Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.154

Prabhupāda: So English is all right?

Haṁsadūta: Yes. [laughs]

Prabhupāda: Caitanya Mahāprabhu is quoting from Viṣṅu Purāṅa. As I have told you the other day, there are eighteen purāṅas: sattvika-purāṅa, rājasika-purāṅa, and tamasika-purāṅa. The whole scheme of Vedic culture is to reclaim all fallen conditioned souls to the platform of transcendental realization. That is the scheme. There are different status of human understanding according to the association of the qualities.

The living being is just like a spark of the complete fire. Brahman is the complete fire, and the living entities are just like sparks. The equality with Param Brahman and individual living entities on the qualitative basis. The quality is the same. Brahman, Param Brahman. Jivātmā, Brahman. Spiritual, and Paramātmā, or Parameśvara, He is supreme, complete.

So Viṣṅu Purāṅa is for the persons who are on the platform of sattva-guṅa, those who are associating with the modes of goodness. This is not correct that everyone is on the same platform. Generally, at the present moment, people are in the platform of tamo-guṅa and rajo-guṅa, mixed. So one has to rise to the platform of sattva-guṅa.

And then, after transcending the sattva-guṅa, also when one is situated in śuddha-sattva, or pure sattva-guṅa... In this material world, even sattva-guṅa is sometimes contacted with rajo-guṅa and tamo-guṅa; therefore it is not completely pure. No guṅa is pure. It is mixed-up always. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.

So one has to transcend these guṅas; then God realization, or understanding of Kṛṣṅa, can be achieved. But the devotional service, vaidhi-bhakti, the process of rendering devotional service to the Lord according to the prescribed regulative principles in the śāstra, helps us to transcend all these qualities. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: sa guṅān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg 14.26].

[One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.]

Who? Māṁ ca vyabhicāriṅi bhakti-yogena yaḥ sevate. Anyone who is engaged in pure devotional service to the Lord, he is immediately on the transcendental position, I mean to..., surpassing the three guṅas. Sa guṅān... Guṅān, bāhu-vacanam, plural number. Immediately.

Therefore, we are preaching Kṛṣṅa consciousness. If somehow or other one takes to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, he immediately becomes liberated. Immediately becomes liberated. Because Kṛṣṅa says that sa guṅān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg 14.26].

[One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.]

And that is a practical application we are now experiencing while preaching in the Western world.

The Western world, as you know, ninety-nine percent, they are in the tamo-guṅa and rajo-guṅa. They are very active, working day and night. We are also, here in India. That is rajo-guṅa. And tamo-guṅa, ignorance, and rajo-guṅa, passion. Rajo-guṅa is better than the tamo-guṅa in the sense: in the tamo-guṅa people are lazy, sleeping, lethargetic, but in the rajo-guṅa they are active. But they are active only for sense gratification. So rajas-tamo, both. So we have to make further progress to be situated in sattva-guṅa.

So Viṣṅu..., Viṣṅu Purāṅa, Lord Caitanya quotes from the Viṣṅu Purāṅa,

viṣṅu-śakti parā proktā kṣetrajñākhyā tathā parā avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyā tṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate [Viṣṅu Purāṅa 6.7.61, Cc. Madhya 6.154]

[The internal potency of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṅu, is spiritual, as verified by the śāstras. There is another spiritual potency, known as kṣetra-jña, or the living entity. The third potency, which is known as nescience, makes the living entity godless and fills him with fruitive activity.]

The Brahman is not niḥśakti, as some philosophers, Māyāvādī philosophers, they say, "The Brahman is inactive." He's not inactive. He is parāsya brāhmaṅa śaktir sarvedam akhilaṁ jagat. Sarvedam akhilaṁ jagat. His energies are acting. The example is: just like fire..., just like the sun. Sun is situated in one place, and the sun's energies are working, heat and light. Heat and light is working. The whole material creation is resting on the heat and light of the sun. That's a fact

Similarly, this sun is only reflection. Just like moon is reflection of the sunlight, similarly, this sun is also reflection of the brahma-jyoti. And what is that brahma-jyoti? Brahmajyoti is the bodily rays, effulgence, effulgent rays of Kṛṣṅa. You have seen, Kṛṣṅa's head is always aura-ed. That rays is, I mean to say, distributing different energies. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate [Cc Madhya 13.65, purport]. That energies, or multi-energies, are coming out, just like from sunlight so many things are emanating. Yes. So many energies are coming out. All colors, everything, all material existence, is due to the sunlight.

Similarly, the whole creation, whole material and spiritual creation, that is resting on the rays emanating from the bodily effulgence of Kṛṣṅa. That is stated in the Śrīmad-..., Brahma-saṁhitā: yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṅḍa-koṭi.

yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṅḍa-koṭi- koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi vibhūti-bhinnam tad brahma niṣkalam anantam aśeṣa-bhūtaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.40]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose effulgence is the source of the nondifferentiated Brahman mentioned in the Upaniṣads, being differentiated from the infinity of glories of the mundane universe appears as the indivisible, infinite, limitless, truth.]

This is a prayer from Brahmā, that Brahman is the prabhā, or the effulgence, of Kṛṣṅa. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṅḍa-koṭi.

First of all, the brahma-jyoti is coming. And Kṛṣṅa also says, brāhmaṅaḥ ahaṁ pratiṣṭhā. Brahman is not ultimate. Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. First realization is Brahman, impersonal Brahman, then Paramātmā, and then Bhagavān. So Bhagavān is the ultimate. Mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat asti kiñcid dhanañjaya [Bg 7.7].

[O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.]

So brahma-tattva, impersonal brahma-tattva, is not ultimate. The ultimate is Kṛṣṅa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the Vedic verdict.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is therefore quoting from different Vedic literatures to prove that the Absolute Truth is person, ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṅa, full with six opulences. As in the Parāśara-sūtra there is aiśvaryasya samāgrasya [Viṣṅu Purāṅa 6.5.47].

[Full wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation—these are the six opulences of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]

When Kṛṣṅa was present He exhibited full strength of six kinds of opulences. So the... Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the fact. That is the Vedic version. It is not that some of the Kṛṣṅa's devotees have taken Kṛṣṅa as the Supreme, or He is originally imperson and He takes a form, accepting a material body. These are not right conclusion.

In the Kūrma Purāṅa it is said that there is no distinction between the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and soul. The Māyāvādī philosophers, they distinguish that "Kṛṣṅa's soul is different from His body." That is Māyāvāda philosophy. But that is not the fact. There is no such difference. [aside:] What is that sound? Who is making that?

Pradyumna: Cutting. Cutting vegetables.

Prabhupāda: All right. Don't mind. Just like Dr. Radhakrishnan says that... When the verse, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru, mām evaiṣyasi asaṁśayaḥ [Bg 18.68], so Dr. Radhakrishnan says that this man-manā means to..., it is meaning the inner soul of Kṛṣṅa. You see? He does not know that there is no difference between Kṛṣṅa and His soul. His soul and body, the same.

So these things are, I mean to say, creating havoc in the matter of understanding Kṛṣṅa. Instead of taking Bhagavad-gītā as it is, persons who have no knowledge practically, or poor fund of knowledge, they are commenting in different way, and people are misled. As sometimes our these Europeans, Americans, they say it frankly that "For many hundreds of years, the Bhagavad-gītā was known in Europe and America, and many svāmīs went there. They gave reference to the Bhagavad-gītā, but there was no..., not a single devotee of Kṛṣṅa. Not a single devotee."

Prior to this movement, Kṛṣṅa consciousness, they had not a single devotee of Kṛṣṅa, as you are finding. Now Bhagavad-gītā is being presented as it is, and they are understanding rightly, and they are becoming devotee. Anyone who will read Bhagavad-gītā as it is, without any malcommentation, he'll become devotee of Kṛṣṅa. And when he becomes a devotee of Kṛṣṅa, accepting the principle, "Kṛṣṅa is all in all," vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ [Bg 7.19].

[After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.]

That position we have to attain.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu's preaching is based on that principle. Kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28].

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

That is His... He is Kṛṣṅa also. According to Vedic evidences, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is also Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa-varṅaṁ tviṣākṛṣṅa [SB 11.5.32].

[In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṅa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṅa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.]

He belongs to the category of Kṛṣṅa, but He is playing the part of a devotee of Kṛṣṅa in order to teach us how to love Kṛṣṅa, how to approach Kṛṣṅa. As such, if we accept the process enunciated by Lord Caitanya, then it is very easy to approach Kṛṣṅa.

To approach Kṛṣṅa is not very easy job, because Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, manuṣyāṅāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānām [Bg 7.3].

[Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.]

Koṭiṣv api mahā-mune [SB 6.14.5]. That is also stated in the Padma Purāṅa, that muktānām api siddhānām. Those who are muktas... To become mukta, that is also difficult job. Out of many millions of jñānīs, one becomes mukta, really liberated. And out of many millions of muktas, or liberated, kaścid vetti māṁ tattvataḥ, kaścid, not all, somebody may understand what is Kṛṣṅa. So it is so difficult job.

But Kṛṣṅa is so kind that He has appeared as a devotee of Kṛṣṅa, Lord Caitanya, and He is giving you the mercy, causeless mercy, so that you can understand Kṛṣṅa very easily. That is the special gift of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We should always know that to understand Kṛṣṅa is very difficult, especially for this age, when people are very much fallen. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10].

[O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.]

The people of this age, they are very slow. They..., practically, they have no intention for utilizing this human form of life. Generally, people, especially in the Western countries, they are simply interested like animal—eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That's all. We are also imitating in India. We have also made our business... This is animal business. So therefore mandāḥ, they are not at all interested.

As Kṛṣṅa as a devotee descended on this planet, Lord Caitanya, to canvass for Kṛṣṅa, similarly we, the servants of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we are canvassing door to door. That is our business. Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, he has taught us how to canvass door to door for accepting Kṛṣṅa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What is that? The process is, dānte nidhāya tṛṅakaṁ padayor nipātya kāku-śataṁ kṛtvā cāhaṁ bravīmi [Caitanya-candrāmṛta 8.90].

[Taking a straw between my teeth and falling at your feet a hundred times, I humbly submit, "O great personality, please give up all mundane knowledge that you have learned and just submit yourself at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu."]

Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, he was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya. He was uncle of Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who started at Vṛndāvana the Rādhā-ramaṅa temple. Perhaps you know. So this Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī was a gṛhastha, a householder. Later on, after meeting Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he accepted sannyāsa. Then he wrote a book, Caitanya-candrodaya, very nice book. In that, this verse appears. He is canvassing on behalf of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, or on behalf of Kṛṣṅa.

There is no difference between Kṛṣṅa and Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is combination of Rādhā and Kṛṣṅa. That is the verdict of the Gosvāmīs.

rādhā-kṛṣṅa-praṅaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api [bhuvi purā] deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṅa-svarūpam [Cc Ādi 1.5]

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu is combination of Rādhā and Kṛṣṅa. That is the... This śloka is made by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who was personal secretary of Lord Caitanya.

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu is giving us the easiest process to approach Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is not easily approachable, especially in this age. Because the Bhāgavata says, mandāḥ sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10]: they are very slow; they're reluctant. They don't care for the opportunity they have got. This is a great opportunity we have got, this human form of life. Once missed, you do not know what is the loss. We do not know what is going to happen in our next life. But if you take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, it is guaranteed that you get another human form of life. Śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo sanjāyate [Bg 6.41].

[The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.]

Not only human form of life, you get in a very good family. That is assured in the Bhagavad-gītā.

So my Guru Mahārāja used to say that "Don't take the risk of waiting for another life. Finish this business, Kṛṣṅa consciousness, in this life." In this life. Because there is no certainty. So our propaganda is, "Take to this movement, Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Don't risk. Take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness." What is that Kṛṣṅa consciousness? Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru [Bg 18.65].

[Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.]

That's all. Always think of Kṛṣṅa. Is it very difficult job?

Yamunā: No.

Prabhupāda: Just see. A girl, she says it is not difficult. She is not saying without any understanding. She has the understanding of Kṛṣṅa consciousness. So... And man-manā, always thinking of Kṛṣṅa. If you chant this mantra and hear Hare Kṛṣṅa, Hare Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa Kṛṣṅa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, so there is no expenditure, there is no loss. You can chant this mantra while walking on the street, while passing in train or in bus. What is the loss?

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma iva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi 17.21]

[In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.]

People are crying for votes. [loudspeaker heard from outside] [chuckles] So... But they are not inclined to chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. You see? Crying, "Give me vote, give me vote, give me vote, give me vote." You see? How wasting their time. What they'll do, getting votes? How long they will remain a minister? But mandāḥ sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10].

[O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.]

Their opinion is very bad, sumanda-mati, or they do not take any right conclusion. And Bhagavad-gītā says, tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām, antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām [Bg 7.23].

[Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.]

These activities, they are temporary, will end within some years, but still, they are so much busy with this business. Therefore this kind of occupation is for the alpa-medhasaḥ, those who have got very little brain substance. Medhaḥ means brain substance.

So these things are there, mandāḥ sumanda-matayo. Manda-bhāgyā, also, very poor. In this age, practically everyone is very poor, mostly the population. You don't think that in America there is no poor man. There is poor man. Although they are getting money, very large sum of money, but they are utilizing in a different way, and they are poor. There are many poor. Intentionally, they have become poor. So therefore it is called manda-bhāgyā, that this... Each word of the Vedic scriptures is so nice.

In spite of... In America I have seen. In spite of ample money and resources, some people have voluntarily accepted to remain as very poor and wretched. Voluntarily. They like that. They have no systematic life. Therefore Bhāgavata says, manda-bhāgyā. If we are unfortunate, even despite all facilities, we cannot be able to accept it, that is called misfortune. Not that in the absence of money and other facilities, one becomes unfortunate, but even in the presence of all these things, one is unfortunate. That is the characteristics of this age. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10].

So in this age, how it is possible to become siddha? Mukta api siddhānāṁ koṭiṣv api mahā..., nārāyaṅa-parāyaṅa. Nārāyaṅa-parāyaṅa is not very easy job. Muktānām api siddhānāṁ koṭiṣv api mahā-mune. But this is the special mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that He is compassionate. Seeing the fallen souls of this age, He is distributing kṛṣṅa-prema so cheaply. What is that? "Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa," that's all. Simply by chanting. Ihā haite sarva siddhi haibe tomāra. [Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya 23.78]

[By doing so, everyone will attain all perfection. Always chant, there is no other prescription.]

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is blessing everyone that "Be blessed. Take this benediction of chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra and be blessed."

So why should we give up this opportunity? That is our propaganda. Just like Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, he is imploring, dānte nidhāya tṛṅakam. You know, in India, when one becomes very humble, submissive, he takes a straw in his mouth. Perhaps you know. Even in the village, still it is going on, that "I have become very humble, submissive to you." Dānte nidhāya tṛṅakaṁ padayor nipātya, "and falling down on your feet," kṛtvā ca kāku-śatam, "and flattering you in hundred times," ahaṁ bravīmi, "I am just submitting before you one request."

What is that? He sādhavaḥ: "You are very great, you are very nice, and you are all sādhus. But my request is," sakalam eva vihāya dūrād, "whatever you have learned, please set aside for the time being. Please set aside." Sakalam eva vihāya dūrād. "Throw it away!" Then what to do? Sakalam eva vihāya dūrād caitanya-candra-caraṅe kurutānurāgam: "Please submit yourself on the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya."

Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa says that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66].

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

People misunderstood. Therefore Caitanya came. He took sannyāsa so that... It is the custom in our country that a sannyāsī is offered respect. That is our Vedic system. If one does not show any respect to a sannyāsī, he has to fast one day. That is the injunction. Still, India, they do not disrespect a sannyāsī, although many so-called sannyāsīs, they are taking advantage of this. That is another subject. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted sannyāsa so that people may respect Him. And simply by respecting Him, he'll be liberated. He is so kind.

So Rūpa Gosvāmī, he offers his respect to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was prime minister in Nawab Hussain Shah's government. He retired and took to the path of Lord Caitanya. And when he first met at Allahabad, he offered this prayer: namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṅa-prema-pradāya te [Cc Madhya 19.53]:

[O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṅa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṅa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṅī, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kṛṣṅa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.]

"My dear Lord, You are so munificent, You are so liberal than all incarnations. You are liberal, you are merciful than Kṛṣṅa also." So namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṅa-prema-pradāya te: "You are offering love of Kṛṣṅa. It is so difficult to understand Kṛṣṅa, but You are so kind that You are directly offering love of Kṛṣṅa." Not only understanding, but also developing your dormant love for Kṛṣṅa.

So this is the mercy, causeless mercy, of Lord Caitanya. And He simply prescribes that you chant this mantra. As you see, these boys, when they're chanting, how they are in ecstasy. Immediately on the transcendental platform. Immediately. Not only here; everywhere where they are chanting. In every temple, if you see...

The advantage of these boys and girls is that they have no other hodgepodge in their head. They directly accept Kṛṣṅa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they directly accept the instruction of Lord Caitanya, and they are making advance. Their fortune is that their brain is not congested with hodgepodge ideas. That is the idea. They actually... Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam [Bg 18.66].

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

They have given up all other occupation and have accepted Kṛṣṅa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So India also, we can do that. What is the difficulty? We must do this. We must accept this, kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān [SB 1.3.28], and surrender unto Him.

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

That is the intelligence. Kṛṣṅa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān mām prapadyate [Bg 7.19].

[After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.]

We are cultivating knowledge. Kṛṣṅa says, "After cultivation of knowledge for many, many births"—not in one life, but many, many births—"one, when actually intelligent, jñānavān, actually wise, he surrenders unto Me." Why should you wait for many, many births?

Supposing that you are very intelligent, you are very wise, you are speculating, but according to Bhagavad-gītā, why should you waste your time in that way, speculating? Panthās tu koṭi-śata-vatsara-sampragamyaḥ [Bs 5.34].

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, only the tip of the toe of whose lotus feet is approached by the yogīs who aspire after the transcendental and betake themselves to prāṅāyāma by drilling the respiration; or by the jñānīs who try to find out the nondifferentiated Brahman by the process of elimination of the mundane, extending over thousands of millions of years.]

Speculating process will not help you. Ciraṁ vicinvan.

athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya- prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvaṁ [bhagavan-mahimno] na cānya eko 'pi ciraṁ vicinvan [SB 10.14.29]

[My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.]

One who has not received the favor of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, it is not possible to understand Kṛṣṅa. Bhakto 'si priyo 'si me [Bg 4.3].

[That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.]

Just like Arjuna understood Kṛṣṅa because he was a bhakta, he was a dear friend of Kṛṣṅa.

So you have to become a dear friend, a bhakta, of Kṛṣṅa; then you'll understand what is Bhagavad-gītā, and then you'll be able to surrender unto Him. And the beginning of this devotional service is śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ smaraṅaṁ pāda-sevanam [SB 7.5.23].

[Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṅu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṅa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.]

Simply you hear. Śravaṅam, first business, śravaṅam; then kīrtanam. In this way, gradually, we make advance in devotional service. And Kṛṣṅa says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg 18.55]:

[One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.]

"Anyone who wants to understand Me, he has to follow the bhakti principle." Then he'll be able to understand Kṛṣṅa. Not any other process.

So our request is, like Prabodhānanda Sarasvatīpada, dānte nidhāya tṛṅakaṁ padayor nipātya kāku-śataṁ kṛtvā cāhaṁ bravīmi, he sādhavaḥ sakala. Whatever you have learned, for the time being forget. Forget. Simply take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness and you'll be happy.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṅa. [break]

Guest (1) [Indian man]: ...particularly, the particular place, that is...?

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is Goloka Vṛndāvana. Paras tasmād tu bhavo 'nya, mad-dhāma..., yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama [Bg 15.6].

Guest (1): For a man, automatically, he can become Bhagavān. What I mean to say...

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Guest (1): For a man, automatically, he becomes Bhagavān.

Prabhupāda: No. He becomes a servant of Bhagavān. He is servant of Bhagavān. Realization means when he realizes that "I am servant, eternal servant of Bhagavān." That is realization.

Guest (1): So his realization is not Bhagavān.

Prabhupāda: No. Servant of Bhagavān.

Guest (1): Different from Bhagavān.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (2): Sāyujya-mukti...

Prabhupāda: Sāyujya-mukti there is, but a devotee does not accept sāyujya-mukti. Sāyujya, sārūpya, sālokya, sāmīpya. There are five kinds of mukti, but sāyujya-mukti is not accepted by the devotee. But if anyone likes sāyujya-mukti, that is not difficult for Kṛṣṅa to offer him sāyujya-mukti.

Guest (1): So a man can never become Bhagavān.

Prabhupāda: No. How he can be Bhagavān?

Guest (1): And never become Brahman also?

Prabhupāda: No, Brahman he's already.

Guest (1): He is already Brahman?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (1): And Paramātmā he is not.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Paramātmā is Param Brahman. There are two words: Brahman and Param Brahman. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is accepting Kṛṣṅa, paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān [Bg 10.12].

[Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala, and Vyāsa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.]

Arjuna is accepting Kṛṣṅa as the Param Brahman, the Supreme Brahman. [Hindi with guest] Brahman, every living entity is Brahman, because part and parcel of Supreme Brahman.

Just like particle of gold is gold. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūta [Bg 15.7]. Kṛṣṅa says that "These jīva, they are My parts and parcel." So as part and parcel, they are also Brahman. Just like the particles of gold is gold, but it is particle, and that is mine. Spark. Spark of fire is fire, but that is qualitatively one, not quantitatively.

Guest (1): Naraji[?] Śrī Aurobindo...

Prabhupāda: Why you are quoting Aurobindo?

Guest (1): He is..., he was also a saint.

Prabhupāda: There were many saints.

Guest (1): So I can ask one more question? Śrī Kṛṣṅa says...

Prabhupāda: Why don't you touch Bhagavad-gītā? Yes. Do you think Aurobindo is greater than Kṛṣṅa?

Guest (1): He says that...

Prabhupāda: He says he is greater than Kṛṣṅa?

Guest (1): Yes.

Prabhupāda: Then he's a nonsense, if anyone says like that.

Guest (1): He says that...

Prabhupāda: What he has done greater than Kṛṣṅa? Why do you accept like that? What he has done greater than Kṛṣṅa?

Guest (1): He says, one who goes in...[?]

Prabhupāda: Don't say like that, unauthorized, "He is greater than Kṛṣṅa." Kṛṣṅa says, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya [Bg 7.7].

[O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.]

And you say he's greater than Kṛṣṅa. Anyone can say like that, "I am greater than Kṛṣṅa." So why do you accept like that, unless you see practically that he has done greater than Kṛṣṅa? Huh?

Guest (1): That is a... And he said, I said... It can be said the Aurobindo was [indistinct].

Prabhupāda: No, no. Suppose if I say "I am greater than the President of the United States," will you accept?

Guest (1): Sad-dharma [Hindi]. How he says sarva-dharmān parityajya... [Bg 18.66]?

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

Prabhupāda: Because you have created so many rascal dharma; therefore, you have to give it up.

Guest (1): The position of dharma is dharati, sa dharma.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And what is that dhārayet? What is your position? You are servant. You cannot give up your servitude. All of you, you have assembled here, can you say you are master? You are all servant. Is anyone that you are the master, supreme master? Who is a master? You are all servants, but you are servant of māyā. That's all. You are servant of your senses. Your senses dictate something, and you are obliged to abide by that.

So you have to give up this service attitude of māyā and you have to take the real servitude of Kṛṣṅa. That is your salvation. Constitutionally, you are servant, nothing but servant. Artificially you are claiming that "I am master." Nobody's master. You are servant. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṅa dāsa [Cc Madhya 20.108-109]. That is the real identity of jīva. He's eternal servant of Kṛṣṅa.

So as soon as you accept that position, you are liberated. That is your natural position. You are constitutionally a servant. Artificially, you are thinking, "I am master." That is māyā.

kṛṣṅa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare pāsate māyā tare japatīyā dhare [Prema-vivarta]

[When an individual soul forgets his eternal relationship with God and tries to lord it over the material nature or resources, that condition, that forgetful condition, is called māyā, or illusion.]

Why you are..., we have come in contact with māyā? Because artificially we're thinking that "I am the lord." Everyone is trying to be lord here in this material world. And when he's frustrated, he says, "Oh, it is false."

Nobody is master. Everyone is servant. Try to understand this fact. Who is not a servant here? Is anyone, that "I am not servant, anyone's servant"? Everyone is servant. If anyone has nothing to serve, he keeps a dog and cat and becomes a servant of the dog and cat. I have seen in America.

He has no family responsibility; still, he keeps a dog and serves whole day, and he says, "The dog is the best friend." Because you want to serve. That is your attitude. That is your constitutional position. You want to serve; you want to love somebody. And if it is misplaced, that is māyā. When it is properly done, that is liberation.

Guest (3): But Mahājī [indistinct] the person from the worshiper...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (3): And I think Rādhārāṅī helps a man to reach Kṛṣṅa, to hear, you know, the things...

Prabhupāda: Yes. Rādhārāṅī engages him to Kṛṣṅa's service. Daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ. Mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ [Bg 9.13].

[O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.]

You have to take shelter of spiritual energy or material energy. That is your position. Therefore, you are marginal energy. So when you take shelter of the material energy, you forget Kṛṣṅa. And when you take shelter of spiritual energy, you understand your real position. [end]