Morning Walk
Prabhupāda: Never mind he's very nicely dressed. But because he is not surrendered soul to Kṛṣṅa, he is a miscreant. That's all. Beware of him.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Can anyone be said to be innocent in this world?
Prabhupāda: There are three classes: one devotee, one innocent and one envious. So we have nothing to do with the envious. With devotee, we shall make friendship, and to the innocent, we shall preach.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: But the innocent souls, they're not surrendered to Kṛṣṅa?
Prabhupāda: He'll surrender. You teach him. Because he's innocent, he does not know. But you preach, he will become. That is our duty.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: So persons who we preach to and give the message of Kṛṣṅa consciousness to...
Prabhupāda: Then let... If anyone hears very attentively, that means he's innocent. He should be given attention. And one who says, "Why Kṛṣṅa Bhagavān? Ramakrishna Bhagavān." Oh, that's rascal, immediately. Take him, rascal. That's all. Finished. Created God. Huh? This Ramakrishna Mission has created God. God cannot be created. God is God always. This is anthropomorphism. Is it not?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Right. Yes.
Prabhupāda: Zoomorphism.
Gurukṛpā: These people that say that they are God, they should be taken to court and thrown in jail for misrepresentation.
Prabhupāda: No, that is by... There are some. But first of all, if somebody creates God, then he should be challenged, that "Where is your..., what is your definition of God? If you were created God, corroborate with the definition. Then we accept." This is very logical. We can ask anybody, "What is your definition of God? What do you mean by God?" Then he has to explain. This is the point.
Gurukṛpā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, once you told a man, "What is your definition of God?" And he could not answer. And you answered him that "God means the Supreme Being." And you said, "You are saying you are God, but you don't even know the definition of God. So how you are God?"
Prabhupāda: Yes. If you do not know what is God, how can you say that "Here is God"? You cannot say. [break] One who is after God, he'll accept our philosophy. But the..., those who are rogues, who want to banish God or kill God, they'll not accept. So we have to avoid such persons.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Persons who are too much sinful...
Prabhupāda: Huh? Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: ...they can't give up their sinful activities even after hearing about Kṛṣṅa, are they in the envious class or the innocent class?
Prabhupāda: They're envious. Sinful means that is the cause of their becoming envious. [break] ...law. Religion means the order of God. Simple definition. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṅītam [SB 6.3.19].
[Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great ṛṣis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyādharas and Cāraṅas.]
Just like law, we keep to the right or left, order of the government. One who obeys this law, he's good citizen. One who disobeys, he's rascal. Similarly, dharma means the order of God. So one who obeys the order of God, he is really religious. One who does not, he's rogue, duṣkṛtina. This is simple. [break] ...Christian. Now, what is the order of God? The Ten Commandments. If one abides by the Ten Commandments, he's really Christian. Take Buddhism. If he abides by the order of Lord Buddha, then he's right. Take Muhammadans even. So it may be one is Muhammadan, one is Christian, or one is Buddhist, one is Hindu, but if he abides by the order of God, then he's religious. Otherwise bogus. We are concerned Vedic religion. Our conclusion is that to approach Lord Viṣṅu. Oṁ tad viṣṅoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ [Ṛg Veda 1.22.20].
[The lotus feet of Lord Viṣṅu are the supreme objective of all the demigods. These lotus feet of the Lord are as enlightening as the sun in the sky.]
This is Vedic, Ṛg-mantra. Or Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya [Bg 18.66]. If one abides by this, then he's religious, or really religious. If he does not obey, then where is the religion? There is no religion. The instruction is here. One has to understand the philosophy from Bhagavad-gītā rightly and appreciate himself and preach. This is wanted.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Sometimes we hear that, from different religions, one should have faith in God. One should have faith in God.
Prabhupāda: Unless one has faith, how he'll surrender?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: But we see that persons, they speak of having faith without actually following the instruction of God.
Prabhupāda: That means he's rascal. What is the meaning of faith? If you don't surrender, where is the meaning of faith? He's a rascal. When the surrender comes? When I have got full faith—"Oh, Kṛṣṅa is God. He's saying surrender. All right, let me surrender"—that is faith. "Yes, I have faith, but I don't surrender," what is this nonsense?
Gurukṛpā: "But we have weaknesses. Temptation is very strong."
Prabhupāda: That is another. You strongly pray to Kṛṣṅa. Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te [Bg 7.4].
[Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.]
Then it will be possible. And if you have got less faith, then it will..., you'll have to suffer. You'll have to suffer.
Upendra: We sometimes see that those who have faith in their religious process, but because in their...
Prabhupāda: But that is not faith; that is rascaldom. If you have faith, you must abide by the religious process. If you don't follow, that means you have no faith.
Upendra: But sometimes we meet a rare soul who does follow, but because there's no mention of Kṛṣṅa in his scripture...
Prabhupāda: No, it is not the question of Kṛṣṅa religion. If he believes in God and the God's word is religion, so he must follow the God's law. It doesn't matter. Kṛṣṅa is another name of God. But God is the same—one—either you call Kṛṣṅa or Govinda or this or that. Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktiḥ [Śikṣāṣṭaka 2]. First of all, one must be faithful to God. That you may call God or Allah, it doesn't matter. But you must know what is God and what is faith to God, what is definition of God, what do you mean by "understand God." These things are required.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: So that must become the practice of...
Prabhupāda: Practice is no question. We have to talk with science. Practice... You have practiced something which is against religion. That should not be taken.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: It's become the fashion of world...
Prabhupāda: Fashion? Your fashion, kick on the face! No fashion. [devotees laugh] It is a science. It is not the question of fashion, a false faith, belief. These are all rascals. Science is science. "Two plus two equal to four." That's all. There is no question of "I have no faith in this. I say 'five.' " That will not be accepted. Two plus two equal to four. It is neither five nor three. If that truth is there, then there is faith. "God is this, and sometimes God is this"—that is no understanding of God. You must have clear understanding of God.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: What is the quality of a person who is actually faithful?
Prabhupāda: He'll accept immediately Bhagavad-gītā if he's really follower of God. Because there is nothing extraordinary in the Bhagavad-gītā. It is the words actually for God to speak. You may call "Kṛṣṅa" or otherwise, but... Just like sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam [Bg 18.66]. This can be said by God only. Otherwise who can say that "You give up everything; surrender unto Me"? It can be said by God only. Either you talk of Hindu or Muslim, but ask one that "If God says, 'You surrender unto...,' will you refuse?" Let him become Muslim or Christian. So nobody can refuse the order of God. That is faithfulness.
Gurukṛpā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, why are there so many pseudo religions, then?
Prabhupāda: There is no religion. This is the only religion.
Gurukṛpā: Then why do they mingle at all? Why do they even get involved?
Prabhupāda: Therefore we say that one who has no faith in God, he's a rascal, miscreant.
Gurukṛpā: But they pretend.
Prabhupāda: Pretend? Kick them! Why you should accept pretension? Then you are a fool also. You say "pretend," and still, you have to talk about them. That means you are also faithless. Why should you talk about the pretension? Pretension is pretension. That is faithlessness. Sometimes they pretend honest, but he's a thief. What is this philosophy? Thief is thief. That's all. [break] ...following higher [indistinct]. That is Bhagavad-gītā. The words which is spoken in the Bhagavad-gītā, that can be spoken only by God. Nobody else can speak like that. Who can say? Who has the right to say that "You surrender unto Me"? Nobody has right. Only God can say. That is God. [break]
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Enviousness is caused by sense gratification.
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Enviousness is caused by sense gratification.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: And in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Seventh Canto, in one verse you mention that enviousness can be given up if one gives up the tendency to sense gratification.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: So we see sometimes that the Māyāvādīs, they have perhaps given up the affairs of this world, but still, they remain envious, inimical towards Kṛṣṅa.
Prabhupāda: Then?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: So, how...
Prabhupāda: What he has given up? [laughter] What he has given up? You say he has given up; what he has given up? "I have given up everything, but I remain proprietor." What is this, given up? There is not..., no "given up." The contradiction's there. One who has given up, what he has given up? He has not given up his personality. Then what he has given up? In Bengali it says that rasamba sataya chaibe tyāga,[?] that "In the room, whatever is there, it is yours. But I lock it, I keep the key." [laughter] [Bengali with guest] "I have given up." What you have given up? You have kept the keys. So we have to accept that he's given up? This is another foolishness. [break] So the first question will be, "You rascal, what you have got in your possession that you are giving up? If you have something, then you can give up. What you have got, first of all tell me. You haven't got anything. Even this body is not yours. As soon as God will kick you, you have to go out. Then what is yours? You say 'I have given up.' What you can give up? Nothing is yours." That is rascaldom: "I have given up everything; I kept the key." From here, for a few days we are walking. And while going, if I say, "Now this land I give you," where your land? Where you possess this land? This is like that. What you can give up? What is yours? You have nothing. This is nonsense: "I have given up." First of all, prove what you have got. If you haven't got anything, then what is to give up? This is all nonsense. Īśāvāsyam idam sarvam [Īśo mantra 1].
[Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.]
Everything God's property. So there is no question of giving up, because everything belongs... I also belong to God. My body, my mind, everything is given by God. Where you get this mind? Where you get this body? It is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā: bhūmir āpaḥ analaḥ vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva, prakṛtir me aṣṭadhā [Bg 7.4].
[Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.]
He claims, "It is My property. What you have got? And you are also My part and parcel. So why you are...?" This is all nonsense, that "I give up." What you can give up? You cannot give up; you cannot enjoy. That is your position. If you enjoy, you are a thief. And if you say, "I have given up," you are a false. Therefore sarva-dharmān parityajya [Bg 18.66]. Somebody is thinking, "I am giving up, and now I've taken laṅgoṭa, I have become sannyāsī." And whose laṅgoṭa it is? You have got still the laṅgoṭa.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: The...? The...?
Prabhupāda: Laṅgoṭa means the loincloth. So what is it you have given up? And you cannot give up your body. This is made, this kṣitir ap-tejo-marud-vyoma, these five elements, they're also Kṛṣṅa's. You have got mind. Oh, that belongs to Kṛṣṅa. What you have got that you'll give up? You have stolen everything. You don't accept the real proprietor, and you are thinking, "I am the proprietor." That is your fault. That is miscreant. Stena eva sa ucyate [Bg 3.12],
[In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], supply all necessities to man. But he who enjoys these gifts, without offering them to the demigods in return, is certainly a thief.]
it is said there. Read Bhagavad-gītā carefully, that everyone is a thief. Stena eva sa ucyate. All thiefs, rogues, rascals. That is the substance. If one does not accept God, the Supreme, and does not surrender, he is miscreant, mūḍha. Mūḍha. He does not know what does he possess, and he's thinking, "I am giving up." What you are giving up? You do not possess anything. A mūḍha, falsely thinking that "I am giving up." What you have got? Nobody can give up; nobody can enjoy. This is real knowledge. Jīvera 'svarūpa' haya nitya-kṛṣṅa-dāsa [Cc Madhya 20.108]:
[It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Kṛṣṅa because he is the marginal energy of Kṛṣṅa and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Kṛṣṅa has three varieties of energy.]
"I am servant of Kṛṣṅa. Everything possessed by Kṛṣṅa. So I'll simply try to offer Kṛṣṅa whatever is there for His..." Just like naukara, servant, in a house, he's trying to satisfy the master. But the things does not belong to him. The things belongs to the master. But if he serves very nicely, master becomes pleased, "Oh, he is very faithful servant. Perfect." Faithful means he knows that "Everything belongs to master, and everything should be utilized for master's pleasure, not for my pleasure." Then he's a thief. He's a bad servant.
Gurukṛpā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, what about these people that perform so-called bhakti-yoga but their aim is to merge?
Prabhupāda: Hmm? That is not bhakti-yoga. That is not bhakti-yoga. Who says that is bhakti-yoga?
Gurukṛpā: I said "so-called" bhakti-yoga.
Prabhupāda: That, that is not... Cheating. That is another cheating. [Hindi] There is the same example: "Now I am serving the master. Just as soon as the master will be somewhere, I'll take everything." That kind of servant. Master serving the... Servant serving the master, but the intention is that "As soon as master is away, I'll take everything." [laughter] "I'll become Nārāyaṅa. Let me serve now Nārāyaṅa, and as soon as there is the opportunity, I shall become Nārāyaṅa." They are thieves, rogues, these duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ narādhamāḥ. Very faithful servant. He's planning how to usurp everything belonging to the master, and saying, "I am very faithful servant." Caitanya Mahāprabhu is teaching, mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi [Cc Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4].
[O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.]
"Life after life, let Me serve You." That's all. Never willing to become master. That is Māyāvāda.
[break] ...don't want even salvation. Therefore He says, janmani janmani, "life after life." [break]
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: ...go back to Godhead can be sense gratification?
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is also a contaminated desire. Otherwise why Caitanya Mahāprabhu will say mama janmani, to go? Kṛṣṅa says, yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramam [Bg 15.6].
[That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world.]
If one goes to Vaikuṅṭha he does not come. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu also says He does not desire that. He is... "Let Me remain perpetually here, but be engaged in Your service." That is real, pure devotee. He doesn't want even promotion. That is also mentioned now: dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṅanti [SB 3.29.13]. Dīyamānam, even Kṛṣṅa says, "Come immediately to Vaikuṅṭha," "Sir, that is for..." Just like Prahlāda Mahārāja. Prahlāda Mahārāja was offered, "Whatever you like, you take." "Sir, do not make me a bāniyā." [break] But if anyone wants in exchange of service, then he's not a devotee, he's a bāniyā.
Gurukṛpā: Is that a merchant?
Prabhupāda: Huh? Merchant, yes.
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagadīśa kāmaye mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi [Cc Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4]
[O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.]
This is prayer. No exchange. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura: kīṭa-janma hau jathā tuwā dās. "If You want that I shall continue, yes, that's all right." That is full surrender. And on condition, "Sir, You'll take me to Vaikuṅṭha; therefore I'm surrendered," that is conditioned. That is bāniyā.
Gurukṛpā: So actually back to home, back to Godhead, means just back to devotional service.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Because a devotee is always in Vaikuṅṭha. Sa guṅān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg 14.26].
[One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.]
He is already in Vaikuṅṭha. Why he shall for that, Vaikuṅṭha? He's not in this material world. Muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate 'smān [Kṛṣṅa-karṅāmṛta 107].
[If I am engaged in devotional service unto You, my dear Lord, then very easily can I perceive Your presence everywhere. And as far as liberation is concerned, I think that liberation stands at my door with folded hands, waiting to serve me-and all material conveniences of dharma [religiosity], artha [economic development] and kāma [sense gratification] stand with her.]
This is called mukti. "The mukti? Why shall I ask for mukti? Mukti is standing on my door: 'What shall I do, sir?' So why shall I ask for mukti?"
[break] Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam. First make all desires zero. That is the beginning of bhakti.
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.]
Why should you desire anything?
Gurukṛpā: Then they say, "Why you desire to serve Kṛṣṅa?"
Prabhupāda: Huh? That is not desire. It is a natural. That is natural. Obedience to Kṛṣṅa, that is my natural business. Servant's business is always ready: "What can I do, sir?" This is not desire. This is natural position. He's not desiring anything. He's simply ready, "What can I do?" Ānukūlyena kṛṣṅānuśīlanam [Cc Madhya 19.167].
[When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Kṛṣṅa favorably, as Kṛṣṅa desires.]
That is. He's not desiring anything. Desire means when I want something for my satisfaction, that is desire.
[break] ...mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya. He's simply expecting what spiritual master will order. Citta. Āra nā koriho... He has no other desire. That is desirelessness.
[break] Desireless means a wooden stone. It has no mind, how it can de... But every living entity has got mind, so this is desirelessness, that "I'll wait for the order of my master and immediately execute." That is desirelessness.
[break] ...stop functioning, then what is the meaning of guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya? That means awaiting the order from the mouth of guru. Āra nā koriho mane. He has no other desires. That is to be understood.
[break] Nirvāṅa. Nirvāṅa means that you give up all material desires. Not that "But he did not say anything more than that." Because it was meant for the fourth-class men, so he did not say. He simply asked that you finish this material desire.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Is that not misleading?
Prabhupāda: It is not misleading. It is truth, but the truth as much as you can understand. It is not misleading, because Lord Buddha knew that "This rascal will not understand more than this." So he did not say further knowledge.
Gurukṛpā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, so some of our men, when we sell our books, sometimes we have to say things in order to get them to take the book. So that's actually not misleading.
Prabhupāda: Yes. No, that is not misleading. Let him take, some way or other.
[break] Why do you think was done by Lord Buddha? Because the atheist class, they did not believe in God: "There is no God." So Buddha said, "Yes, there is no God. You are right. But what I say, you accept." "Yes, sir." But he's God. Keśava dhṛta-buddha-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare [Daśāvatāra Stotra 7]. We know that Lord Buddha is Kṛṣṅa. But he says, "No, no, there is... No, there is no God. Yes, you are right. But what I say, you accept." "Yes, sir, we shall do that."
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Buddha's name is also considered hari-nāma?
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Buddha's name is also considered hari-nāma?
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Holy name? If one chants...
Prabhupāda: Ah, yes. He is mentioned in the Bhāgavata.
Gurukṛpā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, what does the word "buddha" mean?
Prabhupāda: Buddha means "one who knows; in perfect awareness." That is buddha. Buddha. In Bhagavad-gītā this word is there, budha. From buddha, budh-dhātu.
[break] ...see the Sanskrit word, bodhave. 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.]
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you mentioned two different types of servitors. One is seeking to steal the property of the master as soon as the master is gone, and the other is sitting waiting...
Prabhupāda: He's thief; he's not servant. He's a thief. He has taken service as a matter of means, that "If I remain as a servant, I'll get the opportunity of stealing." So he's not a servant; he's a thief. Stena eva sa ucyate [Bg 3.12].
[In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], supply all necessities to man. But he who enjoys these gifts, without offering them to the demigods in return, is certainly a thief.]
[break] ...becoming a thief, if you have got some desire, you ask, "Kṛṣṅa, I am very poor. Please give me some money." That you can do. That is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā. Ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha [Bg 7.16].
[O best among the Bhāratas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.]
Ārtaḥ, one who is distressed, he's praying. That is beginning. But when he's advanced... Just like Dhruva Mahārāja. He'll say, svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varam..., "Now I'm satisfied. I don't want anything." That is perfect stage. But even one goes to God and prays for something, he's called pious, because he has approached God. And because he has approached God and he's asking God, there is some transaction, in this way, by association of God, he'll be purified. One day he will say, svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce [Cc Madhya 22.42]:
[[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] ’O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.]
"Now, I am fully satisfied. I don't want anything. I don't trouble You. Let me serve You."
[break] Why the devotee will ask from God? Kṛṣṅa says, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānām [Bg 9.22].
[But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form-to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.]
He says the responsibility, "I shall supply everything, whatever you want." So why the devotee will ask? If the child knows, "My father is there, my mother is...," why he shall ask? The father will take care whatever he wants. It is unfaithful, that "God cannot supply my necessities. I'll have to ask Him." He knows everything. Why shall I ask Him? That is pure knowledge. [break]
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: ...isn't circumstance there for someone who's endeavoring very hard for material necessities?
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Someone who is endeavoring very hard for material necessities, is his position the same—faithless?
Prabhupāda: I do not follow.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: One who is going to...
Prabhupāda: Everyone is working hard for material benefit. So why someone? Everyone. Who is not working for material necessities? Āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca saman... [Hitopadeśa 25].
[Both animals and men share the activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. But the special property of the humans is that they are able to engage in spiritual life. Therefore without spiritual life, humans are on the level of animals.]
If the cats, dogs, human being—everybody is working very hard.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Say, for example, one who is engaged simply in preaching.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: One who is engaged simply in preaching.
Prabhupāda: He's serving Kṛṣṅa. He's not material necessities.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: So Kṛṣṅa is supplying all facility at least to maintain body and soul together.
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. I went to your country without any money. Now Kṛṣṅa has given. I went with forty rupees; now I have forty crores. Who has done this business? So if you serve Kṛṣṅa, so Kṛṣṅa will supply everything, whatever you need, require. He doesn't require to ask for it.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: The question then is, is a devotee required to work very hard for material necessities?
Prabhupāda: Yes. He has to work sincerely to serve Kṛṣṅa. Then everything is there.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: Even he doesn't consider material necessity?
Prabhupāda: Where is material necessity? Even for the cats and dogs, there is no material necessities. It is all supplied by Kṛṣṅa. It is simply māyā that "I am in material necessities." There are eight million lower species of life. Who is doing business for his...? We, simply civilized men, we are doing this. Otherwise Kṛṣṅa is supplying everyone. Eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13]. He supplies everything. Even the ant within the hole of your room, are you giving any food?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: No.
Prabhupāda: Then how he's living? And the elephant in the forest of Africa. Who is going to give them food? How they're living? From the elephant to the ant, He's providing, and He cannot provide you. This is all mistaken idea. You haven't got to ask. Everything is there. Because in the... [break] ...accustomed to sense gratification life after life, we are habituated to ask. That is a habit. "Habit is the second nature." Actually, we don't require. These dogs, they are not asking, going to the church for asking, "God, give us our daily bread." Where he is getting bread? [break] Dogs are enjoying, but they are not asking bread from God. And where they are getting? [bird chirping in background] [break] ...how he's chirping so nicely. But he has no anxiety. He knows that "I'll get my food anywhere. That's all right." The bird has got the sense, confidence: "Yes, I'll get." And that's a fact.
Gurukṛpā: They're living day to day.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Gurukṛpā: They are living day to day.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is a fact. God has given everyone; you'll get your food. Therefore śāstra says, tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatām... [SB 1.5.18]. "Don't try for anything else. Simply try how to become Kṛṣṅa conscious." That is your only business. Other things will come. If you're destined to get something, you'll get it. Tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukham. Just like nobody asks for distress. How it comes? You are destined to get it. Similarly, whatever happiness you are destined to..., you'll get it. Why you are busy about distress and happiness? You simply try to become Kṛṣṅa conscious.
[pause]
Prabhupāda: Now? No.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: We can walk to the end. We got here at 6:15. [break]
Prabhupāda: He's giving to the human form of life, who can understand. So if we miss this opportunity, that is our misfortune. Last instruction of Bhagavad-gītā: sarva-guhyatamam [Bg 18.64],
[Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.]
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru [Bg 18.65].
[Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.]
He never says that "Try for economic development." [laughs] Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī mām... It is the most confidential knowledge. [break] ...Purī was chanting in a solitary place, and Kṛṣṅa came to supply him milk. Why? His determination was that "If somebody gives me voluntarily, I shall eat. Otherwise, I am not going to ask anybody." But he is being supplied.
Gurukṛpā: Sanātana Gosvāmī also?
Prabhupāda: Yes. But for a renounced order of life, the order is you must beg, bhikṣām. Not much. If I can subsist by taking one cāpāṭi, I'll simply ask for one cāpāṭi, not for two cāpāṭis. That is śāstra. If you can without any cāpāṭi, that is very good. But you can ask as much as you require. Not to eat sumptuously and sleep twenty-four hours. No.
Devotee: And what about householders?
Prabhupāda: Householder can eat the whole world and sleep. [laughter] Because he is householder, he has got the concession. Everyone should do that. Householders are unable, that is their incapability. "Because I am householder, I have got the facility to have sex as many times and eat as much..." That is not householder. That is gṛhamedhī. There are two words: gṛhamedhī and gṛhastha. Gṛhastha is different from gṛhamedhī. Gṛhastha āśrama. Although he's householder, it is āśrama, only for advancing in Kṛṣṅa consciousness. That is gṛhastha. But gṛhamedhī cannot do that. [break] Gṛha. Ācchā. Man has got the potency. Otherwise why they are offering to Kṛṣṅa? Everyone has got the potency. We have to utilize it. [aside:] Hare Kṛṣṅa. You understand English?
Indian: Yes, Gurujī.
Prabhupāda: Oh, thank you very much. [break] ...Bhagavad-gītā. Dharmāviruddho kāmo 'smi [Bg 7.11],
[I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bhāratas [Arjuna]]
"Sex life which is not against religious principle, I am that." Not that sex life, as soon as you like, sex. That is not gṛhastha. That is gṛhamedhī. Dharma-aviruddha. Dharmāviruddho means simply for begetting nice child you can have..., not for enjoyment. Putrārthe kriyate bhāryā. This is Vedic principle. Putraḥ-piṅḍa-prayojanam. A bhāryā, wife, is accepted only for having son, not for any other purpose. Putraḥ-piṅḍa-prayojanam. This is material side, but still, it is religious. First education is brahmacārī, how to train him to avoid sex life. And still if he's not able, then he is allowed to become a gṛhastha, a little concession. Otherwise, the whole Vedic civilization is: how to avoid sex life. Brahmacārī—no sex life. Vānaprastha—no sex life. Sannyāsī—no sex life. Only gṛhastha, under control. That is gṛhastha. Gṛhastha does not mean one who is doing everything whimsically on account of getting this concession. He's not gṛhastha; he's gṛhamedhī. Apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām [SB 2.1.2].
[Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate truth, have many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor.]
Śrotavyādīni rājendra nṛṅāṁ santi sahasraśaḥ, apaśyatām ātma-tattvam... Gṛhamedhī means he does not know what is spiritual life. That is gṛhamedhī. And gṛhastha means he knows what is spiritual life, and he lives on that status. That is gṛhastha. Gṛhamedhī's definition is... Everything is there in the śāstra. Apaśyatām ātma-tattvam. They do not know what is the aim of life. It is like something..., something like cats and dogs. They do not know. Apaśyatām ātma-tattvam [SB 2.1.2].
[break] So you'll speak to him?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupāda: [to Indian] You know English, you can read books.
Indian: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Very good idea. [break] ...Kṛṣṅa, and everything will be all right. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has blessed, ihā haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomāra [Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya 23.78]:
[By doing so, everyone will attain all perfection. Always chant, there is no other prescription.]
"Every perfection you'll get by chanting." That is His blessing.
Indian: [Hindi] [break]
Prabhupāda: That's nice. Hare Kṛṣṅa.
Devotee: You've got any [indistinct]?
Indian (2): [indistinct] ...he works in town council.
Prabhupāda: Oh, he's South Indian.
Indian (2): South Indian.
Prabhupāda: They are not beggar. But Kṛṣṅa has assured, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahām... [Bg 9.22].
[But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form-to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.]
Why they should go to beg? That this is only a process to approach them. If you approach any gentleman as beggar, he'll give you, at least in India. Not... Just to enlighten, give them education.
[break] He's thinking, "This is life." And the sannyāsī's duty is: "No, not this is life. You are in darkness, mūḍha." That is sannyāsī's business: to enlighten.
[break] ...everything, and only for understanding future, they'll be left on the hand of the nature. Is that very good proposal? Hmm? No. There must be.
Indian man: But they have process. They earn wealth. That's all. And no future for the child, they don't...
Prabhupāda: Because they have no education. The guru's duty is to give them education; the sannyāsī's duty is to give... They do not give. They say, "Yes, you are all right. Give me some money." That's all. That they go: "I am avatāra, I am this, I am that," that's all. And he is... He return [indistinct] to darkness. That's all. [break] [end]