The Nectar of Devotion

[Distorted audio]

Pradyumna: [reading] "The basic principle of the living condition is that we have a general propensity to love someone. No one can live without loving someone else. This propensity is present in every living being. Even an animal like a tiger has this loving propensity, at least in a dormant stage, and it is certainly present in the human beings. The missing point, however, is where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy. At the present moment, the human society teaches one to love his country or family or his personal self, but there is no information where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy."

Prabhupāda: Yes. This point is missing. We cannot... It is not possible that we can approach everyone and offer our loving service. Just like people are very much attracted by the humanitarian services. They take it very great, loving service to the human society. But however you may love... Suppose in the beginning one loves his own self, his own body... Just like a child: he loves for himself. Anything he gets, he wants to eat. Own sense gratification. Then, as he grows, he shares his foodstuff with his little brother and sister. Then, as he grows, he loves his mother, his father, then other friends. In this way, as we grow, we can love our society, our community or nation, or internationally, all human being. But still it is imperfect. Still it is imperfect. It is not all-inclusive.

Just like at the present moment, every country, they are national, they consider the human being as national, not the animals. But actual meaning of "national" means anyone who takes birth in that country. In Sanskrit word it is called prajā. King and..., the, the rāja, and prajā. Prajā means who takes birth, prajāyate. Anyone who takes birth in that country, in that kingdom, he's called prajā. So it is the duty of the king to give protection all prajās. Not that only human being or my brother or my sister, and not the animals—not the cows, not the goats, not the chickens. No. They're also prajā. But because there is no Kṛṣṅa consciousness, they think that prajā means only the human beings, that's all. Imperfect knowledge.

But when one becomes Kṛṣṅa conscious, he loves everyone. Because his connection with Kṛṣṅa... Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya sambhavanti mūrtayaḥ yāḥ [Bg 14.4]:

[It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.]

"All forms of living entities, all species of life, their mother is this material nature, and I am the seed-giving father." That is real humanity. Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu.

brahma-bhutaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām [Bg 18.54]

[And of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.]

If one does not see equally to all living entities, paṅḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ... [Bg 5.18]. That is paṅḍita. It is not paṅḍita that "Only my brother is good, my father is good, and all are bad." That is not paṅḍita. That is sectarianism. That is sectarianism. Paṅḍita...

vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṅe gavi hastini śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṅḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ [Bg 5.18]

[The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṅa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]]

So that means at the present moment all the leaders, they're fools and rascals. They are simply sectarian: "I am good. My brother is good. My father is good. All other bad." That's all. Nationalism, Communism, these are going on. But a kṛṣṅa-bhakta, he does not see like that. He does not like to kill even an ant. That Mṛgāri, he was a hunter. He was killing animals half-dead. And he met Nārada Muni, so he became a Vaiṣṅava. And when he became a Vaiṣṅava, he was not prepared to kill even an ant—the same hunter, who was killing other animals half-dead, and he was taking pleasure.

So this partiality is not in Vaiṣṅava. Patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṅavebhyo namo namaḥ. Vaiṣṅava, he's a friend. Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṅam.

titikṣavaḥ kāruṅikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-bhūtānām ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṅam [SB 3.25.21]

[The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.]

Sādhu, devotee, he is friend for everyone. Suhṛdam... As Kṛṣṅa is friend of everyone... Kṛṣṅa says,

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām... [Bg 5.29]

[The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.]

Similarly, His representative is also friend for everyone. As Kṛṣṅa comes, descends to reclaim all fallen souls back to home, back to Godhead, similarly His representative, devotee, he also approaches everyone, tries to get him back to home, back to Godhead. Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām. Even to the animals... Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered a dog. Caitanya Mahāprabhu's party was going to Jagannātha Purī. A dog was follow..., following. So that dog was delivered because he followed the devotees. There are many instances like that.

[aside:] What is this? Read it.

Pradyumna: "At the present moment, the human society teaches one how to love his country or family or his personal self..."

Prabhupāda: Yes. We have got a propensity to love, but we do not know, do not know how our love can be perfect. That we do not know. That perfection is possible when you love Kṛṣṅa. Acyutejyā. Sarvārhaṅam acyutejyā.

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ prāṅopahārāc ca yathendriyāṅāṁ tatha sarvārhaṅam acyutejyā [SB 4.31.14]

[As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality.]

That..., this secret, they do not know. But factually that is the fact. Just like we are, in this old age, we are wandering all over the world to see that "Let everyone become happy by Kṛṣṅa consciousness." It is not that we love only our countrymen, only Hindus, or Bengalis, or Madrasis, or... No. We love everyone, even the animals. But because human being can understand the Kṛṣṅa philosophy, therefore we hold meetings of the human being. But still, whenever we get opportunity, we give protection to the animals.

We give them prasādam. We do not prohibit even some animal comes to hear. They also hear some, sometimes. The hear, hearing is there. Everyone can hear. Even they do not understand what is Hare Kṛṣṅa, if you chant loudly Hare Kṛṣṅa, even the ants and insect who is hearing, he'll be delivered, because it is spiritual vibration. It will act for everyone. We... Just like fire. The fire will act, either you are human being or insect. If you touch fire, it will do its work.

Similarly, Hare Kṛṣṅa mahā-mantra is transcendental vibration. When we chant loudly, anyone who hears—it doesn't matter whether he's man, animal, tree, insect—anyone who will hear, he'll get profit. This is transcendental vibration. Just like when there is... Not to speak of this transcendental vibration, even the vibration of cloud, that is also Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṅām. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ [Bg 7.8].

[O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.]

So animal has no realization that "Here is Kṛṣṅa," but a human being, after attending sat-saṅga, devotee's..., association of the devotees, he can understand: "Oh, here I am drinking water.

Now in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. So this taste of water is Kṛṣṅa." He remembers immediately Kṛṣṅa. That means he immediately associates with Kṛṣṅa. This is the process. Either you remember... Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ smaraṅaṁ pāda-sevanam, arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyam [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.]

Any way, when you hear about Kṛṣṅa, you are associating Kṛṣṅa. You are chanting about Kṛṣṅa; you are associating with Kṛṣṅa. You are remembering, smaraṅam, that is also Kṛṣṅa.

So Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. He's teaching how to become Kṛṣṅa conscious. It's not difficult at all. He says... Everyone drinks water. Who can say that "I do not drink water"? Then, then why you have not seen Kṛṣṅa? Kṛṣṅa says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg 7.8].

[O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.]

So as soon as you taste, you understand what is Kṛṣṅa. What is the difficulty? If you try to understand Kṛṣṅa in this easy way, gradually Kṛṣṅa consciousness will develop.

nitya-siddha kṛṣṅa-bhakti sādhya kabhu naya śravaṅādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya [Cc Madhya 22.107]

[Pure love for Kṛṣṅa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.]

Kṛṣṅa consciousness is there in everyone's heart, because everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṅa. Just like part and parcel of gold is gold. There may be some dusty cover, but it has to be cleansed, that's all. Then it becomes gold. Similarly, everyone is Kṛṣṅa conscious. But on account of his association with matter, he, he's thinking that he's different from Kṛṣṅa. Otherwise, every one of us... Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ [Bg 15.7].

[The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.]

Everyone is Kṛṣṅa's part and parcel. Part and parcel of Kṛṣṅa means part and parcel of gold, as you understand part... A little drop of seawater, it is also, contains the same ingredients. Similarly, we have also got the same ingredient as Kṛṣṅa has got. The difference is He's big. Aṅor aṅīyān mahato mahīyān. We are small, particle.

So Kṛṣṅa consciousness is our natural... There is. But, at the present moment, on account of our association with māyā, the material energy, we have forgotten Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa bhūliya jīva bhoga-vāñchā kare [Prema-vivarta 6.2].

[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.]

That forgetfulness is manifested by our desire to enjoy this material world. Bhoga-vāñchā. Everyone is trying to enjoy this material world to his best capacity. That is called material world. Only the Kṛṣṅa conscious persons, they are not trying to enjoy this material world, but they are trying to dovetail everything in the service of the Kṛṣṅa. That is the difference. Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255].

Just like we eat kṛṣṅa-prasādam. Everyone is eating. We are also eating. But we don't eat directly. Whatever we prepare, whatever we collect, first of all we offer to Kṛṣṅa. Because we think, we think—and it is a fact—the thing is of Kṛṣṅa's. Kṛṣṅa has given. You cannot manufacture rice, dāl or wheat in your factory, neither fruit nor milk. It is given by Kṛṣṅa. Eko bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān. He's giving. One has to acknowledge, "Yes, it is given by Kṛṣṅa. It is Kṛṣṅa's. So let me offer it first of all to Kṛṣṅa, then take the prasādam." This is Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Where is the difficulty? Everyone can do that. But they'll not do it. They'll satisfy the tongue. That is forbidden. Ye pacanty ātma-kāraṅāt, bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpām [Bg 3.13].

[The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.]

So if you are eating, eating simply sin, how we can be happy? We have to suffer. Bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpām ye pacanty ātma-kāraṅāt. So who is cooking for Kṛṣṅa? Nobody's cooking. Except a Kṛṣṅa's devotee, nobody's cooking. He's pacanty ātma-kāraṅāt. He's thinking, "Now this sandeṣa, rasagullā, purī and meat and chicken, I shall eat very voraciously." So you are..., he's eating sinful, sins, all sins. Aghaṁ pāpā. And he has to suffer. He has to suffer. Therefore people are suffering. Without Kṛṣṅa consciousness, everyone must suffer. That is the laws of nature. Daivī hy eṣā guṅamayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg 7.14].

[This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.]

You cannot avoid it. Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te [Bg 7.14]. Only you can be happy when you are a surrendered soul to Kṛṣṅa. That is the only way. Hariṁ vinā na mṛtiṁ taranti.

So we have got this loving propensity, but we do not know how to love and where our loving propensity should be reposed. That we do not know. That is Kṛṣṅa. People... The same example. Just like if you water in the root of tree, then the water is distributed all over the branches, leaves and flowers and everywhere. If you put foodstuff in the stomach, the energy's distributed all over the body. Everyone can understand this. There are... Kṛṣṅa is the root. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo [Bg 10.8].

[I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.]

Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. He's the root. But we are neglecting the root. We are trying to pour water in the leaves. The leaf will dry, and his labor will be frustrated. That is happening.

So-called humanitarian service, social service, without any touch with Kṛṣṅa... Just like watering on the tree without touching the root—it is useless labor. Similarly, you do whatever service you can do to the society, to the community, to the nation, but do it in Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Then you are perfect. Otherwise it will remain imperfect. The persons who are..., whom you are giving service, they'll never be happy, neither you'll be happy.

So this is Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement, that they're simply wasting their time. Śrama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8].

[The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.]

Simply wasting their time in so-called humanitarian service. They must take. Nirbandhe kṛṣṅa-sambandhe. Everything should be in relationship with Kṛṣṅa.

anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṅa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255]

The simple process. First of all, try, try to understand Kṛṣṅa and try to love Him. Your love will be distributed, not only in your family and community, but throughout the whole world—all animals, all insects, all trees. You'll never be inclined to do harm, even to an ant even. A tree is cut down—a kṛṣṅa-bhakta becomes sorry. Others, they do not become sorry. They are so sympathetic. Nowadays, trees are being cut into pieces without any consideration. This is also sinful activities. They're also living entity. You cannot kill them unnecessarily. This is the law of nature. [aside:] Go on.

Pradyumna: "But there is no information where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy."

Prabhupāda: Yes. If the whole society takes to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, everyone will be happy. If the government men, the politicians, they become Kṛṣṅa conscious... But it is very difficult. As soon as they become Kṛṣṅa conscious, they'll not be able to do all these heinous activities. So it is very difficult, but the fact is this, that... Just like Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, when he was king, people were so happy that even there was no extreme cold and extreme heat. Neither they were any disturbed with anxieties. These are stated in the Bhāgavata. If the king, if the government men, they become devotee, then automatically the prajās will be happy. Why they are hankering after Rāma-rājya? Because the head of the kingdom is the purest.

So in a..., in our Bengali language, it is said that if the king is sinful, the whole kingdom becomes lost. And if in the family, if the housewife is sinful, then the whole family becomes lost. It is a common saying. So the difficulty is that nobody... We are grudging against government. So many complaints we have got. But there is no question of grudging against government. Because we are not Kṛṣṅa consciousness, Kṛṣṅa conscious, therefore we are electing our representatives fools and rascals. How we can expect good government? You become Kṛṣṅa conscious, you elect your representative, Kṛṣṅa conscious, and the government will be all right. You'll be happy.

[aside:] Go on.

Pradyumna: "That missing point is Kṛṣṅa, and The Nectar of Devotion teaches us how to stimulate our original love for Kṛṣṅa and how to be situated in that position where we can enjoy our blissful life."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Without being Kṛṣṅa conscious, there cannot be blissful life. If, if... You may rest assured. You may try in so many ways. Andhā yathāndair upanīyamānāḥ [SB 7.5.31].

[Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Viṣṅu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.]

Leaders may try. It will not be possible. Take, for example, in India. We thought, "If the Britishers go away, so then we'll be happy. There will be no Hindu-Muslim riot. There will be..." So many things we conjectured. "It will be Rāma-rājya." But what is the Rāma-rājya? Now everything there is fight. Now there is no Hindu-Muslim riot; now Andhra and other provinces, they're fighting. So fighting will remain, unless we are Kṛṣṅa conscious.

[aside:] Go on.

Pradyumna: "In the primary stage a child loves his parents, then his brothers and sisters. And as he daily grows up, he begins to love his family, society, community, country, nation or even the whole human society. But the loving propensity is not satisfied even by loving all human society. That loving propensity remains imperfectly fulfilled..."

Prabhupāda: When Vyāsadeva finished his all scripture writing, all the Vedas, Purāṅas, even Brahma-sūtra, he was not happy. He was not happy, and his spiritual master, Nārada, came, inquired: "Why you are not happy? You have done so much work." So he could not explain. He said, "I, I do not find why I am unhappy. But because you are my spiritual master, you can say." So he indicated that "Because you did not describe about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore you are not happy. Now you try to describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead particularly." And therefore he wrote this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. You'll find this in the Third Chapter of the First Canto. Hmm.

Pradyumna: "But that loving propensity is not satisfied even by loving all of human society." Oh. "That loving propensity remains imperfectly fulfilled until we know who is the supreme beloved."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Supreme beloved: Kṛṣṅa. Supreme Person, supreme beautiful, supreme rich, supreme famous, supreme wise. Everything supreme. We love somebody, or, out of these six opulences, if one opulence is there... Suppose one man is very rich and charitable, we love him. And... Just think over how Kṛṣṅa is rich and how He's charitable. He is giving His charity, He's distributing foodstuff, millions and millions of living entities every day. We are taking prou..., pride if we can feed, say, hundred, two hundred, five hundred, two thousand. But just imagine. Eko bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13]. There are millions and millions of elephants all over the universe; Kṛṣṅa is supplying their food. There are so many animals. How they're getting food? So many birds. How they can...? Actually there is no scarcity of food. The scarcity of food is for the human society or the animals who live with them. Because actually the human society is misusing the advanced consciousness; therefore they are put into the trouble.

At the present moment, there is scarcity of water all over India, and so many things are being restricted. But in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, yajñād bhavati parjanya. So they are not performing yajñas. So this is nature's restriction. We have got this information. They are not performing yajñas. They, they think by science, by electricity, by this and that shall provide everything. But then the electricity is being also reduced; supply of electricity is being controlled. And one after, one after another, one after another... Because the supreme controller, if He does not sanction, your so-called scientific improvement or so-called social service will not make the whole world satisfied. That is not possible. That is not possible. This secret is known to the devotee.

[aside:] Yes?

Pradyumna: "Our love can be fulfilling and can be fully satisfied only when it is reposed in Kṛṣṅa."

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Pradyumna: "This theme is the sum and substance of The Nectar of Devotion, which teaches us how to love Kṛṣṅa in five different transcendental mellows."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Our whole Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is to teach people how to love Kṛṣṅa.

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā samprasīdati [SB 1.2.6]

[The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.]

Yenātmā samprasīdati. So this is the propaganda of Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. That will solve all problems, and people will be happy, things will change. That is Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement.

Thank you ver... [break]

Prabhavati: ...Kṛṣṅa is like the sun at six-thirty...?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Prabhavati: The sun at six-thirty in the morning? Six-thirty in the morning, sun.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Prabhavati: So Kṛṣṅa appears and performs His pastimes, and then He disappears and appears in another universe? Or He appears...?

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṅa does not appear or disappear. Kṛṣṅa is always present, but we see at a certain period. Just like the sun. Sun is always in the sky, but when it is daytime, we see, and at nighttime, we cannot see. At nighttime, because we cannot see, it does not mean there is no sun. It is our imperfectness of eyes we cannot see. Similarly, Kṛṣṅa is always present. One who has got eyes, he can see. When all the circumstances favorable, he can see. Kṛṣṅa is always... Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti [Bs 5.38].

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṅa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.]

Dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti 'yaṁ yoginaḥ [SB 12.13.1].

[Sūta Gosvāmī said: Unto that personality whom Brahmā, Varuṅa, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas with all their corollaries, pada-kramas and Upaniṣads, to whom the chanters of the Sāma Veda always sing, whom the perfected yogīs see within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and becoming fully absorbed in thoughts of Him, and whose limit can never be found by any demigod or demon—unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisances.]

So Kṛṣṅa can be seen always, if we have got eyes to see. That eyes, how you can be transferred? Premāñjana-cchurita. When it is smeared with the ointment of love, then with these eyes you can see Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is always there. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati [Bg 18.61].

[The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.]

He's represent everywhere. Aṅḍāntara-stha-paramāṅu-cayāntara-stham [Bs 5.35].

[He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof. In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.]

Kṛṣṅa is not absent. Kṛṣṅa is always there. We haven't got eyes to see Him. So we have to prepare the eyes. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam [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.]

When you make your eyes nirmala, when you give up all these titular designations—"I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am black," "I am white..." These are all designations. When you give up, become brahma bhutaḥ prasannātmā [Bg 18.54],

[And of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.]

"I am nothing of this; I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṅa"—when you come to this consciousness, you will see Kṛṣṅa.

Kṛṣṅa is always there.

[break] ...Kṛṣṅa. A devotee's seeing factual Kṛṣṅa, and nondevotee's seeing a brass doll, that's all. Kṛṣṅa is here. Why they say, "Where is your Kṛṣṅa?" Here is Kṛṣṅa. Just like Hiraṅyakaśipu, he challenged Prahlāda Mahārāja, "Where is your Kṛṣṅa? All right, let me kill you. Let your God come and protect you." So the atheist class, they say like that. But one who has got training in Kṛṣṅa consciousness, he has got eyes to see Kṛṣṅa always. If here is not Kṛṣṅa, then all the ācāryas, they installed Deity in so many millions of temples, they're all fools and rascals? They ask us to worship some stone and wood? No. Kṛṣṅa is there, but we haven't got eyes to see. That is the difference. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as soon as He saw Jagannātha at Purī, Jagannātha at..., immediately fainted: "Here is My Lord." Fainted.

So we have to create that eyes to see Kṛṣṅa. That will be done gradually. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adhaḥ [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234].

[No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṅa through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him.]

We cannot see Kṛṣṅa. We cannot command Kṛṣṅa, "Please come here. I'll see You." No. He will reveal Himself, being satisfied with your service. "Here I am. You see Me now." So we have to wait for that revelation. Not by force. Force will not act. Kṛṣṅa is not our order-supplier, servant: "Kṛṣṅa, please come here. I'll see You." No, no. That will not do. You must be submissive, first of all surrender. You follow the rules and regulation, be mad after Kṛṣṅa. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu: govinda-viraheṅa me. Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat..., śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṅa me [Śikṣāṣṭaka 7].

[O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.]

Śūnyayitaṁ jagat sarvam: "Everything is vacant because I cannot see Govinda."

Just like if one's beloved son dies, he sees everything vacant. He no more sees that cars are running on the street or people are running. No. He sees everything vacant. Why? Due to love. Similarly, when we'll come to that position, we shall see everything vacant without Kṛṣṅa. Then that is the proper position to see Kṛṣṅa. Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṅa me. Lord Caitanya says that "I am not a devotee of Kṛṣṅa." "Now, Sir, You are crying always for Kṛṣṅa." "That is simply to show, make a show that I am a great devotee of Kṛṣṅa." Then? "No, how we can understand that You are not...? We know You're..." "No. Because I am still living without Kṛṣṅa, that means I have no love for Kṛṣṅa. I should have died long, long ago." Caitanya Mahāprabhu says.

So this much ecstasy, this much eagerness, when we come, then can see always. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilo..., santaḥ sadaiva [Bs 5.38].

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṅa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.]

Twenty-four hours he can see Kṛṣṅa. He cannot see anything but Kṛṣṅa. Just like the sunrise. As, as soon as the sun rises, you start your aeroplane, and you go on, on the..., towards the eastern..., western side, you'll find always day. A practical. There will be no sunset. We have seen it while coming from Paris to London. Was it not? There was no sunshine. We started from Paris at twelve o'clock and we reached London at three o'clock.

Śyāmasundara: Los Angeles.

Prabhupāda: Los Angeles. Yes. Los Angeles at three o'clock. It actually took eleven hours, but it appeared three hours. But there was no sunset. Actually so many hours have been passed. So this is a technique. So similarly, if you keep always yourself in Kṛṣṅa consciousness, Kṛṣṅa will not go away from your sight. He'll not go away from your sight. You must know the technique. Is that all right? Now you have any other question, ask. Yes?

Prabhavati: I understand that you cannot see Kṛṣṅa with your eyes. However, I'm just asking the details of Kṛṣṅa's appearance in the material world. I want to know: if Kṛṣṅa appeared on this planet five thousand years ago at a certain time, that means that immediately did He appear again in another universe?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Prabhavati: Immediately.

Prabhupāda: The same example. Just like six-thirty, sunrise, as soon as it passes from India, the six-thirty in another country. And as soon as it passes that country, six, six-thirty in another country. So six-thirty is always there. Similarly six-thirty, twelve-thirty, three o'clock, all the time, twenty-four hours, always present in some, somewhere or other. Similarly, Kṛṣṅa's līlā, from His birth up to the disappearance, that is always existing. Disappearance means disappearance from my eyes. Kṛṣṅa does not disappear. Just like formerly people used to think, after the sunset, the sun is dead. Huh? Who were the persons that used... Sometimes, you...? They thought like that: "Sun is dead now"? Some philosophers, or the Christians, they used to think like that. Similarly somebody is saying, "Kṛṣṅa is dead"...

[break] ...because you are Kṛṣṅa's part and parcel. But we disappear. Therefore Kṛṣṅa says, tathā dehāntaram-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati [Bg 2.13].

[As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.]

One who is sober, he knows that "This man, he's not dead." Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [Bg 2.20]. "He's not dead. He has simply passed from this body to another body." Just like a mother, when the child from baby's body comes to a boy's body, the mother does not cry, "Oh, where is my son, that baby?" She knows that baby has come to this body. Similarly, a person who is in the knowledge of the transmigration of the soul, he knows that "My father, my brother, he's not dead. He has simply changed this body." Dhīras tatra na muhyati. One has to become dhīra, sober, to understand the things as they are. Tathā dehāntaraṁ-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati.

So this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement means we are trying to make people dhīra, not adhīra. Adhīra cannot understand. But even adhīra can understand. Dhīrādhīra. Kṛṣṅotkīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī, dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau [Śrīnivāsa Ācārya].

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṅa and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Caitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe.]

A perfect devotee is dear both for the dhīra and adhīra. Dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pūjitau śrī-caitanya-kṛpā-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhārāvahantārakau vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau. So for a devotee, both the dhīra and adhīra welcome. We do not say only the perfect persons should come here. No. Perfect or imperfect, come here. Take part with this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. Dhīrādhīra, it doesn't matter. Because one who's adhīra, by associating with the dhīras, he'll also become dhīra. Just like one is not drunkard, but associating with the drunkards, he becomes a drunkard. Saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ.

So similarly, this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is giving chance to everyone. Not to speak of... Kiṁ punar brāhmaṅāḥ puṅyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā [Bg 9.33].

[How much greater then are the brāhmaṅas, the righteous, the devotees and saintly kings who in this temporary miserable world engage in loving service unto Me.]

Api cet sudur... What is that verse? Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ [Bg 9.32].

[O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth—women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers]—can approach the supreme destination.]

They also... Te 'pi yānti, yānti parāṁ gatim. Kiṁ punar brāhmaṅāḥ puṅyā. Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is so nice, even the most sinful person can go back to home, back to Godhead. And what to speak of the pious brāhmaṅas? Kiṁ punar brāhmaṅāḥ puṅyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā. They will go. Even those who are sinful, if they take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, they will also go. It is so nice.

Indian lady: Gurujī, may I ask a question [indistinct]? You spoke about transmigration of souls, and reincarnation.

Prabhupāda: Stand up.

Indian lady: ...transmigration of souls, or reincarnation as karma...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Indian lady: ...if you believe in it. Could you answer me by telling me how someone who has entered a new body and a new life doesn't remember anything of the past? If, for example, I am suffering today because of what I did in the past, any form of retribution or suffering should be for me a total consciousness.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Do you remember from your birth up to date, everything? You remember? Do you remember?

Indian lady: Pardon?

Prabhupāda: From your birth till today, do you remember everything?

Indian lady: No.

Prabhupāda: Then why do you forget in this life? Things which have happened in this life, in your childhood, so many things happened, but do you remember all of them? So that, does it mean that you did not do so?

Indian lady: No.

Prabhupāda: Therefore you remember or not remember, it doesn't matter.

Indian lady: But if I'm, if I'm...

Prabhupāda: That is your nature: you forget. So you do not remember even the incidences of this life. How you can remember the incidents of your past life? Because you are forgetful. You are so imperfect that you forget after two hours everything. That is your nature. That does not mean that you had..., you did not do anything. And, besides that, the... You remember or not remember. Suppose your guardian remembers, "My dear child, when you were a small baby, you did it." But you remember no...

Similarly, Kṛṣṅa is there. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati [Bg 18.61].

[The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.]

Anumantā upadraṣṭā. He knows everything. You may forget, but Kṛṣṅa knows. "You wanted this thing. All right. Take it. You worked for this. Now I give you the opportunity. You take this. You wanted to eat everything and anything, without any discrimination. All right. Now you become a hog." That is Kṛṣṅa's favor. "And if you wanted Me..."

yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ bhūtejyā yānti bhūt..., mad-yajino 'pi yānti... [Bg 9.25]

[Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me.]

"You wanted Me. You sacrificed everything for Me. Please come on." Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9].

[One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.]

So as you work... So therefore this life is the preparation stage for your next life—either you choice a better life or a sinful life or an unimportant life, that is your... Just like if you get good education, that will make your future life nice. But if you don't go to school, how you can get a better life? Similarly karma... Karmaṅā daiva netreṅa [SB 3.31.1].

[The Personality of Godhead said: Under the supervision of the Supreme Lord and according to the result of his work, the living entity, the soul, is made to enter into the womb of a woman through the particle of male semen to assume a particular type of body.]

According to your karma. If you are earned..., worked very hard for nice place, you'll get it.

Indian lady: So there's no end to these saṁsāras...

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. That... You are very intelligent. In this way we are creating our karmas, and getting one, one kind of body to another, another, another. Therefore if we want to get out of this cycle of birth and death, then we must surrender to Kṛṣṅa. Then the facility will be tyaktvā deham... After giving up this body, tyaktvā deham, punar janma naiti: no more birth in this material world. That is Kṛṣṅa consciousness, the best service to the humanity, to stop this repetition of birth and death and go to home, back to home, back to Godhead. This is the special benediction of Kṛṣṅa consciousness.

Indian lady: So it is the shortcut way to...

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Indian lady: It is a shortcut to eternal life?

Prabhupāda: Yes. This is the shortcut. Just if you become Kṛṣṅa conscious fully, if you are trained up, just after death you go to Kṛṣṅa. That's all. Immediately.

Indian lady: How does it compare with other movements?

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Indian lady: How does it compare with other movements?

Prabhupāda: That you have to judge. What can I say? If you don't want to go to Kṛṣṅa, you can do anything else.

Indian lady: I mean... Are these movements leading to Kṛṣṅa?

Prabhupāda: Yes. If you want to meet Kṛṣṅa immediately, then do as these boys are doing, these girls are doing. What is the difficulty? They are Europeans, Americans. They used to eat meat. They had all the bad habits. Now, for Kṛṣṅa's sake, they have given up everything. They want Kṛṣṅa. They are, they are determined. Dṛḍha-vratāḥ. Bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ [7.28]. So as soon as you become determined, your success is sure. [end]