reintroduce it. It is not possible. People have become so much degraded that it is not possible. Therefore direct method. Direct method: chant Hare Krsna. That will revive your old consciousness. Chant Hare Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha: "In this age there is no other alternative, there is no other alternative." The so-called meditation, yoga or karma, jnana, mental speculation -- everything will fail. They are, of course, standard processes, but that is not possible to execute in the present age. What is to speak of present age, even five thousand years ago, when Arjuna was taught to learn yoga system... That is also mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita, the practice of yoga, the sitting posture, the breathing exercise, and controlling the senses and regulating eating, sleeping. So many things, they are recommended. And after hearing, Arjuna said, "My dear Krsna, it is not possible for me." Actually, Arjuna was a fighter, a military man. Where is his time to practice this meditation, all these things? He frankly admitted. But we are so proud that we want to surpass even a personality like Arjuna.

So these things are not possible in this age. If somebody is imitating, that is simply imitation. So imitation has no value. The real thing is this meditation: you chant and hear. This meditation. Meditation means to absorb your mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is meditation, real meditation. In all the standard scriptures and in yoga practice formula, the whole aim is to concentrate one's mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called samadhi, samadhi, ecstasy. So that ecstasy is immediately brought by this chanting process. You begin chanting and hear for the few seconds or few minutes: you immediately become on the platform of ecstasy. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended this process not only for India but for all the people of the world. He said that prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama. Prthivi means "on the face of the world"; ache, "when there is." Nagar means "towns," and grama means "village" or "county." So He said, "As many villages, towns, or counties, the human society, there are on the surface of the globe," sarvatra pracara haibe more nama, "My name" -- means Lord Caitanya's name, because He introduced the simple method of chanting Hare Krsna -- "will be celebrated." That is His prediction.

So we can see practically also that somehow or other, in your country this chanting Hare Krsna is introduced practically only for one year, but it is being popularized. People are taking it very seriously. Even some places where I never visited, they are organizing centers. I have received information from Buffalo, from Atlantic City. One little boy, Terry, he is organizing. He has invited some of our brahmacaris to go there. And I have received letter from Germany, from Holland. They also have begun chanting Hare Krsna. In England, the Britain, the Beatles, they are also chanting. So this is getting popular in the Western countries, and it will get, I am sure. So this chanting process introduced by Lord Caitanya should be seriously taken up so that our aim of human life will be successful. We have forgotten. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. We have forgotten... The modern civilization has... In your country I was reading a little history that in 1813 or some year the government introduced that "We trust in God," "Trust in God," and that was declared by the secretary to be published on the coins or on the paper currency, and we see sometimes. But simply trust in God is not sufficient. We must know what is God. Trusting something oblivion, something fantasy, that is no trust. You must know where to put your trust. That is Bhagavad-gita. You have to know this, what is God. You simply believe in God... Faith in God is very nice. That is said then the... Very nice. It is better than godless person, that one who believes in God. That is all right. So this writing, that "We trust in God," it is very good. It is better than the communist countries, who say, "We do not trust in God." It is better. But simply official writing or trust will not do. We have to understand. And if you want to understand God, then this is the movement, Krsna consciousness. There is no other alternative. You cannot place any other scripture collected from the world where the science of God is so elaborately stated, which you can test with all reason and argument. That is Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. So we have to learn the science. As you are learning so many department of knowledge, similarly, this is also another department of knowledge, to learn the science of God. The government should come forward to popularize this movement and to educate people in the science of God.

So in the Bhagavata it is said, jnanam me paramam guhyam yad vijnana-samanvitam: "The science of God is, or the knowledge of God, iw most scientific." Jnanam me para... "And it is very confidential." Jnanam means knowledge, and me, the Supreme Personality says, "Knowledge about Me is very confidential." And yad vijnana-samanvitam: "And it is most scientific." Science of God is not sentiment. It is science. It is... Actually it is science, the science of sciences. Every science takes his, what is called, data, from this science. Just the material science begins from the sunshine, but the sunshine is based on this science, God consciousness, Krsna consciousness. Philosophy, any philosophy, er, any science you take, you have to accept some axiomatic truth. Then you go on. But wherefrom the axiomatic truth? Science is discovering some subtle laws of the nature, but who made that law? As soon as you say that "Here is a law which is being carried very nicely," there must be a lawmaker. You have to accept it. The science of astronomy, the planets, the stars, the sun, the moon moving in their orbit very nicely, very perfectly, and accurately -- there is law. This is law of nature. You might have discovered -- you are great scientist -- that under this law, the law of gravitation or this law, that law, so many laws there are. But the background you have to inquire, "Who is the law-maker?" Unless there is law-maker, how there can be law? Take for example your state laws. As soon as you say that this is law, "Keep to the right," you have to accept there is a law-maker under whose direction this law is being carried out nicely. If you don't carry out, then you are punished. Similarly, nature's law is not ultimate. There is law-maker, and that law-maker is God. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] "Prakrti," means nature, "is working under My superintendence, under My superintendence." How you can deny? If there is nature's law, who made this law? You see that the clock is running very nicely, the machine is going on, but that is not the ultimate. There is a maker of the clock or watch. Without understanding the maker, simply if you understand the clock only, that is not sufficient knowledge.

So these things are very nicely explained in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and we are trying to explain the science of God or knowledge. If you like, you can take, and we are sure that your life will be successful. This chanting and combined with this hearing of this Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam will advance you in Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. And as Prahlada Maharaja is instructing his class fellows that this is to be learned from the beginning of your life, but if you have missed the opportunity, but it is better late than never. Here is a process introduced by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We can accept it immediately even though it is late.

Thank you very much. Any questions?

Guest (1): Was Krsna born, and if so, where?

Prabhupada: Yes, Krsna was born, but you have to know how Krsna is born. That is your intelligence. Just like sun is born every morning. There is no sun now, but in the morning we will see sun and from the eastern side. So do you think that eastern side is the mother of sun? Because sun is born from the eastern side, you can take it for granted that eastern side is the mother of sun. Similarly, Krsna appears in similar way, but that does not mean that He is born. That is stated in the Fourth Chapter, Bhagavad-gita: janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. "Anyone who understands in truth how I take My birth, how I work, how I am transcendental..." Simply by knowing these three things -- how Krsna is born, and how does He work and what is His actual position -- the result is tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya: [Bg. 4.9] "My dear Arjuna, simply knowing these three things, one comes to Me after quitting this material body." Punar janma naiti: "He never again comes back to..." That means, in other words, if you can understand the birth of Krsna, then you will stop your any more birth. You will be free from this birth and death. So try to understand how Krsna takes His birth. Simply by understanding this... Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you can understand how Krsna takes his birth, then your birth and death problem is solved. How becomes liberated. So birth of Krsna has to be understood. And who can understand? That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye: [Bg. 7.3] "Out of many thousands of men" -- sahasra means thousands; thousands, many thousands, means many hundreds of thousands men -- "one is interested for spiritual advancement of life." Kascid yatati siddhaye. Siddhaye means "perfection." Not all men are interested. "What is perfection, nonsense? Let us eat, drink, be merry, enjoy. Don't care for perfection. This is perfection. We are eating, sleeping, mating, that's all. Who knows what is going to be happened after death? Who can..." They don't care. This is the position of general population. So out of that rascal population, one may be intelligent enough, "What is the aim of life? What I am? Why I am suffering? Why suffering is imposed upon me? I want to be happy. Why happiness is not there? Why it is simply temporary?" So many things, questions. So these question arises in the mind of a person out of many thousands of men. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhaye means one who is trying to reach to the point of perfection; not perfection, but simply trying. And yatatam api siddhanam: [Bg. 7.3] "And out of many thousands of such persons who are trying to approach the Absolute Truth," kascid vetti mam tattvatah, "one can understand Me as I am." Therefore one who can understand Krsna, His birth, His appearance, His disappearance, His activities, all these things... That is also confirmed in another place, tato mam tattvato jnatva: "Thus one understanding Me in truth," visate tad-anantaram, "he is allowed to enter into My kingdom." Yavan yas casmi tattvatah: "Only by devotional service one can understand Me, actually what I am." So if we engage ourself in submissive way in the devotional service of Krsna, then Krsna will let you know what is His birth, what is His appearance, disappearance, activities -- everything revealed. These things are not to be understood by mental speculation. These things are revealed to a heart of a devotee when he is engaged in devotional service. So that is the process of Krsna consciousness. As you make more advance in Krsna consciousness, you understand everything. Any other question?

Guest (2): Chanting is devotional service?

Prabhupada: Yes. Devotional service are discharged in nine different ways: sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23], to hear about the Lord from proper source, and kirtanam, and to glorify the Lord; smaranam, meditating upon the Lord; pada-sevanam, to engage oneself in the service; arcanam, worshiping; prayer... There are nine different ways of devotional services. So you can accept nine all together or eight or seven or six or five or four or three or two. So even you accept one, you will advance. If you simply come here and hear this chanting, your devotional service will be perfected one day. So although there are nine different processes, but if you can accept even one, you will be advanced in devotional service. Yes?

Devotee (1): What is the relationship between Lord Krsna and Lord Jesus Christ?

Prabhupada: Oh, that you know. What do you ask me? What is Lord Jesus Christ? Don't you know?

Devotee (1): The son of God.

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore relationship is father and son. But there is no difference between father and son. Both of them are authorized. Just like your father, and if you are a trustworthy son of your father, then the work done by your father and by you is the same.

Devotee (2): Swamiji, Krsna being the cause of all causes, how can (we) use our individuality if we are always under His direction?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Devotee (2): If we are always under Krsna's direction, how is it we can use our individuality?

Prabhupada: That is individuality, that even under the direction of Krsna, you can use your individuality. Don't you do that? Your father says, "My dear boy, do this." You say, "No, I don't do this." That is your individuality. Otherwise what is the meaning of individuality? Individuality means if I like, I can accept; if I don't like, I do not accept. That is individuality. If I am forced to do something, that is not my individuality.

Janardana: We are marginal energy.

Prabhupada: Yes. Marginal energy is that, that by your individuality you can abide by the order of Krsna, and if you like, you do not abide by the order of Krsna. That is your choice. That is practical everywhere. The father and son -- the son may obey the father, and the son may disobey also. That is the choice of the son. That is given there, that every individual living entity has got this minute quantity of independence. And as soon as we misuse this minute quantity of independence we are in the hands of maya. Just like in every country... You are American. You are considered to be independent. But that does not mean that you are absolutely independent, you can do whatever you like. But you have got the right to do whatever you like. But as soon as you misuse your independence, you are in danger, although you belong to the independent nation. So there is possibility of misusing the independence at every moment. Therefore we have to continue Krsna consciousness so this possibility of misusing the independence will no longer live. All right.

Guest (3): Swami, one more question. If you have misused the energy of the past and go on with the results of your misuse, are you still responsible for those forms?

Prabhupada: As you had misused your independence in your past life or in past, similarly, you can immediately, properly use your independence. Do you follow? You... Somehow or other, you misused your independence. Similarly, immediately, if you use your independence properly, then the result of that misuse of independence is corrected. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Because the conditioned souls here in this material world, they have all misused their independence... Anyone, beginning from the highest planet down, beginning from Brahma down to the small ant, everyone has misused his independence. This conditional life, this material body, is due to that. Therefore our reactions of that misuse is going on life after life. Now, Krsna says that "If you surrender immediately, then I take charge of you." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You just give up all your other engagements. Just surrender unto Me." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: "I shall give you protection from all reaction of your misuse of independence."

Guest (4): The false wrong(?) is that he is misled by material consciousness execute the things, really.(?) If he is misled by other, by circumstances, this is... He has no fault of his own.

Prabhupada: That's all right, but innocence is no excuse of law. If you say that "Somebody misled me to go to the left side" in the court, oh, that does not mean that you will be saved from the fine. So you have to become such intelligent person that you may not be misled by others. You have got the intelligence. Why should you be misled? Then what is the meaning of this human form of life? And you have to be educated. You have to take the opportunity of education so that you may not be misled. Why do you agree to be misled? Then you must agree to take the punishment also. If you, by innocence, put your hand on the fire, so fire will not excuse you. So innocence is no excuse. You have to be learned. Therefore we are here to give proper education to the people. Yes?

Guest (5): Is not Krsna a God of compassion?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Devotee (6): Is Krsna not a God of compassion?

Prabhupada: Oh, who can be more than, compassion, than Him? He is canvassing you, "My dear boy, please come to Me. I will give you all protection. Why you are suffering here?" Can you find out any person more compassionate than Krsna? He is the most compassionate.

Guest (7): Cannot, then, Krsna understand that...?

Prabhupada: First, the only thing is that we are misusing our independence. That's all.

Guest (7): Do we ever personally contact Krsna in Krsna consciousness?

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna is always with you. He is within your heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati: [Bg. 18.61] "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone's heart." In your heart, in my heart, everyone's heart.

Guest (7): How do you reach there?

Prabhupada: That requires practice. Krsna is always with you. In this explanation of Prahlada Maharaja we shall come to that point. Krsna is not without you. Andantarastham paramanu-cayantarastham. Krsna is even within the atom. That is realization. One has to realize, and one has to talk with Krsna. So that means he has to qualify himself. Just like in your body there are so many things -- do you know everything? Do you know everything? Then? Do you know? You are eating, and how it is being transformed into blood? Can you see it? Then it requires knowledge. Similarly, by knowledge you will understand that Krsna is with you. That is the mistake of this modern civilization. Everyone thinks, "I know everything. I don't require any authority to understand anything." But the Vedic literature, the Vedic civilization, they direct, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "If you want to understand that science, you must approach a bona fide spiritual master." This is very simple thing. If you want to learn engineering, then you must admit yourself in engineering college. If you want to be a medical man, you must admit yourself in a medical college. Similarly, if you want to understand Krsna, then you must approach a person who knows Krsna. It is not fanaticism or mental speculation. You have to learn the art scientifically. (starts playing karatalas and someone starts playing a melody on harmonium) What is that? Begin Hare Krsna. (changes to Hare Krsna melody on harmonium-kirtana) (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.6-9 -- Montreal, June 23, 1968

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Polished Pig-ism

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.5
Vrndavana, December 7, 1975

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Harikesa: Translation: "For this reason, a person who is fully competent to distinguish wrong and right while keeping himself in material existence, bhavam asritah, must endeavor for achieving the highest goal of life so long the body is stout and strong and is not embarrassed by the dwindling condition of life."

Prabhupada:

tato yateta purusah
ksemaya bhavam asritah
sariram paurusam yavan
na vipadyeta puskalam
 [SB 7.6.5]

So Prahlada Maharaja said that people are engaged for improving economic condition. He has cancelled that tat prayaso na kartavyo yata ayur vyayah param. Prahlada Maharaja derides that "These people who are simply wasting time for improving material condition, ahara-nidra-bhayam maithun, they are not at all intelligent, because simply wasting time, valuable time." That I have explained yesterday, how important is this human form of life. Every moment should be utilized. Every moment is so valuable that if we lose one moment we lose so many hundred thousands of dollars. That they do not understand.

So how time can be utilized very nicely, that was also explained yesterday, mukunda-caranambujam. Just to take shelter of Mukunda. Mukunda means who can deliver you from this conditional life. He is called Mukunda. That is the whole thing. Krsna comes... The whole Bhagavad-gita teaching ultimately ends with this order, mukunda-caranambujam. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is the ultimate. But because people have become deviated, fallen, they do not know what is the aim of life, what is the goal of life. They are simply wasting time. Vimara-cetah (?). Prahlada Maharaja said, "My Lord, I am not very much anxious for me because I have no trouble. As I have learned to chant Your glories, so anywhere I am happy simply by glorifying Your activities. But I am unhappy for this reason: when I see that these rascals simply for little material happiness, they are working so hard." Tato vimukha-cetasa maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]. "They have forgotten You." Vimukha cetasam. They think that "What is the use of this Krsna consciousness?" Vimukha. And what is required? Maya-sukhaya. For few years to live in material comforts, bharam udvahato vimudhan, they are manufacturing so many big, big skyscraper building, nice road, nice car. Maya-sukhaya. In Western countries there is very... We are also imitating in India like Bombay city and others, bharam udvahato, gorgeous arrangement. And what for? For living for a few years. Then he is going to cats and dogs. He doesn't know that. Therefore maya-sukhaya. If somebody says that "You come here at my place. I shall give you very good food, nice shelter, all comforts, and after few days I shall drive you away and I shall beat you with my shoes," will anybody agree? No. So we are doing that. Forgetting our real business, we are busy in  maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43].

So Prahlada Maharaja concludes this instruction in this way: tato yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah. Bhavam means this material world, where we take birth and die after some time. Bhavam. Bhavam means "become, manifest." This is material world. We take birth, we exist for some time, we grow, then there are some by-products, and then we become old and then die. This is called sad-vikara, six kinds of changes. But the atma is the same. The example is given: just like a tree, any tree, say a mango tree. During season, summer season there are flowers in the tree, and then they grow a small green mango, then it becomes yellow or reddish, and then it becomes ripened. Then there is a seed within the mango. And then, when it is over-ripened, it falls down. Then finished, business finished. Similarly... But when the mango is finished, it does not mean the tree is also finished. The tree is there, and again, in the next season, there will be mango and the same changes will go on. Similarly... It is a crude example. We spirit soul, we are eternal exactly like the tree. Tree is not eternal, but in comparison to the fruit, it is eternal. A tree lives for hundred thousand, five hundred, years and the same business go on. The mango, it is coming in fu..., just like flower, then green, then grows, then dwindles. So we are eternal, and our different bodies are just like seasonal fruits. On account of our different karma, we get different body. So this body is undergoing the six kind of changes. But the soul, he is not going any change. He is the same.

So here it is said that we are changing, bhava. Ever-increasingly we are taking birth. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. This is our actual distress, that we are obliged to take birth, death, disease, old age. So we are struggling against it. Nobody wants to become old man, especially in this winter season. It is very difficult for old men. So, but you have to accept jara and vyadhi. Nobody can escape disease. Nobody can escape birth. Nobody can escape death. But struggle is going on. When you are diseased, there is a great struggle how to cure myself, go to the doctor, take good medicine and so on, so on. But we cannot check the diseased condition. Similarly, we cannot check our old age, cannot check our birth, death. Therefore here it is said, kusalah. Kusalah means if you actually want benefit, because this kind of struggling has not given you any benefit, but if you want actually benefit, kusalah, tato yateta, then you should endeavor for this. What is that? Ksemaya, for your ultimate benefit. And how long? Sariram purusam yavan na vipadyeta puskalam. So long you are stout and strong, you should try how to become free from this bondage of birth, death, old age and disease, not that you keep yourself, this business set aside: "When we shall get old then we shall chant Hare Krsna and become Krsna conscious." That is not the meaning. Immediately. Prahlada Maharaja said that kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha [SB 7.6.1]. From the very beginning of life, when kaumara, a small child, boy, from that age one should begin this bhagavata life, or Krsna consciousness. That is called brahmacari, to teach brahmacarya from the very beginning of life. And when you are young, then you should work with more vigor and intelligence. At that time brain is very nice. Young man has got all the facilities. The machine is strong. This is a machine. So old machine cannot so work. So it is a great fortune for the young boys and girls of Europe and America that in this young life they are cultivating Krsna consciousness. It is a very good fortune.

Here it is recommended by Prahlada Maharaja, sariram paurusam yavan na vipadyeta puskalam. So long you do not become invalid, old, unable to work, you should try. Not try, you must -- yateta -- for developing Krsna consciousness. Not that "When I shall become old, before death I shall try a few months Hare Krsna." No. From the very beginning of life, from childhood, they should be taught how to chant Hare Krsna, how to attend mangala arati, how to... In this way, by this practice, vidhi, vidhi-bhakti, regulated principle, tapasya... This is called tapasya. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. If you want to purify your existence, then you should begin... That is human life, tapasya. Human life is not meant for polished dogism and pigism. That is not human life. If a cat and dog becomes nicely dressed, that does not mean he becomes a human being. He is cat and dog. Similarly, if we keep our mentality like cats and dog and outwardly we dress very nicely, they have been described as dvi-pada-pasuh, "two-legged animal." Animal. He is animal because he is not cultivating Krsna consciousness. The cats and dogs cannot do it, so he is no better than cats and dog. This is the conclusion. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. That is the verdict of Vedic literature.

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih
yat tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicit
janesu abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah

Just like in Vrndavana many visitors come. They think that by simply taking a dip into the Yamuna water their tirtha is finished, pilgrimage is finished. But sastra says, yat tirtha-buddhih salile. If one comes to Vrndavana and simply takes advantage of taking a bath in the river Yamuna, that is also very good, but that does not finish his business. He must seek out where in Vrndavana Krsna consciousness is going on, janesu abhijnesu, "Where there is a person who can teach me about Krsna conscious." That is humanity. Otherwise, if he thinks simply by going to Vrndavana and taking a dip in Yamuna or shaving the head and purchasing some utensils for sons and daughter, their tirtha... They have been described as sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. Go means cow, and kharah means ass. Tirthi-kurvanti tirthani. When you go some holy place, because in the holy place there are many persons who are very learned, who can give you very good instruction about spiritual life, so you must seek such person and associate with him. That is tirtha. Tirthi-kurvanti tirthani. Because it is said in the sastra that ordinary men with sinful habits, they come to tirtha, holy place, and actually they become purified. Actually they become purified. That is the glory of tirtha-sthana, dhama. But when such sinful garbage is accumulated, who will clear? It will be cleared by the saintly person, by their punya work. Tirthi-kurvanti tirtha... Again they make it tirtha.

So therefore it is advised... So anyone who is coming to Vrndavana, they must seek out the devotees who have dedicated to Krsna consciousness and trying to preach Krsna consciousness to the ignorant people who are busy in material activities. This is tirtha. Therefore it is recommended. In India you'll find so many tirthas, so many tirthas -- Prayag, Mathura, Vrndavana, Hardwar, Ramesvaram. That is the arrangement. And after retirement of life, vanam vrajet. Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. Prahlada Maharaja also said to his father, hitvatma-ghatam grha-andha-kupam vanam gato yad harim asrayeta. Formerly big, big kings, everyone -- compulsory retirement, vanaprastha, sannyasa. Vanam means go to the forest. One who goes to the forest, he is called vanaprastha. From vana, the word vana, has come vanaprastha. Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet, that "After fifty years of age one must go to the forest for meditation, for tapasya, austerity." And when he is perfectly trained up... This training is given from brahmacari life, grhastha life also, but people are not taking training. They are not kusalam. Actually they do not know what is the aim of life. They are cats and dogs. So one who is kusala, actually knows the aim of life, for him, yateta ksemaya bhavam asritah. Because in the material existence it is simply suffering. But these foolish men, they do not understand. They are thinking, "Enjoyment." How you can enjoy? Krsna says, duhkhalayam asasvatam: [Bg. 8.15] "This is a place for suffering." Actually suffering, tri-tapa-yatanah, adhibhautika, adhidaivika adhi... But because they have become fools and rascals, they do not understand that they are suffering. They are taking it they are enjoying. Bhavam asritah. Therefore, anyone who is in such condition, abominable condition, condemned condition, they must take to shelter of Krsna consciousness so long the body is strong enough. [break] ...when the body is old and it cannot move, it is attacked with rheumatism, and so many other things, indigestion. No. So long it is sariram purusam. Purusam, why this word used? There are women also. Purusam does not mean man. Purusam means one who wants to enjoy. He is called purusa. Anyone here in the material world, although one has got the body of a male or although one has got the body of a female, both of them are for enjoyment. Therefore it is used, purusa. Purusa means enjoyer. So either the woman or man, the propensity is how to enjoy life. Therefore it is called. So either purusa, the male or female, anyone who has got this body, he must perform Krsna consciousness until she becomes... It should go on. If you practice when you are stout and strong... Just like a person begins exercising in young age, and in the old age also he can perform exercise. Practice, anything you practice, that is recommended. Yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah.

So this is Prahlada Maharaja's instruction, that "Don't waste your time. Human life is very valuable." And Canakya Pandita also says, ayusah ksana eko 'pi na labhyah svarna-kotibhih: "You cannot get back even one moment of your life by paying millions of dollars. So if you waste your time..." The Krsna conscious people, they should not be lazy. They should always remember that death is already there. Let me finish my business properly so that after death I may not be a cat and dog. At least I may get... There is no... My Guru Maharaja used to say that "Why should you wait for another life? Finish Krsna consciousness business in this life." In this life. Why you should set aside the business for another life? No. Turnam yateta anumrtya pateta yavat. This is the instruction of... Before the next death you should prepare yourself for death. Death is inevitable. You cannot avoid death. But before the next death comes, if you become fully Krsna conscious, then your life is successful. Janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. What is Krsna? Try to understand Krsna -- Krsna, what is Krsna, why He appears, why He disappears, what is His nature, who is He. So many things are to be known. Krsna is God. He is not an ordinary thing. He has got unlimited qualities, unlimited function. And if we simply understand that krsnas tu bhagavan svayam... [SB 1.3.28]. Without going into the details, if we accept simply this fact, that "Here is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, and everything is the exhibition of His different energies," vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19], if you simply understand, even if blindly, that everything, whatever we see, that is exhibition of Krsna's energy... Just like in this material world the practical example is, whatever we see, the trees and the plants and buildings, the chemicals, the... Everything is generating from the sunlight, energy of the sun globe. Similarly, whatever we see... Krsna says also,

maya tatam idam sarvam
jagat avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
naham tesu avasthitah
 [Bg. 9.4]

Krsna is manifest by His energy. So if we understand these things, that is Krsna consciousness. There is nothing but Krsna. Therefore it should be utilized for Krsna. If everything belongs to Krsna, things belonging to a certain person, it must be utilized for Him. This is Krsna consciousness. Not that your property I can utilize for my benefit. That is stealing. That is cheating. So similarly, if we understand parasya brahmanah saktih sarvedam akhilam jagat, "Everything, whatever we see, it is distribution or manifestation of Krsna's energy..." That is explained:

bhamir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
bhinna me prakrti astadha
 [Bg. 7.4]

apareyam itas tu
viddhi me prakrtim para
jiva-bhuta maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
 [Bg. 7.5]

Everything is explained. So if you simply try to understand Bhagavad-gita and don't play rascaldom by interpreting in a different way, then your life is successful. Simply. Krsna has left, therefore, before His leaving this world. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, tadatmanam srjami [Bg. 4.7]. He comes when you forget all these things. He comes again. He establishes dharma-samsthapanarthaya. What is that dharma? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "All this rascaldom, cheating dharma, give up. Simply surrender unto Me."

So if you simply learn this art, that is Krsna consciousness. Then the result will be tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. You have to give up this body. That is certain. But if you don't take to Krsna consciousness, then you have to accept another body. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. So don't do this business. Finish this business. Samupeta-mrtyum. Na mocayed yah samupetya-mrtyum. This material existence means repetition of birth and death, bhavasritah. So if we want to be saved and elevated to our original position, then only means is Krsna consciousness. There is no other way out. That is stated by Prahlada, mukunda-caranambujam. He does not say for any other gods. Mukunda. Then what about others who are worshiping other demigods? Mudha. They have been... Kamais tais tair hrta-jnana yajanty anya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. These rascals are befooled on account of lusty desires. Antavat tu phalam tesam [Bg. 7.23]. Suppose you worship a demigod. Yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25]. You can be elevated to the celestial world, heavenly planet. But what will be benefit? You'll have to die there. The same death is there. You have to struggle there. Don't think that the demigods, they are living very peacefully. No. That is not possible. Indra is always embarrassed with so many things. You have read the fight with Indra. So many asuras, devasura, Hiranyakasipu. The same thing as... Simply they have got a long duration of life, a high standard of life, but the same struggle. Just like here you see in India and Europe, America. They have got the high standard of life, they have got skyscraper building, very big, big roads, motorcar. But what is that? Simply struggling. Are they happy? We are poor country. Of course, we have no such opulence. But the standard, the janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9], is there, not that they are sitting idly and food is coming automatically. No. They have to struggle. So either you be in the heavenly planet or in the lowest planet, the struggle is there. Manah-sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. So long we'll be in the material world, you have to... A-brahma-bhuvanal lokan punar avartino 'rjuna. Even you go to the Brahmaloka or Indraloka, Candraloka... They are trying to go to the Candraloka. They are trying to go to the Candraloka, but they do not know where is Candraloka. They are going and coming, going and coming. So one must know it that "Even if I go to the Brahmaloka by our material power, that is also punar avartino arjuna. That is bhavam asritah." So we should try to avoid the material existence and come to our original life, eternal life, blissful life, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. That is really solution of the problem, ksemaya. Kusalah ksemaya. So long this human body we have got, and especially young men, don't spoil it. That is our Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.5 -- Vrndavana, December 7, 1975

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