Lecture

The Nectar of Devotion

Mādhavānanda: [reading] "It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā that after many, many births, when one becomes actually wise, he surrenders unto Vāsudeva, knowing perfectly well that Kṛṣṅa [Vāsudeva] is the origin and cause of all causes. Therefore he sticks to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa and gradually develops love for Him. Although such a wise man is very dear to Kṛṣṅa, the others are also accepted as very magnanimous because even though they are distressed or in need of money, they have come to Kṛṣṅa for satisfaction. Thus they are accepted as liberal, broad-minded mahātmās.

"Without being elevated to the position of jñānī, or wise man, no one can stick to the principle of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Others, who are less intelli..."

Prabhupāda: This tulasī, big plant, while passing it should not touch your cloth. It is not ordinary plant. Very careful. Or it should not be kept there. Be careful.

[aside:] Go on.

Mādhavānanda: "Others, who are less intelligent, or those whose intelligence has been taken away by the spell of māyā, are attached to different demigods on account of the influence of the modes of nature. The wise man is he who has clearly understood that he is not..., that he is spirit soul and not simply a body. Because he realizes that he is spirit and that Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Spirit, he knows that his intimate relationships should be with Kṛṣṅa, not with this body.

"The distressed and the man who wants money are in the material concept of life because distress and need of money are both in relationship with this body. One who is inquisitive may be a little above the distressed and the man in need of money, but still he is on the material platform. But a wise man who seeks Kṛṣṅa knows perfectly well that he is spirit soul, or Brahman, and that Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Spirit Soul, or Para-brahman. He knows that the spirit soul, being subordinate and finite..."

Prabhupāda: Where it is?

Mādhavānanda: At the bottom of thirty-one.

Prabhupāda: Eh? Thirty-one?

Mādhavānanda: At the bottom of the page.

Prabhupāda: Go on.

Mādhavānanda: "He knows that the spirit soul, being subordinate and finite, should always dovetail himself with the infinite and Supreme Soul, Kṛṣṅa. That is the relationship of the wise man with Kṛṣṅa.

"It can be concluded that a person who is freed from the bodily concept of life is an eligible candidate for pure devotional service."

Prabhupāda: "It can be concluded that a person who is freed from the bodily concept of life is an eligible candidate for pure devotional service." Ah. People generally think that by..., through devotional service, one rises to the platform of brahman-jñāna, nirbheda brahmānu-sandhana. Even the so-called devotees—they are called sahajiyās—their ultimate goal is to merge into the existence of Brahman. That Rajani Sena, Bombay, he's also preaching in that way. And their process is very abominable. The..., the sahajiyās, they also think like that, that by sex one can rise to that platform of merging into the effulgence of Brahman. Even Vivekananda was talking that "This Vaiṣṅava religion is the religion of sex." They have been so much misrepresented. "By sexual indulgence, one can become one with the Supreme." This is their theory, very dangerous theory.

Therefore these sahajiyās are amongst the thirteen rejected apa-sampradāya. In the name of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there are so many apa-sampradāya. Apa-sampradāya means they present themselves as belonging to the Caitanya cult, but they are not at all bona fide. They are rejected.

[break] Even such sahajiyās, they would not read even Bhagavad-gītā. They think themselves that they are so, I mean to say, elevated, they have surpassed reading of Bhagavad-gītā. Similarly, there are sahajiyās, they also say that kīrtana is not required for them. Kīrtana, one who has very much advanced, he doesn't require to chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. I have heard it.

But the...

[break] ...begins from kīrtana. Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ [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.]

Śāstra says, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ [Cc Ādi 17.31].

[One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.]

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalaṁ 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.]

So in this age, especially in Kali-yuga, one who does not join in the kīrtana, he's not a devotee at all. He's outside, bahir aṅga, bahir-artha-māninaḥ [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.]

This śravaṅa kīrtana is the first business of devotee. Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ [SB 7.5.23]. Those who are actually devotee... Caitanya Mahāprabhu always engaged in kīrtana. He advised, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ [Cc Ādi 17.31].

It is not that one who is advanced, he hasn't..., hasn't got to take part in kīrtana. That is nonsense. Sadā. Sadā means always, whether you are advanced or not advanced. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ. Śravaṅaṁ..., śravaṅaṁ kīrtanam. Kīrtana, as..., unless one hears, how he can... Kīrtana also... Speaking also kīrtana. But unless one is hea..., I mean, hearing, how he can speak?

Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ smaraṅaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanam... [SB 7.5.23]. These are nine different processes, and our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṅava sampradāya, following the footsteps of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, their principal business is this kīrtana, hari-kīrtana: Hare Kṛṣṅa, Hare Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa Kṛṣṅa... Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṅasya. It is in Bhāgavata it is said: kīrtanād eva kṛṣṅasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet [SB 12.3.51].

[My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṅa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.]

Unless one is enthusiastic in śravaṅaṁ kīrtana, especially kīrtana..., kīrtanād eva kṛṣṅasya. Kṛṣṅasya... There are... Talking of Kṛṣṅa, that is also kīrtana. But especially for the general... For everyone. Why general? Everyone. Caitanya Mahāprabhu—who can be more advanced than Caitanya Mahāprabhu?—He was daily joining in kīrtana, four hours daily at Jagannātha Purī temple. It was a regular program. Not only that: He organized four parties, four parties, sixteen men in each party. So the four parties in four direction, they'll perform kīrtana, and in every party Caitanya Mahāprabhu seemed to be He's present in every party. That was another opulence of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

So He has recommended,

tṛṅād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṅunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ [Cc Ādi 17.31]

One should be very tolerant and humble and giving respect to anyone, not expecting any respect for oneself. Such person can chant Hare Kṛṣṅa mahā-mantra sadā, always. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ.

[aside:] Go on.

Mādhavānanda: "It is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā that after Brahman realization, when one is freed from material anxieties and can see every living entity on an equal level, he is eligible to enter into devotional service. "As has been stated before, there..."

Prabhupāda: "When one is free from material anxiety." Brahma-bhūtaḥ 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.]

That is the stage of free from anxieties. If I've got some anxieties for maintaining or some other, any anxieties, he cannot perfectly chant kīrtana. But even though one is full of anxieties, if he takes to kīrtana, then ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanam [Cc Antya 20.12],

[Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṅa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṅa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.]

his unclean heart becomes cleansed, and the more the heart becomes cleansed, he becomes anxiety-less. Ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṅam. Unless our dirty heart is cleansed by the chanting process... By the chanting process, the dirty heart or consciousness or mind will be cleansed. This is the formula given by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṅam.

So long we are in dirty heart, dirty, polluted mind, there is no question of anxiety-less. That is required. Brahma-bhūtaḥ 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.]

One who is God-realized, one who is advanced in spiritual life, he will be anxiety-less, prasannātmā. Evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ [SB 1.2.20]. Bhagavad-bhakti-yoga, one who is practicing Bhagavad-yoga, then this is the verdict of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. That is the verdict of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanam [Cc Antya 20.12].

evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ bhagavat-tattva-vijñānaṁ mukta-saṅgasya jāyate [SB 1.2.20]

[Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.]

The process is one must be free from anxiety. And how one can become free from anxiety unless one is realized Brahman soul, realized soul, brahma-bhūtaḥ? These are one after another.

So evaṁ prasanna-manaso. Without being anxiety-less, nobody can understand the science of God. This is the verdict of Bhagavad..., Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ. One who has executed the process of bhagavad-bhakti according to the rules and regulations, śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ [SB 7.5.23],

he'll be prasanna-manaso. The same thing, as it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā: brahma-bhūtaḥ 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.]

The Bhāgavata says, evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ, bhagavat-tattva-vijñānam [SB 1.2.20]. Bhagavat-tattva, the science of God, is a vijñāna. It is a science; it is not sentiment. Sentiment: I close my eyes and shed some tears, and then I go for smoking cigarette. That sentiment will not help us. It is a science. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said: yei kṛṣṅa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]. Yei kṛṣṅa-tattva-vettā. One who knows the science of Kṛṣṅa, he can become guru. Pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt. He can make disciples all over the world. Pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt.

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed it:

kibā vipra kibā śūdra nyāsī kena naya yei kṛṣṅa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]

[Whether one is a brāhmaṅa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra—regardless of what he is—he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṅa.]

It doesn't matter whether one is a gṛhastha or one is a sannyāsī or one is a brāhmaṅa or not brāhmaṅa. It doesn't matter. Because this is not the science of this physiological ana..., anatomical science or cobbler's science. Cobbler's science means cobbler knows what kind of skin it is. It is not like that. Neither cobbler's science nor anatomical science or physiological science. Bhagavat-tattva-vijñānam. It is another science.

So anyone who is well versed in bhagavat-tattva-vijñānam, he's..., he can become guru. Not others. And in many places this is confirmed, that ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṅo vipro [Padma Purāṅa]. A brāhmaṅa, very well expert in his business... Brāhmaṅa's business means ṣaṭ-karma, six kinds of karma: paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana dāna pratigraha. A brāhmaṅa must be very learned scholar, brāhmaṅa paṅḍita. He must be scholar. Scholar means not ordinary, but in transcendental science. Tad vijñānam. So paṭhana pāṭhana. And he must be expert teacher also. He should not...

Actually in our India, formerly, the brāhmaṅas, they usually become teachers. In any village, a brāhmaṅa has no other business. He sits down. He's called catuṣpāṭhī, the higher scholars. But for ordinary also. A brāhmaṅa... Guru-mahāśaya. We studied under guru-mahāśaya in our childhood. Pāṭha śālā. So anywhere a brāhmaṅa can sit down and the village boys, small boys, children would come there. He doesn't charge anything, but their father, mother sends everything—rice, dāl, cloth. So he has no much demand for bodily necessities. This was paṭhana. This is brāhmaṅa. Brāhmaṅa should not accept any service.

Formerly, Sanātana Gosvāmī, because he accepted the service of Nawab Hussain Shah, he was rejected from the brāhmaṅa society. In the Bhāgavata also it is stated if a brāhmaṅa is in difficulty, he may accept the profession of a kṣatriya or a vaiśya, but never of a śūdra. Śūdra has been described there as dog. A dog, without having a master, he cannot live very nicely. Street dog is very wretched, but a dog under the care of a good master is very healthy and very happy. Similarly, a śūdra cannot live without having a master. That has been described as the dog's business.

So similarly a brāhmaṅa will never accept any service. He'll starve, but he will never accept any service. That is against brāhmaṅa principles. Therefore ṣaṭ-karma-nipu... He can accept charity if somebody gives willfully. Dana pratigraha. But pratigraha dāna... He'll take, pratigraha, accept charity, but whatever he requires, he'll spend, and the balance he'll immediately distribute. Dāna. In Bengal it is said, lakteke baundiki[?]. The... Why? A brāhmaṅa gets one lakh of rupees; next day, he's again beggar. Why? He'll not keep anything. Whatever he requires for the day's expenditure, he will take it, and balance he will again distribute.

So ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṅo vipro [Padma Purāṅa]. Such strict brāhmaṅa, very expert in his business, paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana dāna pratigraha. Ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṅo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ... And very well expert in his studies, mantra, Vedic mantra, tantra. Ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṅo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ, avaiṣṅava guru na sa syād. If he is avaiṣṅava, then he cannot be guru. Cannot be guru. Sad-vaiṣṅava śva-paca guru. But a śva-paca, a dog-eaters' family, caṅḍāla... Just the brāhmaṅa is considered to be the highest in the society, similarly caṅḍāla is considered to be the lowest, dog-eaters. So the śāstra says the highest, the topmost man in the society, brāhmaṅa, if he's avaiṣṅava, he cannot be guru, but the..., a person coming out from the lowest grade of human society, śva-paca, caṅḍāla, if he's a Vaiṣṅava, he can become guru. This is the verdict of the śāstra.

ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṅo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ avaiṣṅava guru na sa syād sad vaiṣṅava śva-pacaḥ guru [Padma Purāṅa]

Therefore one..., one who, even coming from low-grade family, if he has become Vaiṣṅava, then he's no longer in the worldly society. He's transcendental. Brahmā-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.]

One who is engaged in pure devotional service, he's in the Brahman platform. He should not be neglected. Vaiṣṅave jāti-buddhiḥ, arcye śilā-dhīr, guruṣu nara-mati, vaiṣṅave jāti-buddhiḥ [Padma Purāṅa]. These are warned. One should not consider the Deity as made of stone, arcye śilā-dhīr. Śālagrāma-śilā. If somebody says, "What is this, a stone chip, or stone ball?" No. These are warned in the śāstra. Vaiṣṅave ja...

Similarly, to consider a Vaiṣṅava as belonging to certain caste is as abominable as to think that the Deity is made of stone. Everyone knows it is made of stone. But are we worshiping the stone? We are spending so much money for decorating stone? No. Because we have no eyes to see, we see stone. Kṛṣṅa is not stone. Kṛṣṅa is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is absolute. He can appear in any way, any form, as He likes. That is His mercy. Because we cannot see except stone, similarly, therefore He appears as stone. But He's not stone. If we think that it is stone, then we are gone to hell. You see. No. Arcye śilā-dhīr.

Similarly Vaiṣṅava. A Vaiṣṅava should not be considered that "Here is American Vaiṣṅava" or "brāhmaṅa Vaiṣṅava" and "śūdra Vaiṣṅava." No. Vaiṣṅava is Vaiṣṅava. There is no more distinction. Just like Ganges water. So many sewage ditches, water coming, mixing, in Calcutta. Everyone knows. But nobody says, "Oh, it is Titagarh Paper Mill's sewage water." No. That is Ganges water. That is Ganges water. Everyone takes bath, without any objection. Everyone is taking water and giving, bringing to the Deity room.

Nobody distinguishes that this, with this water, so many mill water has been mixed up; therefore it is rejected. No. Similarly, when one becomes Vaiṣṅava, never mind from which family's he's came. 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.]

One should not distinguish, "Oh, here is American Vaiṣṅava. Here is a European Vaiṣṅava. How can I eat with them?" This is not... Vaiṣṅava should be respected. Sad vaiṣṅavaḥ śvapaco guru.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms, kibā vipra... Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he came from Muhammadan family. Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him the title nāmācārya, ācārya. He became..., he became the teacher of the science of chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. Nāmācārya. We, every day, we glorify Haridāsa Ṭhākura: nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura ki jaya. Why? Because... If you can say, "Oh, he was born in Muhammadan family..." No. So all Caitanya Mahāprabhu's big assistants... Sanātana Gosvāmī, he, Sanātana, Rūpa Gosvāmī, they were practically Muhammadan, because the brāhmaṅa society rejected them.

They changed their name. Dabira Khāsa, Sākara Mallika. But Caitanya, by association of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they became Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī... Ei chaya gosāi yāra tāra mui dāsa [Nāma-saṅkīrtana 6], Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says. That it is not to be considered, "Oh, these people..." This is the defect. So many people converted to Muslim, and we did not take care. Therefore the whole country is spoiled. Kṛṣṅa says, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ.

So we should take care of everyone. That is the verdict of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, verdict of Kṛṣṅa. Now we are doing that in our Māyāpur. All the Muhammadans and Hindus, they are taking prasādam together. This has become a unique thing. People are very much appreciating. But some of..., some envious persons are there, they are taking otherwise. Why? In Jagannātha Purī, still the regulation is that anyone can come and take together jagannātha-prasādam. It doesn't matter whether he's a baṅghi, camara or brāhmaṅa. They take actually. Prasāda. Prasāda is transcendental, nirguṅa. So prasāda should be taken together. If you have got really sense of prasāda... If we think it is dāl, cāpāṭi, then it is another thing. Otherwise, if you have got the sense of prasāda, then there should be no distinction. It should..., it can be... "Prasādam. I am taking prasādam, which is nirguṅa."

So these are the conclusion. So unless we come to the conclusion of Vaiṣṅava cult, it is very difficult. The Vaiṣṅava cult conclusion should be taken. Otherwise we cannot preach. Without becoming Vaiṣṅava, one cannot become guru. Without becoming guru, how one can preach? These are the formulas. And anxiety-less. When one takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, he must be anxiety-less. Because Kṛṣṅa says, gives assurance, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg 18.66].

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

Then where is anxiety? Kṛṣṅa says, "I take charge of giving you relief from all sinful reaction." Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi. So as soon as, mokṣayiṣya, as soon as you surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa immediately takes charge of you and makes you immune from all sinful reaction. Then where is anxiety?

That is also recommended by Prahlāda Mahārāja: vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta.

tad sādhu manye 'sura-varya dehināṁ sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta [SB 7.5.5]

[Prahlāda Mahārāja replied: O best of the asuras, King of the demons, as far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest [vana]. More clearly, one should go to Vṛndāvana, where only Kṛṣṅa consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]

If we become..., if we want to become anxiety-less, then we have to take shelter of Hari and go to the forest. Prahlāda Mahārāja recommended, vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta. Hitvā ātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam. Gṛha is compared as andha-kūpa, blind well. And ātma-pātam. If one falls down within blind well...

[banging noise in background]

[aside:] Where is this sound? Eh? Down?

Devotees: [indistinct]

Prabhupāda: Hmm? Hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛhaṁ vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta [SB 7.5.5]. Unless we take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, there cannot be any question of anxiety-lessness. No, it is not possible.

[aside:] Go on.

Mādhavānanda: [indistinct]

Prabhupāda: We are risking[?]...? "When one is freed from material anxieties." This is the process. Therefore we have started this Society. People may take advantage of it, and he'll become free from all anxieties. Simply Kṛṣṅa consciousness will make him anxiety-less. Otherwise there is no question. Because anxiety means asad-grahāt. Prahlāda Mahārāja says, sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt [SB 7.5.5]. Those who are materially inclined, asat, sad gamaḥ, asato mā. That is the Vedic injunction. "Don't keep yourself in the asat." Asat means material, "which will not exist." That is called material. Sad-gamaḥ. And sat means which is spiritual.

So, so long one is in asat, asat grahāt, implicated, involved in material things, there is no question of... Therefore viṣaya... Caitanya Mahāprabhu has warned us not to be involved in viṣaya. Viṣaya means material things—money, woman. They are called viṣaya. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us by His practical behavior that... Mahārāja Pratāparudra, he was a great devotee and serving Caitanya Mahāprabhu in every way. But when he wanted to see Him, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He denied: "No, no, no. I cannot see a king. I cannot see."

So His personal devotees, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya, very confidential devotees, they requested, "Sir, he's a great devotee. He serves You in so many ways." "Yes, I know that, but because he's king, I cannot see him. Because he's king, I cannot see him." And in this connection, He's made a verse, Sanskrit verse:

niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya pāraṁ padaṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya viṣayiṅāṁ sandarśanam atha yoṣitāṁ ca hā hanta hā hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṅato 'py asādhu [Cc Madhya 11.8]

He recited this, that if one is trying to make progress in spiritual life just to go on the other side of this bhava, bhava-sāgara, the ocean of material existence, then two things he should avoid: viṣayiṅāṁ sandarśanam atha yoṣitāṁ ca, a person who is attached to money and a person attached to too much sense enjoyment. One should not associate with such person. Viṣa bhakṣaṅad api asādhavaḥ. Such action, for a devotee, is more abominable than drinking poison. It is warned.

So those who are preaching, we have to meet with these viṣayīs, but one... Because when we have to preach, we have to see so many viṣayīs, but we should be very, very careful. We should be very careful. We have to meet also women, sometimes young women, beautiful women. But we must be very, very careful. Otherwise it is very dangerous. These things are... These things create anxieties. Viṣayināṁ sandarśanam. As soon as we become attached to viṣaya and women, then we become anxiety. That is material.

So this line of devotional service, there is direction in the śāstras. Therefore we have made prohibition that no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-, fish-eating, no intoxication. Even the smallest intoxication, that is also dangerous. Just like fire. Even a small particle of fire is dangerous. If you neglect it, "Oh, it is a small particle..." No. You must extinguish it. It may come out very great fire. Cāṅakya Paṅḍita has advised that fire and disease and debt, don't neglect. You must clear.

If you neglect a small fire, it may come out a great fire. If you, if you neglect you have got debt, the money-lender, he's adding compound interest, one after another, one after another; it was three rupees, and after some years it has become three hundred, by compound interest. So you should not neglect. Similarly disease. Disease also, you cannot neglect. If there is... If you think, "Oh, it is little, it doesn't matter..." No. You must finish it by treatment. That is Cāṅakya Paṅḍita's advice.

So everything is there for our knowledge, provided we follow. So there is no difficulty. Therefore our process is mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc Madhya 17.186].

[Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.]

Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām. We cannot manufacture our ways. We must follow the footsteps of predecessors. That is our business. Mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām. By argument, by scholarship or by becoming philosopher, one cannot make any progress, unless he follows the great ācāryas, predecessors, strictly. Otherwise it is not possible.

What is time now?

Devotee: Eight-thirty.

Prabhupāda: All right. Have kīrtana. [end]

Photos from those days in Calcutta1

CT83-1701973 · Calcutta · Yadubara das

The Nectar of Devotion

Referenced verses