Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.2

Prabhupāda:

mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye [SB 5.5.2]

So the first proposal was that this human form of life is not to be wasted like cats and dogs. This is the first proposal by Ṛṣabha. He was advising His sons, "My dear boys, don't waste your this valuable life like cats and dogs and hogs." This was the first proposal. Actually, without Kṛṣṅa consciousness our life is no better than the dogs' and hogs'. That's a fact. That is the beginning of this instruction, nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛ-loke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujaṁ ye [SB 5.5.1].

[Lord Ṛṣabhadeva told His sons: My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever.]

The dogs and hogs, they will toil whole day and night for eating purposes and sense gratification. Why the human society should be like that? So these things can be learned by mahat-sevā. Therefore this Vedic civilization is that first of all send the children for mahat-sevā, brahmacārī. Mahat-sevā, that is the essential part of human life. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet samit-pāṅiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham [Muṅḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12].

[To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth.]

To make this human life successful, to understand the value of life, to understand what I am, one must approach..., go to gurukula. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet. This abhigacchet, this form of verb is used when it is called vidhi-liṅ, must! There is no option. I may go or I may not go. No. One must. That is human life. That is the instruction of Vedic śāstra.

In Prahlāda Mahārāja's teaching also... At childhood he was five-years-old boy, and he was teaching to his class friend, "My dear friend, that kaumāra ācaret prajño dharmān bhāgavatān iha [SB 7.6.1]." He was teaching Kṛṣṅa consciousness as soon as he was getting little opportunity. In the tiffin hour, when the teachers are gone, he would immediately stand up and preach to his friends, "My dear friend, begin Kṛṣṅa consciousness from this point. Although you are very small boys, still we have to begin here," kaumāra ācaret prajño dharmān bhāgavatān iha. "Why so quickly? Let us become old and feeble, when I'll not be able to do anything. Then I'll chant Hare Kṛṣṅa." "No." He says no immediately. Kaumāra ācaret prajño dharmān bhāgavatān, durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma. "You do not know when you shall die. So before the next death comes, complete your Kṛṣṅa consciousness." This is the business. Kaumāra ācaret prajño dharmān bhāgavatān iha [SB 7.6.1].

Where is that education now? This is misleading civilization. They do not know the value of life. They are simply wasting time for sense gratification, that's all. No. This is not. The Bhāgavata-dharma means children should be taught from the very beginning of life. That is Vedic civilization. The children should go... Even Kṛṣṅa, although He's God, He was also sent to gurukula, and He was collecting dry wood from the forest for guru, learning how to serve guru. That guru must be also bona fide. Therefore it is recommended, mahat-sevā. Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. That is the Vedic civilization. One must approach a mahānta. Moho-anta. This whole world is illusion, and one who is above this illusion is called mahānta, one who has ended the illusion. Samit-pāniḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham [Muṅḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12],

[To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth.]

one should approach a guru who is brahma-niṣṭham. Brahma-niṣṭham means fully fixed up in Brahman understanding. Because life is meant for brahma-jijñāsā. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. This life, this human form of life, is meant for inquiring about Brahman, not for anything else. Anything else—"Where is food?" "Where is shelter?" "Where is sex?" and "Where is defense?"—this is animal life. Above this, when we are in human life, our main business is brahma-jijñāsā. Not that "Where is food?" "Where is shelter?" "Where is sex?" and "Where is defense?" This is animal propensities, animal inquiries.

So I'm repeatedly saying the same thing—that Indian civilization is different from others. We should stick to our own culture. That is the prerogative that I am repeatedly speaking, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's message:

bhārata-bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra [Cc Ādi 9.41]

[One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.]

Anyone who has taken birth in this holy land of Bhārata-varṣa, he has got special advantage. He has got special advantage in this, that he can learn all this Vedic literature, mahat-sevā. Then he makes his life perfect. He understands what is his life, what is the value of this life, why he's suffering, how to mitigate it. This is, these things are required, and when one is well versed and practiced by example, then let him preach all over the world, para-upakāra. Because they do not know it. Actually that is happening. By one man's endeavor all these foreigners, they're getting real life of Kṛṣṅa consciousness. They have sacrificed everything practically. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66]. This is required. That is human life. Otherwise, if we simply work very hard just like the stool-eater hogs, "Where is food? Where is food? Where is sex? Where is..." This is... Therefore this particular name has been mentioned here, viḍ-bhujām. Viḍ-bhujām. It is very peculiar.

Nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛ-loke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye [SB 5.5.1]. This is the business of the stool-eater hogs. Śāstra sometimes uses very strong language. That is required. Just like if you want to train your children, sometimes you have to slap, you have to chastise for his benefit. That is the... Therefore this very word is used, viḍ-bhujāṁ ye. These kind of engagements are there among the hogs and dogs. Are you hogs and dogs or human being? Your engagement is brahma-jijñāsā, athāto brahma jijñāsā: inquire about Brahman. Learn about Brahman. Learn about yourself, that you are not this material body. If you are still thinking that you are this material body—you are Indian, you are American, you are brāhmaṅa, you are śūdra, you are white, you are black—then you are in the dog's consciousness, not Kṛṣṅa consciousness. That is to be learned.

So long we are in the bodily concept... That is going on all over the world. If we say, people may not be happy... Now India, in your city it is going on, Andhra conference. How long you shall remain Andhra? You may remain Andhra for say twenty years or fifty years, utmost hundred years. Then what you are going? Andhra or something else? Where is the account for that? Because Kṛṣṅa says, the Supreme authority, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ [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.]

So if you perpetually remain as Andhra, that is very good. But that is not allowed, sir. You'll be kicked out of your, this Andhra concept of life by nature's law. Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham [Bg 10.34], Kṛṣṅa says.

[I am all-devouring death, and I am the generator of all things yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, faithfulness and patience.]

"When death will come, 'O my dear death, you cannot touch me. I am Andhra,' 'I am Indian,' 'I am American.' " No. "No, sir. Get out!" So where is that knowledge? Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṅape tri-dhātuke sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma-ijya-dhīḥ, sa eva go-kharaḥ [SB 10.84.13].

[One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worshipable, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth—such a person is no better than a cow or an ass.]

This kind of civilization is the civilization of the cows and asses, go-kharaḥ. Go means cow, and kharaḥ means ass. So we must understand what we are. Kṛṣṅa... Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught this. He said, "I am not brāhmaṅa. I am not kṣatriya. I am not vaiśya. I am not śūdra. I am not brahmacārī. I am not sannyāsī." "Not, not," neti, neti. "Then what You are?" Gopī-bhartuḥ pāda-kamalayor dāsa-dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ [Cc Madhya 13.80].

[I am not a brāhmaṅa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’]

This is self-realization. When we shall deny all this designation and we shall realize that I'm part and parcel of Kṛṣṅa, that is self-realization. And so long we identify with this body and mind and do not know what I am, that is go-kharaḥ civilization, cows and asses civilization.

So especially in India we should be very careful not to follow the go-kharaḥ civilization. We must follow real civilization, Brahman civilization. This is the land of brahma-jñāna. This is the land of brāhmaṅas, brahma jānātīti brāhmaṅaḥ. We are losing that. Be careful. It is that we offer our respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that,

namo brahmanya-devāya go-brāhmaṅa-hitāya ca jagad-hitāya kṛṣṅāya govindāya namo namaḥ

God's first business is go-brāhmaṅa hitāya ca, brahmanya devāya. Kṛṣṅa is very, very eager to maintain the brahminical culture in the human society, brahma jānāti, understanding of Brahman and go-brāhmaṅa-hitāya ca, go, cows, cow protection. Where is that civilization? Where is that brahminical culture? Where is that go-rakṣa? Very precarious condition. Therefore we should accept the standard of civilization. This is recommended here, mahat-sevāṁ dvāram ahur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. If you want to become disentangled, or free from this entanglement, conditioned soul, one after another... We are forced. Our [indistinct] was saying about the change of body. The change of body is forced. You are young man. You cannot say, "I'll not accept old man's body." "No, sir. You have to accept." Forced. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṅāni guṅaiḥ karmāṅi sarvaśaḥ [Bg 3.27].

[The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.]

You cannot say, "I will not accept this." Kṛṣṅa says, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ [Bg 2.13].

As you are forced to accept this body, old-age body—nobody wants to become old—similarly another body, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ. These things are there. We are being forced by the laws of nature. Where is our independence? They're declaring resolution: "Now we are independent. Ah. Finished." Where is your independence? You are kicked out by the laws of nature. Daivī hy eṣā guṅa-mayī 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 are not free. You are under supreme control. Nature, they will accept nature's control, but not God's control. But the foolish person does not know that nature is also controlled by God. This you will have to learn from Vedic literature.

Nature is described in the Brahma-saṁhitā: sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā [Bs 5.44].

[The external potency Māyā who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durgā, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durgā conducts herself.]

Goddess Durga is accepted as the material energy, or material prakṛti. So she's so powerful. Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā, icchanurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā [Bs 5.44]. Sā-Durga is not independent. Icchānurūpam api yasya, under who's direction she is working? Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. "I am worshiping that Govinda, the ādi-puruṣa, the Supreme Person, ādyaṁ purāṅa-puruṣam nava-yauvanaṁ ca [Bs 5.33]."

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal puruṣa; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth.]

These are the information we get from the śāstra. Ādyam, He is the original person. Ādyaṁ purāṅa puruṣam, the oldest person. Nava-yauvanaṁ ca, and at the same time always fresh youth.

So how we shall learn all these things? Mahat-sevā. Go to mahat, mahānta, the guru. Serve him. Tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā [Bg 4.34].

[Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.]

You cannot challenge like a nonsense. You have to engage yourself to the service. That is the beginning. Brahmacārī is indicated, "Go to gurukula." And you may be a king's son or a very learned brāhmaṅa's son, it doesn't matter. You serve your guru just like a menial servant. This is the instruction. This is the first education. Go to gurukula and serve the mahat guru, the broad-minded guru, just like a menial servant. What is that? Now you go collect everything for guru, alms, and do not claim proprietorship. It is guru's property. Whatever you collect, that is not your property. That is guru's property. And go to gurukula, and when guru will ask you, "My dear boy, please come and take your prasādam," then you will take. If guru forgets to call you, you should fast. This is gurukula. Not that "I am hungry. There is foodstuff. Let me eat." No. Without permission of guru you cannot touch anything. This is the injunction.

Now how... Strenuous training was there to live in gurukula and sacrifice the whole life for guru's instruction. This is Vedic culture, brahmacārī, and live at the place of guru just like a menial servant. Where is that education? Why you'll not expect these upstarts, Naxalites? Where is that training? Of course, it is very difficult to bring back that mode of civilization at the present moment. Kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām: we have lost everything by the influence of this Kali-yuga. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised that you harer nāma, harer nāma, harer nāma eva kevalam [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.]

chant the name of Hari. Harer nāma, thrice He's stressing. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalaṁ kalau, in this Age of Kali, nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. This is simple method. Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṅa, harer nāma. Not other's name. Harer nāma. There people also diverting their attention, "Any name will do." No. Not any name. Harer nāma. 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.]

You have to hear and chant about Kṛṣṅa, not any other demigod. No. It is particularly mentioned, śravaṅaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṅoḥ smaraṅaṁ pāda-sevanam. This is wanted. Very simple thing. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has... It is from the śāstra, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṅa, Agni-Purāṅa. A saintly person, mahānta, will not speak anything which is not mentioned in the śāstra. If somebody manufactures, he's a devil. Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhāgavata, yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ, na siddhiṁ sa avāpnoti [Bg 16.23].

[But he who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.]

Anyone who goes against the śāstra and manufactures his own concoction, for him there is no siddhi: na siddhiṁ sa avāpnoti. Na sukham, neither any happiness. And what to speak of parāṁ gatim?

So we should give up all these things. The all, the essence of all śāstra is Bhagavad-gītā. All the [indistinct Sanskrit], Garbha Upaniṣad. All the Upaniṣad, Vedic śāstra, is spoken in a very short, cream[?], Bhagavad-gītā, and the Supreme Personality speaking Himself. So we should take it very seriously. Unfortunately, although Bhagavad-gītā is spoken in India, and there are many so-called students of Bhagavad-gītā, but they're interpreting in their own way, misleading people. Don't be misled in that way. Take Bhagavad-gītā as it is; then it will automatically act. The medicine, as directed by the physician, you should take. You should not manufacture your own way of doses. Suppose physician says that "You take five drops of this medicine, mix with water and take it." You have to follow that. If you say, "No, let me be cured immediately. Let me take hundred drops" or "one drop." No. That will not help you. Similarly, you should read Bhagavad-gītā as it is prescribed by the physician, Kṛṣṅa. Then you will benefit.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Kṛṣṅa says personally that imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam [Bg 4.1].

[The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvān, and Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.]

This yoga system is avyaya, eternal. Kṛṣṅa is eternal, and Kṛṣṅa's words are eternal, and you are also eternal. This is our position. Kṛṣṅa is eternal, and we are part and parcel of Kṛṣṅa. Therefore we are eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [Bg 2.20], Kṛṣṅa says. Na jāyate na mriyate va kadācit: you are never born, never die. Kṛṣṅa also, nityo nityānām. We are all nityas, eternal, but He's the supreme nitya, nityo nityānām. We are plural nitya; He is singular nitya. So what is the difference between this plural and singular? The singular maintains all these plural, eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13]. He is the maintainer and we are maintained.

So everything is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā, and that is the essence of all Vedic literature. Our propaganda is that you read Bhagavad-gītā, try to understand Bhagavad-gītā as it is, without any foolish commentary. As soon as you comment, that is foolishness. Don't do it. Read as it is. Then you'll get the enlightenment and you'll understand Kṛṣṅa, because Kṛṣṅa is teaching to make you understand what is God, what is Kṛṣṅa. Why should we deviate? Therefore Kṛṣṅa says, "Learn Bhagavad-gītā, the same instruction, mahat-sevā." Sevā. Kṛṣṅa says, tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā [Bg 4.34].

Unless you are prepared to render service to your spiritual master... First of all you must find out the proper spiritual master. Then you must engage yourself to his service. Then you can question. Otherwise don't waste your time and your spiritual master's time. Tad viddhi, you must know.

The first thing is praṅipātena, praṅipātena, prakṛṣṭa rūpeṅa nipāt, fully surrendered. Just like these boys, they have learned. They will see their spiritual master hundred time, and hundred times they'll fall flat and offer respect. This is called praṅipāta. Hundred times. Not that I finished my praṅipāta in the morning as an etiquette now. No. These boys are so good. They have learned that they'll meet me hundred times and they'll fall flat hundred times. This is called praṅipāta. This is the injunction. Tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā [Bg 4.34]. That is the Vedic injunction.

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ [Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23]

[Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed.]

This... The meaning of the Vedic literature is revealed. It is not by your mundane scholarship you can understand. That is not possible. Tasya ete kathitā arthāḥ prakāśante. It becomes revealed. To whom? Yasya deve parā bhaktir: one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yathā deve tathā gurau, similar faith in guru. For them the meaning of this Vedic literature becomes revealed. It is not by mundane scholarship: "I think it is like that." Who are you? You are thinking like that? No. That is not the process. Tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā. Two things must be there. First of all praṅipāta, and the other side, sevā, and the middle, paripraśna.

tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ [Bg 4.34]

Who is jñānī? Who has seen the truth. Not that supposing, "I supposedly like this." No. Whether you have seen. That is required.

tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ [Bg 4.34]

Arjuna also made like that. In the beginning Arjuna was talking with Kṛṣṅa on equal level like friends, but later on he said, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam [Bg 2.7].

[Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.]

Prapannam, this praṅipāta, "I am surrendering to You." So find out guru. Who is guru? Guru means who's coming from the paramparā system. Just like Kṛṣṅa says, evaṁ paramparā prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg 4.2].

[This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.]

Rajarṣaya: big, big, learned saintly kings. That means government. Now we are taking, accepting king by democracy, anyone by votes. No. Rājarṣaya. One must be governor, he must be as good as a ṛṣi, saintly person. Rājarṣaya. They must understand the purport of Bhagavad-gītā, the aim of life. Then they will educate, the governor will educate the citizens how to make life successful. But if he does not understand what is the success of life, how he will govern? But it is going on. But Bhagavad-gītā says, imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ. The Bhagavad-gītā is meant for the rājarṣis, saintly kings, saintly governor. Because he has to govern, he must know how to govern: what is the aim of life, how they can be elevated.

Just like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, because he was a good governor, good king, so during his time it is said that kāmaṁ parjanya vavarṣa. There is word I am just forgetting, that all the necessities of life were supplied through rain. Kāmaṁ vavarṣa parjanyaḥ sarva-kāma-dugha-mahī [SB 1.10.4]: that we derive all necessities of life through the earth. Sarva-kāma-dugha-mahī. So if the king is pious, then the earth will give you production enough for your satisfaction. Now I've seen in your country so much land is lying vacant. Why it is not being produced? Because you do not know how to derive all benefits from earth. That you do not know. Therefore people are in scarcity. There is no question of scarcity. Kṛṣṅa has given everything. Pūrṅam idaṁ pūrṅam adaḥ pūrṅāt pūrṅam... [Īśopaniṣad, Invocation]. There cannot be anything imperfect which is created by God. Everything is perfect. But if we become godless, the supply will be crippled. That is the secret we do not know. These things we have to learn from śāstra. As soon as people will become demonic, nature will restrict supply: "Now you become demonic. That's all right."

So this is going on. Therefore it is recommended, mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes, if you want to become free from all anxieties. First of all this material world means anxiety. We are put... We are part and parcel of Kṛṣṅa. Why we are sent to this material world? Icchā-dveṣa sammutthena, sarge yānti parantapa [Bg 7.27], because we wanted to enjoy life independent of God, or Kṛṣṅa. This is the disease. We are not independent. If there is no rain and there is no food grains, what your independence will do? No. Therefore Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, annād bhavanti bhūtāni [Bg 3.14],

[All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rain. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.]

very practical, that if you want to be happy, either animal or man, bhūtāni, then you produce anna, food grains, sumptuously. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ. And there must be sufficient rain for producing sufficient food grains. Yajñād bhavanti parjanyaḥ, and you perform yajña, there will be regular rainfall. Yajñaḥ-karma samudbhavam. Who is following this principle? Yajñaḥ-karma samudbhavam. Kṛṣṅa never says that factories, by factories bhavanti bhūtāni. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni, He says this is practical. We are not interested how to produce anna. We are now interested how to produce tire tubes. So eat tire tube.

So this is going on. Take Kṛṣṅa's instruction as it is, you'll be happy. This is Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. It is not a bogus thing; it is very scientific, authorized. Take it very seriously, especially those who are born Indians. They've got the advantage. Don't be misled.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupāda. [break]

Prabhupāda: So, any questions?

Acyutānanda: If there are any questions, kindly print them on a piece of paper very clearly... [indistinct] and put any questions this time. Print very clearly. [pause] [reading question] "Is there any result to chanting Kṛṣṅa's name mechanically, or must it be uttered with complete devotion? If it is the later, how is Ajāmila..., and how did he get mokṣa?"

Prabhupāda: Yes. The chanting of Kṛṣṅa's name is exactly, immediately associating with Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is absolute. Kṛṣṅa... Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṅa-nāmādi [Cc Madhya 17.136].

[Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṅa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṅa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṅa really is.]

Nāmādi means name, then form, then quality, then entourage, so many things. Kṛṣṅa is not alone. So they're all absolute. Kṛṣṅa and Kṛṣṅa's name is not different. Identical. So when we chant Kṛṣṅa's name it means that we are directly associating with Kṛṣṅa. This is a fact. So as you, if you become nearer to or touch fire, then you will get the resultant action. So if you chant Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, that means immediately you are in touch with Kṛṣṅa. And the result will begin immediately.

That is explained by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that 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.]

This is the process of cleansing the mirror of the heart. Mirror, when it isBy chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, you will cleanse your dirty heart, because that is the beginning of our suffering: misunderstanding. So there are other references in the śāstra. Just like:

śṛṅvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṅa puṅya-śravaṅa-kīrtanaḥ hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṅi vidhunoti suhṛt satām [SB 1.2.17]

[Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.]

Kṛṣṅa is sitting within your heart, īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna 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.]

Kṛṣṅa is with you, but you do not know. But as soon as you try to chant and hear, hear Kṛṣṅa's name, then immediately the cleansing of your heart begins, ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanam. Then bhava mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpanam, as soon as your heart is cleansed... Heart is cleansed means you understand that you are not this material body. That is cleansing of heart. Everything is going on on this misunderstanding that "I am this body"—"I am Indian," "I am American," "I am this," "I am that." This is the grossest type of misunderstanding. So that becomes clear. Then you stand on your own position, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati [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.]

There are so many things we'll gradually follow. Therefore if we chant Kṛṣṅa's name without any offense... There are ten kinds of offenses, but in the beginning, even there is offense, you go on chanting and gradually, as your heart will be cleansed... That is explained by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

ceto-darpaṅa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpanaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṅaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṅāmṛtāsvādanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṅa-saṅkīrtanam [Cc Antya 20.12]

This is the process of cleansing the mirror of the heart. Mirror, when it isSo if you follow the instruction and if we chant, even though we do not understand in the beginning what is the effect of chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, but it will show its effect if you go on chanting. Just like I began this movement in America. I did not ask them anything; I simply invited them, "Please come and chant with me." And just see the result. It is practical. I never bribed them, nor I showed any magic. I simply asked them, "Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa." And see the result. It is practical.

Acyutānanda: Another question: "Why is oṁ not figured in your [indistinct]? All should come to the banner of oṁ instead of praying to so many gods. By doing so there would be unity throughout the land."

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṅa says, praṅavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu: "I am the oṁkāra in all Vedic mantras." Oṁ tad viṣṅoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti. Oṁkāra is as good. That is also Kṛṣṅa. So either you chant oṁkāra or Kṛṣṅa, there is no difference. But in the śāstras it is recommended that you chant Hare Kṛṣṅa, not oṁkāra. So you have to accept śāstra. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu practically demonstrated. He was chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa-varṅam, kṛṣṅaṁ varṅayati, Hare Kṛṣṅa. So we have to follow the śāstra and the great saintly person. Otherwise there is no difference between oṁkāra and Kṛṣṅa. But because śāstra recommends harer nāma harer nāma [Cc Ādi 17.21], we have to accept it.

[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.]

Mahāṁsa: There is a question here: "Please give brief resume of Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta's life." I would just like to make a note that we have printed our recent Hare Kṛṣṅa Explosion fortnightly. It is available at the stall, bookstall near here. This issue has been dedicated to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda, how he started this International Society for Krishna Consciousness and other achievements, books of Śrīla Prabhupāda. So if you would like to know, you can take one of these issues.

Acyutānanda: Any question? [reading] "According to your observation, godlessness is responsible for scarcity. Then what about Communist countries compared with India?"

Prabhupāda: What is that?

Viṣṅujana: "If godlessness is the cause of scarcity, why the Communist countries are so affluent?"

Prabhupāda: They are asking food from America. [laughter]

Acyutānanda: "Why is Kṛṣṅa consciousness not spread in China, Russia, Pakistan and Bangladesh?" [laughter]

Prabhupāda: You come forward. I shall train you.

Acyutānanda: "Does Śrīla Prabhupāda agree with the work of Ramakrishna Mission, Maharishi, meditation, and Divine Light Mission now working in America?"

Prabhupāda: What is that?

Pañcadraviḍa: Do you agree with the work of the Ramakrishna Mission, Mahesh Yogi, and Divine Light Society that are working in America?

Prabhupāda: I do not study them. I simply study Bhagavad-gītā, that's all. And Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66]. I believe that. That's all.

Acyutānanda: "What is meant by absolute surrender? How are we to satisfy ourselves, having done so?"

Prabhupāda: Absolute surrender means anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11]. I am surrendering to Kṛṣṅa to get this benefit—that is conditional surrender. I surrender to Kṛṣṅa without any motive—that is absolute.

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy anāvṛtam ānukūlyena kṛṣṅānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā [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.]

No motive. That is required. If I think that I shall get some benefit—that is business; that is not bhakti. That is taught by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu māṁ marma-hatāṁ karoty vā adarśanān yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṅa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ [Cc Antya 20.47]

[Let Kṛṣṅa tightly embrace this maidservant who has fallen at His lotus feet, or let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but still He alone, and no one else, is the worshipable Lord of My heart.]

"You can treat me like anything. You can make me brokenhearted by Your absence. Still You are my Lord." That is unconditional surrender.

Acyutānanda: "When I visited the Hare Kṛṣṅa center I thought that God had no form. In such case why should we garnish the idol of Kṛṣṅa with jewelry and adore the idol?"

Prabhupāda: Hmm? What is that?

Pañcadraviḍa: Why should we adore the idol if God has no form?

Prabhupāda: Who says God has no form? God is the supreme father. You know your father has form. What the supreme father has done that He'll not have form? Your father has got form. You're born of him. Then why the supreme father will not have form? What fault He has done? What is this logic? God is supposed to..., the supreme father. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. That is the Vedic information. The Supreme is that which is the source of everything. So we have got varieties of forms, and why the source should be formless? Why? What is the logic? We have got so many forms—8,400,000—and Kṛṣṅa says, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā [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.]

"Of all these forms of life, I am the seed-giving father." The seed-giving father, Kṛṣṅa, has form, and His sons have got form. Why the father should be formless? What is this logic? Eh? What is this logic—can anyone say?—that because He's father, therefore He should be formless. What is this logic? The father must have form. Otherwise how many form... All these forms, wherefrom it is coming? Kṛṣṅa says, ahaṁ bīja pradaḥ pitā. He is the father. If the sons have form, why the father will not have form? What is this logic?

This is not logical conclusion. The real idea is... Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā that "My dear Arjuna, you, Me and all these kings and soldiers who have assembled here, they were in the past like this," that means they had forms, "and they're existing like this. And they'll continue to exist." Where is formless? You see, refer to Bhagavad-gītā. He says in the past all of them existed like this, and we're existing now like this, past, present, and in the future they'll continue. So where is formlessness? There is no question of formlessness. Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13].

[The Supreme Lord is eternal and the living beings are eternal. The Supreme Lord is cognizant and the living beings are cognizant. The difference is that the Supreme Lord is supplying all the necessities of life for the many other living entities.]

When there is such question, formlessness means that is not material form. But there is form. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṅaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ [Bs 5.1].

[Kṛṣṅa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.]

Vigraha means form. But that is sat-cid-ānanda: eternal, full of bliss and full of knowledge. This is not this form. Therefore Kṛṣṅa says, avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritaḥ, paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto [Bg 9.11]:

[Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be.]

"These rascals, they do not know what I am. Therefore he's thinking that My form and his form is the same." Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā. Unless one is mūḍha, he cannot say that God is formless. God has form. But His form is different from our form, this material form. Sat-cit-ānanda-vigraha. So therefore we have to learn all these things by mahat-sevā dvāraṁ vimukteḥ. We can get out of all this ignorance when we are engaged in mahat-sevā. Otherwise, we shall remain in the darkness. Kṛṣṅa has form, but His form is different from our this material form. That is to be understood.

Acyutānanda: "Is showing miracles to the people by some svāmīs the way to bring them back to spiritual life or not?"

Viṣṅujana: Is showing miracles like some svāmīs do the way to bring people back to spiritual life?

Prabhupāda: Why should I show miracles? What is the business? I have to speak the truth, that's all. What is the use of miracle? When you go to college or school, we want to see miracles, or you learn books and knowledge? Kṛṣṅa never said that you go to a guru who can perform miracles. He never said that. He said,

tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ [Bg 4.34]

Go to a jñānī, and who has known the truth, not to a jugglers, magician. Science is not magic. Science is knowledge. That is the Vedic injunction. Tad vijñānārtham: in order to understand that science, not to see jugglery and magic. The jugglery and magic is here present: all these meat-eaters, drunkards, woman-hunters, now Vaiṣṅava. This is real magic. If you have got eyes to see, see the magic. If you are blind, then that is different question. This is magic.

Acyutānanda: Question: "I believe in Kṛṣṅa, but please clarify the following doubts. Lord Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so when Kṛṣṅa is the only God in the world, the creator of the whole universe, then why the existence of Jesus Christ and Allah? Why should not only one God for all? Why Christians and Muslims are not accepting the Kṛṣṅa conscious..., Kṛṣṅa as God?"

Prabhupāda: They are accepting God, but they did not disclose the name of God, because the people are unable to understand. Kṛṣṅa means "the all-attractive." That is the meaning of Kṛṣṅa. So unless God is all-attractive, how He can be God? Kṛṣṅa means all-attractive.

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ [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.]

When one understands Kṛṣṅa... To understand Kṛṣṅa, it takes little time. 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.]

So Kṛṣṅa revealed Himself in India before Arjuna, and what the others will understand about Kṛṣṅa unless he's advanced like Arjuna? So there are different persons, so different types of religion they have revealed. That is also Kṛṣṅa—but to some extent. The full extent they cannot understand. Just like Lord Jesus Christ says, "Thou shall not kill." Just imagine what the audience were. They are killers, so what they will understand about Kṛṣṅa? Let them first stop this killing. Then the stage will come he'll understand what is Kṛṣṅa.

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṅya-karmaṅām te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ [Bg 7.28]

[Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.]

One who is sinful, the first instruction should be, "You stop your sinful activities." Then the opportunity will come to understand Kṛṣṅa. That is stated in the... Yeṣāṁ tu anta-gataṁ pāpam. One who is sinful, what he will understand about Kṛṣṅa? First of all, stop sinful activities. Then this stage will come, he'll understand Kṛṣṅa. Therefore Jesus Christ said, "You nonsense, stop killing." Then there will be time we'll understand one day Kṛṣṅa. So the first instruction is to stop sinful activities; then he'll be qualified.

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṅya-karmaṅām te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ [Bg 7.28]

So everything by step by step, not by jump. That is not possible.

Acyutānanda: "It is said, mānava-sevā is mādhava-sevā. Then why doesn't your mission serve man as in the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṅa instead of chanting the name?"

Viṣṅujana: Why don't we serve man instead of chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa?

Prabhupāda: We are not going to follow your instruction. We have to follow the instruction of the śāstra. You cannot say that "Why you are..." Are we not serving the man? We are trying to give you the knowledge of Kṛṣṅa. Is it not serving the man? The better service—to give knowledge. If a man is hungry, he can give some food. That will give him some temporary benefit. But if you give him knowledge how to earn his livelihood, that is better gift. So people are suffering for want of knowledge. So this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is giving knowledge to the whole world. Not only that, we are giving prasādam also, hundreds and thousands of people. We are not that simply we are giving knowledge, but we are giving, we are inviting everyone, "Come, live with us peacefully. Take Kṛṣṅa prasādam and be Kṛṣṅa conscious." This is our movement. That's all?

Acyutānanda: One more.

Prabhupāda: One more?

Acyutānanda: "What are the ways and means for controlling temptations and conquering desires?"

Prabhupāda: Mm?

Pañcadraviḍa: What is the way for controlling our desires?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42],

[Devotion, direct experience of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from other things—these three occur simultaneously for one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the same way that pleasure, nourishment and relief from hunger come simultaneously and increasingly, with each bite, for a person engaged in eating.]

paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate [Bg 2.59].

[The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.]

You have to give better engagement, then they will give up this inferior engagement. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate means if you get better engagement, then you can give up inferior engagement. You must have some engagement. Without engagements he will become mad. So our Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is to give better engagement. So when he's engaged in better type of activities, he forgets all this inferior acti... That is explained, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42]: as soon as one become devotees, he naturally becomes reluctant. Just like these American and European boys and girls, they are little advanced in Kṛṣṅa consciousness; they have immediately given up all these inferior engagements of drinking and illicit sex and meat-eating. They have given up. This is the way. You give them better engagement and they'll give up this inferior engagement. That is the pushing of Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa.

Devotees: Haribol. Jaya Prabhupāda! [end]