Initiation Lecture [Partially Recorded]

Prabhupāda: ...interested in material profit by devotional service, he is not fit at all to enter into the devotional service. Devotional... There are... Everyone is trying to become happier—the karmīs, jñānīs, yogīs, devotees—because in the material world there is no happiness. So the karmīs are trying to be happier to increase their sense gratification. So one man has got hundred dollars' income. He is trying to be happy, more happy, by increasing the income to a thousand dollars, because his sense gratification is not sufficient in one hundred dollars. He wants thousand dollars.

So if one takes to devotional service that "My income is hundred dollars. Kṛṣṅa, give me thousand dollars," so this is not pure devotion. Kṛṣṅa can give. Why thousand? Millions of dollars He can give. But anyone who asks from Kṛṣṅa for this material benefit, he is not a pure devotee. And unless one is pure devotee, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. By devotional service if you want material prosperity, Kṛṣṅa can give you. Kṛṣṅa can... Whatever you want, Kṛṣṅa can give you. But that is not pure devotion.

Dhruva Mahārāja went to obtain his father's kingdom in the beginning, but at the end he said that "I don't want." That is the benefit. If anyone has got any desire for material benefit and takes to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, Kṛṣṅa can give him. But the benefit is that one day he'll come to the stage he'll ask nothing from the Lord. Whereas if anyone goes to demigods to ask some material profit, he will get, but it will be finished, and he'll never come to the stage of transcendental platform that he has no material necessities.

So similarly, Kṛṣṅa's name, we should not try to exact some material profit by chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. That is not pure devotion. Sarva... What is called? Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam [Cc Madhya 19.170].

[Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.]

Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11].

[One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṅa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.]

We shall simply aspire to serve Kṛṣṅa. The Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra means, "He kṛṣṅa, my Lord Kṛṣṅa." He, Hare Kṛṣṅa, Hare, "O the energy of Kṛṣṅa, O Kṛṣṅa, please engage me in Your service."

This is the sum total meaning of this Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. Simply praying, "Please engage me," that is real profit. Not that "Please give me, instead of hundred dollars, give me thousand dollars." No. This is not pure devotion. You should all understand this. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Cc Madhya 19.167].

[When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Kṛṣṅa favorably, as Kṛṣṅa desires.]

Completely freed from any material desire. That is pure devotion. That will make you happy.

[aside:] Go on. Go on explaining... Is it finished?

Dayānanda: No, there are two more [indistinct].

Prabhupāda: All right. Yes. [japa]

[break] What is that. Name?

Girl: Jean Pickman.

Viṣṅujana: Śivāni devī.

Prabhupāda: Your name is Śivāni, wife of Lord Śiva. Who's this with? Nicely wove it and [indistinct]. What is your name?

Jeffrey: Jeffrey Seeler.

Viṣṅujana: Gaṅgārāma.

Prabhupāda: Gaṅgārāma. Gaṅgārāma was a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Come on. Who's next?

Viṣṅujana: Suraci. Suraci devī. Suraci.

Prabhupāda: Huh? [correcting:] Suruci.

Viṣṅujana: Suruci.

Prabhupāda: Suruci. Suruci was one of the mothers of Dhruva Mahārāja. Take it. You know what are the rules and regulation? What is that?

Suruci: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling.

Prabhupāda: All right. [end]