Room Conversation

Pradyumna: [reads Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu to Prabhupāda]

Prabhupāda: Yes. [corrects a word] You first accept these ten different methods. So explain that.

Pradyumna: Guru-pādāśrayaḥ: "First one must take shelter of the lotus feet of a spiritual master." Tasmāt kṛṣṅa-dīkṣādi-śikṣaṅam. Tasmāt, "from him," kṛṣṅa-dīkṣādi-śikṣaṅam, "one should take kṛṣṅa-dīkṣā, initiation, and śikṣā."

Prabhupāda: Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣapayati iti dīkṣā.[?] Which explains the divya-jñāna, transcendental, that is dīkṣā. Di, divya, dīkṣāṅām. Dīkṣā. So divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge... If you don't accept spiritual master, how you'll get transcen... You'll be taught here and there, here and there, and waste time. Waste time for the teacher and waste your valuable time. Therefore you have to be guided by an expert spiritual master. Read it.

Pradyumna: Kṛṣṅa-dīkṣādi-śikṣaṅam.

Prabhupāda: Śikṣaṅam. We have to learn. If you don't learn, how you'll make progress? Then?

Pradyumna: Viśrambheṅa guroḥ sevā: "One should serve the guru, viśrambha..."

Prabhupāda: With great respect, with reverence and respect. Then?

Pradyumna: Sādhu-vartmānuvartanam.

Prabhupāda: And you must see that what you are doing, that is according to the principle which all other sādhus and devotees do. They have tilaka, and you say, "I have no tilaka." That is not sādhu-mārgānu. Sādhu-mārgānugamanam. They have kaṅṭhi. You say, "I can avoid it." That is not sādhu-mārgānugamanam. So from very beginning, if you disobey, then how you'll make progress? Then?

Pradyumna: Sad-dharma-pṛcchā.

Prabhupāda: Sad-dharma-pṛcchā. You have to inquire from guru how to make progress. That is sad-dharma. Asad-dharma and sad-dharma. Sad gamaya, asato mā: "Don't remain in darkness. Make progress." Oṁ tat sat. So sad-dharma-pṛcchā. Then?

Pradyumna: Then bhogādi-tyāgaḥ kṛṣṅasya hetave.

Prabhupāda: Ah. For Kṛṣṅa you have to give up sense gratification. No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling—you have to adopt so many things, tyāga. Anartha-nivṛtti. These are anartha, unnecessary things. Do you think if you do not smoke, you die? Unnecessary. What is absolutely necessary, you accept. So bhogādi-tyāgaḥ kṛṣṅārthe. Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya [Bg 18.66]: "You have created so many unnecessary things. Give up." So that is not possible immediately, but it is possible. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgaḥ [Cc Madhya 23.15].

[In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṅa consciousness.]

The sādhu-saṅga means associate with sādhu, guru. If we have śraddhā, that "I shall now become Kṛṣṅa conscious"—this is śraddhā: "It is very nice"—then sādhu-saṅga [Cc Madhya 22.83]:

[The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṅa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṅa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.]

those who are actually Kṛṣṅa conscious, you associate with him. Then bhajana-kriyā. Then bhajana-kriyā... The bhajana, that rise early in the morning, chant Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, take your bath and so many things, bhajana-kriyā... Then anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. Then all these unwanted things will be finished automatically. And if you do not do these first three, the fourth will not come, fourth stage, anartha... And after anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt, then niṣṭhā, firm faith. Then anartha..., tato ruciḥ, then taste. Then you get taste. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ..., anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt, tato niṣṭhā tato ruciḥ [Cc Madhya 23.14]. Taste. Just like you have got a taste for a food; you cannot give it up: "I want this." Ruci. Athāsaktiḥ. Then you become attached. Tato bhāvaḥ. Sādhakānām ayaṁ premṅaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ. This is the subject there.[?]

Pradyumna: Ādau śraddhā?

Prabhupāda: This is the next, I think. Śraddhā is the beginning—faith. That faith means firm faith. Just like Kavirāja Gosvāmī says, śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya [Cc Madhya 22.62]. That is faith, fixed-up, firm faith. Kṛṣṅe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya. Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66]. When you have got firm faith in this—"Yes! If I surrender to Kṛṣṅa, all other dharmas will be performed automatically"—then that is called faith. In the beginning, if you have no faith, where is the beginning? Then what is?

Pradyumna: Yes.

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu- saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā tato 'nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ athāsaktis tato bhāvas tataḥ premābhyudañcati sādhakānām ayaṁ premṅaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ [Cc Madhya 23.14-15]

[In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṅa consciousness.]

Prabhupāda: Prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ. This is everything, description. So everything is there. We should take advantage and become perfect. And this is the chance of becoming perfect, the human form of life. If we miss it—finished. Nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra... [Bg 9.3].

[Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.]

Again go to the cycle of birth. Where is guarantee I am not going to be a dog? Who can check it? Nobody can. Nature's law is very strong. Kāraṅaṁ guṅa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu. Find out this verse, Bhagavad-gītā. Kāraṅaṁ guṅa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu.

Pradyumna:

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṅān kāraṅaṁ guṅa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu [Bg 13.22]

Prabhupāda: Why one is taking birth as a brāhmaṅa and why one is taking birth as a dog? So kāraṅaṁ guṅa-saṅgo 'sya. There are three qualities: sattva-guṅa, rajo-guṅa, tamo-guṅa. So ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthāḥ [Bg 14.18].

[Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.]

If you become..., associate with sattva-guṅa, then you are elevated more and more. Madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ. You remain where you are if you associate rajo-guṅa. And jaghanya-guṅa-vṛtti-sthā adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ. And if you practice jaghanya, most abominable practices of tamo-guṅa, then go down. You cannot check it. 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.]

Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṅāni guṅaiḥ karmāṅi sarvaśaḥ [Bg 3.27]. Guṅaiḥ again. Just like if you have infected some disease, cholera disease, you must suffer from cholera. If you have infected disease of smallpox, then you must suffer from smallpox. You cannot check it. Kāraṅaṁ guṅa-saṅgo 'sya. You should be very cautious so that you may not be affected by this infectious disease. Therefore you require sadācāra. Always remain neat and clean and always associate with sādhus and Kṛṣṅa. Then you'll be protected. Sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṅa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṅṭha-guṅānuvarṅane [SB 9.4.18].

[Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṅa or about Kṛṣṅa. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa's temples and Kṛṣṅa's places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord's prasāda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.]

This is the process. Otherwise kāraṅaṁ guṅa... As soon as you infect with jaghanya-guṅa-vṛtti-sthāḥ [Bg 14.18], then you'll... There are many place... Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. If you want to be liberated, then mahat-sevā—you have to associate with mahat, mahātmā, not durātmā. Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam. If we become infected with yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam, then focus will be... Therefore these centers are being opened: "Come here. Live with Vaiṣṅavas. We are always engaged in Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Even if you do not like, by their association you'll do it. Then you'll be purified." Anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. "If you are practiced to drink tea and smoke, in our association you'll have to give it up because there is no supply of tea or smoking, meat-eating. Naturally you'll have to give it up." Therefore sādhu-saṅga required. Who is sādhu? Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg 9.30].

[Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.]

Sa mantavyaḥ. He's sādhu. Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. Here you'll find they have no other business, simply Kṛṣṅa bhajana. So if you associate, you'll also do. Saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ [Bg 2.62].

[While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.]

As we associate, then we develop the mind. And from the very beginning, if you want to become a paramahaṁsa, above all rules and regulations, that will not help.

Indian man (1): Perhaps his doubt was whether he can do kṛṣṅa-japa while remaining in gṛhastha...

Prabhupāda: Who says no?

Indian man (1): That was his doubt, I think, isn't it?

Indian man (2): Yes.

Prabhupāda: 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.]

Do that. Where is the loss? You gain. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva [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.]

You chant Hare Kṛṣṅa.

Indian man (1): Because he must be attending office and all that, so...

Prabhupāda: Then he'll not require. If he's in office...

Indian man (1): He didn't want to change his clothes.

Prabhupāda: No, no. That...

Indian man (1): He can do japa

Prabhupāda: No, no. It doesn't matter. If you chant Hare Kṛṣṅa always, the medicine is there already. Then it will rectify you automatically. Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. Where is the loss? It is open for everyone. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam, kalau nāsty eva. Especially in this age it is very difficult to... But if you take to this harer nāma, then gradually 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.]

Everything will be cleansed within your heart and you'll understand. You take to this immediately. [pause] Somebody is giving prasādam?

Satsvarūpa: There's regular distribution.

Prabhupāda: Oh, go and...

Satsvarūpa: Yes, everyone is taking

Prabhupāda: Go and take prasādam. Prasāde sarva-duḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate [Bg 2.65].

[For one who is so situated in the Divine consciousness, the threefold miseries of material existence exist no longer; in such a happy state, one's intelligence soon becomes steady.]

Our propaganda is, "Please come here, chant Hare Kṛṣṅa and take prasādam." That's all. Is that very difficult task?

Indian man (3): Whether the scriptures have real potency?

Prabhupāda: Yes. All scripture has got. And we are having our members' building and library; you can come and read. We are trying to give you all facility. You take it and be perfect.

Indian man (4): Bhagavad-gītā was a distinct... Before, Śaṅkarācārya had another. Bhagavad-gītā was distinctly personal, antaryāmī gurudeva[?].

Prabhupāda: So you have no intelligence to understand it? What is that? The same verse. [aside:] Read Bhagavad-gītā, Fourth Chapter.

Pradyumna: Fourth Chapter? Śrī bhagavān uvāca? 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.]

Prabhupāda: Imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam: "I spoke this Bhagavad-gītā to the sun-god." So Bhagavad-gītā was spoken when Śaṅkarācārya's father's father was not born. Now understand it. At least forty millions of years ago. At least. So how do you say that before? You read Bhagavad-gītā. Everything is there.

Indian man (4): But they do not take it in such a...

Prabhupāda: They may be rascal. Why you should become rascal?

Indian man (4): They are rascal.

Prabhupāda: There it is written, the document. They may be rascals, but why you become rascal, following the rascals? You are following not Kṛṣṅa; you are following another rascal. Why? That is your misfortune. Kṛṣṅa says, imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam [Bg 4.1]. He says. You do not take Kṛṣṅa, you take another rascal. Then how you can be helped? Kṛṣṅa says, the speaker of Bhagavad-gītā, that "I told him," and you do not take it. You take another rascal. Then who will guide you? You remain rascal. What can be done? Śaṅkarācārya may be seventeen hundred years. Buddha is two hundred and fifty. And Bhagavad-gītā, five thousand years ago, this Bhagavad-gītā. And before that, puruṣa, forty millions of years ago. If you don't believe Bhagavad-gītā, then don't talk of Bhagavad-gītā. You talk of Śaṅkarācārya, Sunātha[?], this... That is another thing. But if you talk of Bhagavad-gītā, it is stated there. People have misguided people in such a way that we are finding very difficult to reform them. But things are there. We have no difficulty. You do not accept—all right, you do your own business; let me do my business. We cannot make any compromise because some rascal has said something. That is not possible. We have to follow Kṛṣṅa. That's all. This is Kṛṣṅa conscious. What is the wrong there if you strictly follow Kṛṣṅa? Mr. Pandiya, what is the wrong there?

Mr. Pandiya: At the present days, sir, people do not go through either Gītā or Bhāgavata. They read some commentator. Then they get some doubt.

Prabhupāda: So if they willfully become misled, then who can check it?

Indian man (5): He should hear it from sādhu, not from the other places.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Indian man (6): [indistinct] They have read other books written by other masters.

Prabhupāda: That is our misfortune. Mūḍha. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ [Bg 7.15]. Kṛṣṅa is personally speaking, but the mūḍhas and narādhamas, they will not hear to Kṛṣṅa. They have been described... Those who do not hear from Kṛṣṅa or His representative, they have been described, duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ narādhamāḥ: "Most sinful, rascals, mūḍha, gādhā, and lowest of the mankind." This is their position. It is not my manufacture. It is Kṛṣṅa's... Find out this, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ. "No, there are so many educated..." Māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ. Why? Āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ. These rascals have taken: "Why shall I hear Kṛṣṅa? Why shall I accept Kṛṣṅa as God?" Āsuri-bhāvam. This is the basic principle of defect. Hmm?

Pradyumna:

na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ māyayāpahṛta-jñānā āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ [Bg 7.15]

[Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.]

Prabhupāda: Āsuram. This is the defect. "Why shall I hear Kṛṣṅa? Oh, here is a big politician. He is commenting." Just see. What is this? For the big politicians you sacrifice Kṛṣṅa? In the beginning you are finished. Then how you'll make progress?

Indian man (2): Politician is wrong.

Prabhupāda: They'll prefer, because to hear Kṛṣṅa is difficult. They'll accept some rascal who will make meaning here and there. That is...

Indian man (7): Can anything be called religion without devotion? Can anything be called religion...

Prabhupāda: First of all we must understand what do you mean by religion. First of all let me know. What do you mean by religion? Hmm? Religion means, according to Vedic śāstra, 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.]

"Religion means the law given by God." It is very simple thing. But if you do not know what is God, and if you do not know what law He has given, then where is religion? This is cheating. Just like law means the principle or the regulation given by the state, by the government. That is law. Not that you manufacture some law at your home, as it is going on—yato mata tato patha—you manufacture something, rascal law, and that becomes a religion. That is not religion. Religion means the law given by God, simple law. So if you do not know what is God and if you do not know what law He has given, then where is your religion? There is no religion. Without understanding of God and without understanding of the law as given by God, then there is no religion. That is cheating in the name of religion. Therefore in the Bhāgavata, from the very beginning it is said, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṅāṁ satāṁ vāstavam atra vedyaṁ atra [SB 1.1.2]:

[Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṅa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.]

"Real religion is to be understood here." Real religion is Bhagavān speaking, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅam [Bg 18.66]. This is real religion. If you do not know God, if you do not know how to surrender to God, then where is your religion? If you do not know government, you do not know what is the law of the government, then where is the question of becoming...

[break] ...therefore we are misguided. Very simple thing. Kṛṣṅa is God, and He's asking, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja. What is that śaraṅaṁ vraja? 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.]

There is no difficulty. Where is the difficulty? Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ [Bg 9.14].

[Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.]

Why don't you follow it? That is religion.

Indian man (7): Sir, what is your idea about people following other religions at the moment?

Prabhupāda: Other religion cannot be. Religion is one: God, and what God wants. That is religion. Other religion cannot be. Other law cannot be. Law means which is given by the government. That's all. How there can be other law?

Indian man (7): You see, for example there is now government of India and the government of [indistinct]. The laws are there.

Prabhupāda: That may be. The thing is: the real citizenship is to abide by the law of the government. That is the principle. But even if you say that government of India is different from..., the principle is the same. Government means to rule over. Rule over.

Indian man (7): I may not have expressed myself correctly. What I meant was...

Prabhupāda: No, no, government means who is controlling the activities of the citizens. That's all. That is everywhere the same. There may be little difference in the formula, but the principle is the same, that there is a controller and citizens following that controlling rules. Then it is good government. So similarly, the supreme government—there is God, and He has His rules and regulations—if you follow, then you are religious. And God cannot be two. God is one. Otherwise how He is God? If God has competition, then He's not God. [chuckles]

Indian man (2): Yes. [chuckling] Except for Kṛṣṅa, no other order is told even. What śāstra says...

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28].

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

If you don't accept Kṛṣṅa as God, that is your business. But Kṛṣṅa is God. Kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṅaḥ [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.]

Īśvara, god... There are many gods, but the Supreme God is Kṛṣṅa.

Indian man (1): The whole problem... We have not read Bhagavad-gītā.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So now read it. No, it is better late than never. You have never read Bhagavad-gītā; now read it. The movement is there for this purpose. Now read it.

Indian man (8): The simple version is there also for a layman like us who do not know?

Prabhupāda: Even layman. If you offer your obeisances to God, it does it require any...?

Indian man (8): I don't mean, sir. I mean about Bhagavad-gītā, the book. It is readable version, I mean? We don't know Sanskrit, for example.

Prabhupāda: It is explained in English.

Indian man (8): Ah, that is what I want.

Indian man (1): It has been translated into fifteen languages.

Prabhupāda: Yes. These are all Bhagavad-gītā, different languages. We have translated into Chinese, Japanese, all European languages—Spanish, Portugal, Dutch, Swedish, Italian. They are accepting it. This is the process to know: chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. The whole world is chanting this Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. We are known as "Hare Kṛṣṅas." [aside:] You read another verse aloud: māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṅa bhakti-yogena sevate.

Pradyumna:

māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṅa bhakti-yogena sevate 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.]

Prabhupāda: Just like there is infection, and if you take a vaccine, then it will not infect, the contaminous disease. Similarly, if you take to bhakti-yoga, then you'll not be infected by these three guṅas. Sa guṅān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya. You'll remain immune. This bhakti-yoga... Māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṅa bhakti-yogena. Not vyabhicāreṅa; avyabhicāreṅa. Then you'll remain above the qualities—transcendental. This is bhakti-yoga. Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanam. Satataṁ kīrtayanto mām [Bg 9.14].

[Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.]

If you cannot do anything, chant Hare Kṛṣṅa twenty-four hours. Bās. Sa guṅān samatītyaitān brahma... You remain on the brahma stage.

[pause—kīrtana in background]

Satsvarūpa: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Jaya. Prasādam. Give them prasādam.

Satsvarūpa: Come and take prasādam, everyone.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Jaya.

Satsvarūpa: There is prasādam. If everyone can come.

Prabhupāda: [Bengali]

Indian man (9): [Bengali] I was told by the [indistinct]

Prabhupāda: Hmm? Who?

Indian man (10): No, this is program.

Indian man (9): [indistinct] He wanted to just come tomorrow.

Prabhupāda: So...

Satsvarūpa: There is invitation?

Indian man (9): Yes, I have given lots of times.

Satsvarūpa: We have to discuss it, 'cause there are so many already.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Satsvarūpa: There are invitations already. We have to make a program, a schedule.

Prabhupāda: How far it is?

Indian man (10): It is not even half kilometer.

Indian man (9): In this village. In this [indistinct] village.

Prabhupāda: There is road?

Indian man (9): Yes.

Prabhupāda: So we can go.

Satsvarūpa: You're already going tomorrow.

Prabhupāda: Where?

Satsvarūpa: That man who came, who you were supposed to go on the 26th, and he was changed.

Prabhupāda: Oh. The same program?

Indian man (9): Yes. The same program also.

Satsvarūpa: You were recently initiated?

Indian man (9): Yes.

Satsvarūpa: Oh. That's the same program. So that is already fixed with Gaura-Govinda. You spoke with him, Gaura-Govinda Mahārāja?

Indian man (9): Yes.

Prabhupāda: I take my lunch at half past one. So by that time... [break] [end]