Prabhupada: Today is the day of Lord Caitanya’s birth ceremony

Prabhupada: Today is the day of Lord Caitanya’s birth ceremony

Gadadhara dasa: Yoga For The New Century

In order to fully understand what a real yoga process is, let’s look into the ancient Vedas. The true science of yoga is taught in the ancient Vedic scriptures. “Veda” means knowledge. In ancient times man had the ability to comprehend much more information then he can today and all knowledge was spoken and remembered.

In this day and age yoga is becoming very popular. All over the San Francisco Bay Area we see storefronts and chains barring the name yoga. From “Bickram Yoga” to “Funky Door Yoga.” Different Yoga studios and meditation societies are becoming an important part of our self-preservation. We need something to help us with the stress, anxiety, conflict, and hardship of life.

Whether it is our job, career, family, finances, disease, or our country’s economic status, there is always something that creates a strain on our well beings. The yoga systems presented by these studios may offer a quick relief to the troubled minds and tired body, but as soon as we step out of the yoga studio we are again bombarded by a strong energy that pulls us back into a constant struggle to exist in harmony within the world. At the end of our yoga session we may feel a little better, but these practices offer a very short-lived solution and do not present a system and science that will help us understand the reasons behind our troubles and hardships.

Chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process

diksa-purascarya-vidhi apeksa na kare
jihva-sparse a-candala sabare uddhare

“One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [candala] can be delivered.” “To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It may therefore be questioned why there is a necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The answer is that although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life. In order to get quick relief from all these contaminations, it is required that one engage in the worship of the Lord in the temple. The worship of the Deity in the temple is essential to reduce one’s restlessness due to the contaminations of conditioned life. Thus Narada, in his pancaratriki-vidhi, and other great sages have sometimes stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations for worshiping the Deity in the temple are essential. Srila Rupa Gosvami has described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls, but almost all the souls we have to initiate are conditioned. It is advised that one chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses and according to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for worship of the Deity are also simultaneously essential.”

Prabhupada: “If one loves Krishna, he must love Lord Jesus also.”

“Jesus Christ was such a great personality – the son of God, the representative of God.

He had no fault. Still, he was crucified. He wanted to deliver God consciousness, but in return they crucified him-they were so thankless. They could not appreciate his preaching. But we appreciate him and give him all honor as the representative of God.

Of course, the message that Christ preached was just according to his particular time, place, and country, and just suited for a particular group of people. But certainly he is the representative of God. Therefore we adore Lord Jesus Christ and offer our obeisances to him.

Once, in Melbourne, a group of Christian ministers came to visit me. They asked, “What is your idea of Jesus Christ?” I told them, “He is our guru. He is preaching God consciousness, so he is our spiritual master.” The ministers very much appreciated that. ”

Chanting Lord Krishna’s Holy Name

“There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge. Even the words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe its magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to liberation, peace and eternal life. It is the pinnacle of devotion, the heart’s joyous proclivity and attraction and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Lord. The holy name has appeared solely for the benefit of the living entities as their lord and master, their supreme worshipful object and their spiritual guide and mentor. “Whoever continuously chants Lord krishna’s holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realize that the name is a direct manifestation of krishna Himself, in spite of the influences of kali-yuga.” ( Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in Saranagati (quoted from Adi Purana)

Holy Rats of Karni Mata

It seems to be a universal truth that a thing reviled is also a thing revered, depending on location. While rats are an annoyance and a pest (as well as known harbingers of disease) in most of the world, they are sacred inhabitants of the Hindu temple of Karni Mata in India. Accidentally killing one of these holy rodents brings a hefty fine of replacing the rat with one made of gold, while having one skit over your feet is a blessing.

From the outside the Hindu temple of Karni Mata in the small town of Deshnoke in the Indian province of Rajasthan looks much like any other. Ornate and beautiful and with a steady stream of worshippers arriving it holds a surprise for the unsuspecting visitor.

Christ-Krishna Connection

Christ-Krishna Connection
Similarities in the Life & Teachings of Christ & Krishna



Despite their differences, Hinduism and Christianity have great similarities. And this is particularly prominent in the case of the life and teachings of the two central figures of these world religions — Christ and Krishna. Similarities in just the names of 'Christ' and 'Krishna' have enough fuel for the curious mind to prod into the proposition that they were indeed one and the same person. Although there is little historical evidence, it is hard to ignore a host of likenesses between Jesus Christ and Lord Krishna. Analyze this!

ISKCON in Jeopardy

The Hare Krishna Movement of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in recent times, has been shaken by repeated allegations of physical and emotional abuse.

ISKCON admits sexual abuse of students 
Washington, 14 June 2000: The Hare Krishna movement has acknowledged sexual abuse in their boarding schools after three dozen former students filed a multi million lawsuit against leaders of the religious order alleging years of physical and emotional torture. It said it was also working towards providing counselling and financial support to victims.


ISKCON sued for alleged child abuse 
Dallas, 13 June 2000: More than three dozen former students of Hare Krishna boarding schools filed a $400 million lawsuit against leaders of the religious community Monday, alleging years of sexual, physical and emotional torture. The 44 plaintiffs in the suit allege child abuse over two decades at boarding schools in the United States and India. The federal suit, filed in Dallas, names the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as lead defendant, along with 17 members of the group's governing board of top leaders and the estate of the movement's founder, A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977)

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977)
Founder of the Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON)



A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as the 'Hare Krishna Movement'. He was born on September 1, 1896 in Kolkata and received his education at the city's Scottish Church College. Prabhupada's real name was Abhay Charan De before he became the disciple of the Krishna devotee Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj who lived in the beginning of the 20th century. Prabhupada was married and had children prior to renunciating his life to 'sannyasa' and emerging as one of Hinduism's most successful exponents.

The Story of Hare Krishna Mantra

The Story of Hare Krishna Mantra
The Origin of the Krishna Consciousness Movement


If you open up your heart
You will know what I mean
We've been polluted so long
But here's a way for you to get clean
By chanting the names of the Lord and you'll be free
The Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see.
("Awaiting On You All" - from the Beatles album All Things Must Pass)

The Beatles Made It Famous

In 1969, the Beatles, perhaps the most popular music group of all time, produced a hit single, "The Hare Krishna Mantra", performed by George Harrison and the devotees of the Radha-Krishna Temple, London. The song soon topped the 10 best-selling record charts throughout UK, Europe, and Asia. Soon after the BBC featured the 'Hare Krishna Chanters', four times on the popular television program Top of the Pops. And the Hare Krishna chant became a household word, especially in parts of Europe and Asia.

Swami Prabhupada & the Krishna Consciousness Movement

Swami Prabhupada, believed to be a pure devotee of Lord Krishna, laid the foundations of the Hare Krishna Movement by coming to the USA at the advanced age of seventy in order to fulfill the desire of his own spiritual master who wanted him to spread Krishna consiousness in the Western countries. Aubrey Menen in his book The Mystics, while writing about Prabhupadas proselytization in the US, notes:
"Prabhupada presented them [Americans] with a way of life of an Arcadian simplicity. It is no wonder that he found followers. He opened his mission on the Lower East Side in New York in an empty shop, fitted with nothing but mats on the floor. One of his earliest disciples, with the swami's permission has recorded an incident. Two or three were gathered together to listen to the swami, when an old grey Bowery drunk entered. He carried a pack of paper hand-towels and a roll of toilet paper. He walked past the Swami, placed the towels and the toilet paper carefully on a sink, and left. Prabhupada rose to the occasion. 'Look,' he said, 'he has just began his devotional service. Whatever we have — it doesn't matter what — we must offer to Krishna.'"

The Hare Krishna Mantra

It was 1965 — the beginning of the "mid-twentieth century phenomenon" called the "Krishna Consciousness Movement". The "saffron-robed, dance-happy, book-hawking" Krishna followers burst upon the world with the refrain:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

History of the Hare Krishna Chant

Everyone knows this mantra as the anthem of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). However, the origin of this faith dates back to 5,000 years ago when Lord Krishna was born in Vrindavan to save the citizens from the tyrant King Kansa. Later in the 16th century Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revived the Hare Krishna Movement and preached that all can gain a personal relationship with the Lord through sankirtana, ie, a collective chanting of the name of Krishna. Many religious leaders kept alive the faith of "leading the people towards god through devotional songs and selfless Bhakti" — the way of devotion, and Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON is the most notable among them.

Saint Mira Bai: Avatar of Radha

Mira Bai is widely known as an incarnation of Radha, the consort of Lord Krishna. Mira's earthly life was full of troubles, yet she kept up an undaunted spirit by the strength of her devotion and the grace of her beloved Krishna. An embodiment of love and innocence, her heart was the temple of devotion for Krishna. There was kindness in her look, love in her speech, joy in her discourses, and fervor in her songs.

She taught the world the way to love God. She rowed her boat dexterously in a stormy sea of family troubles and difficulties and reached the shore of supreme peace--the kingdom of love. Her lyrics infuse faith, courage, devotion and love of God. Her Bhajans (devotional songs) still act as a soothing balm to the wounded hearts and tired nerves.

Hundreds of Thousands Get Ready for Amarnath Yatra Pilgrimage

Over 2, 25,000 pilgrims have registered so far for the ancient annual pilgrimage of Amarnath Yatra to the 13,500-feet high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the Indian Himalayas.

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) began the registration process on May 10 for this year's yatra or pilgrimage, which will commence on June 29, 2011 and culminate on August 13, which falls on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Shravana and coincides with the Raksha Bandhan festival.

The countdown has begun with the Jammu & Kashmir State Government finalising all arrangements for the pilgrims. India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will deploy about 5,000 personnel to ensure adequate safety and security of the pilgrims. Despite militant attacks in 2006, there has been no dearth of pilgrims for the yatra. The number of yatris or pilgrims has been growing with an average of over 400,000 people taking part in the yatra each year. Besides, the pilgrimage has come to become a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity in the troubled Kashmir valley, with the local Muslims providing necessary support services to the pilgrims in keeping with the peaceful secular traditions of India.

Nearly half of the pilgrims have chosen to travel to Amarnath via Baltal route, while the rest opted for the traditional Pahalgam-Amaranth route via south Kashmir. While most people commit to travel on foot chanting the slogan 'Baba Amarnath ki Jai', a helicopter service from Pahalgam to Panchtarni, the nearest airbase, is also available for devotees who can afford it. For senior citizens, there are ponies and palanquins to reach the highest point of the route at Mahaguns, which is about 14,500 feet above sea level.

Majestic Hindu Temple opens in Woodlands, Texas

A magnificent $3-million Hindu Temple, which took about six years to complete, opened in Woodlands, Texas last week, with the traditional Prathishta Mahotsavam and Kumbhabishekham ceremonies from June 17-19, 2011.

                      

The grand inauguration ceremony included numerous Hindu rituals including Ganesha Puja, Vaastu Puja, Mata-ki-Chowki, Dandiya Raas, bhajans and kirtans. Idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Venkateswara, and Lord Shiva were installed during these ceremonies using Hindu rituals, as prescribed in the ancient scriptures or Agama Shastras. Statues of Lakshmi and Radha-Krishna are planned to be installed in the coming months.

This 8.35 acre Hindu Temple of the Woodlands, whose tagline is "A center for culture and devotion", claims to preserve "the ancient spiritual and cultural heritage of India in a contemporary setting" and will have yagna facilities, classroom and library space, a large lobby and a kitchen.

Hindu Temple of the Woodlands plans to offer comprehensive puja or worship services of various deities, celebrations of various festivals, presentations and discussions on Eastern philosophy and Vedanta, weekly classes on Indian languages, arts and scriptures, health care, counseling, etc. Shashi Bellur is the Board Chairperson, Nimish Dhuldhoya is Executive Committee President, and M.M. Chakrapani Bhattacharya is the priest.

The Woodlands is a master-planned community within the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area of Texas which has won a Special Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute. The temple will play and important role in passing on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations growing up in the United Stated. Earlier, area Hindus had to drive over one and half hours to Sugar Land or Pearland in order to visit the nearest temple.

Who is Krishna?

"I am the conscience in the heart of all creatures
I am their beginning, their being, their end
I am the mind of the senses,
I am the radiant sun among lights
I am the song in sacred lore,
I am the king of deities
I am the priest of great seers…"

This is how Lord Krishna describes God in the Holy Gita. And to most Hindus he is the God himself, the Supreme Being or the Purna Purushotam.

The Most Powerful Incarnation of Vishnu

The great exponent of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is one of the most powerful incarnations of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity of deities. Of all the Vishnu avataras he is the most popular, and perhaps of all Hindu gods the one closest to the heart of the masses. Krishna was dark and extremely handsome. The word Krishna literally means 'black', and black also connotes mysteriousness.

The Importance of Being Krishna

For generations, Krishna has been an enigma to some, but God to millions, who go ecstatic even as they hear his name. People consider Krishna their leader, hero, protector, philosopher, teacher and friend all rolled into one. Krishna has influenced the Indian thought, life and culture in myriad ways. He has influenced not only its religion and philosophy, but also into its mysticism and literature, painting and sculpture, dance and music, and all aspects of Indian folklore.

The Time of the Lord

Indian as well as Western scholars have now accepted the period between 3200 and 3100 BC as the period in which Lord Krishna lived on earth. Krishna took birth at midnight on the ashtami or the 8th day of the Krishnapaksha or dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September). The birthday of Krishna is called Janmashthami, a special occasion for Hindus that is celebrated around the world. The birth of Krishna is in itself a transcendental phenomenon that generates awe among the Hindus and overwhelms one and all with its supra mundane happenings.

Baby Krishna: Killer of Evils

Stories about Krishna's exploits abound. Legends have it that on the very sixth day of his birth, Krishna killed lady demon Putna by sucking on her breasts. In his childhood, he also killed many other mighty demons, such as Trunavarta, Keshi, Aristhasur, Bakasur, Pralambasur et al. During the same period he also killed Kali Nag (cobra de capello) and made the holy water of river Yamuna poison free.

Krishna's Childhood Days

Krishna made cowherdesses happy by the bliss of his cosmic dances and the soulful music of his flute. He stayed in Gokul, the legendary 'cow-village' in Northern India for 3 years and 4 months. As a child he was reputed to be very mischievous, stealing curd and butter and playing pranks with his girl friends or gopis. Having completed his Lila or exploits at Gokul, he went to Vrindavan and stayed until he was 6 years and 8 months old.

According to a famous legend, Krishn drove away the monsterous serpent Kaliya from the river to the sea. Krishna, according to another popular myth, lifted the Govardhana hill up with his little finger and held it like an umbrella to protect the people of Vrindavana from the torrential rain caused by Lord Indra, who had been annoyed by Krishna. Then he lived in Nandagram till he was 10.

Krishna's Youth and Education

Krishna then returned to Mathura, his birthplace, and killed his wicked maternal uncle King Kamsa along with all his cruel associates and liberated his parents from jail. He also reinstated Ugrasen as the King of Mathura. He completed his education and mastered the 64 sciences and arts in 64 days at Avantipura under his preceptor Sandipani. As gurudaksina or tuition fees, he restored Sandipani's dead son to him. He stayed in Mathura till he was 28.

Krishna, the King of Dwarka

Krishna then came to the rescue of a clan of Yadava chiefs, who were ousted by the king Jarasandha of Magadha. He easily triumphed over the multi-million army of Jarasandha by building an impregnable capital Dwarka, "the many-gated" city in an island in the sea. The city located on the western point of Gujarat, is now submerged in the sea according to the epic Mahabharata. Krishna shifted, as the story goes, all his sleeping relatives and natives to Dwarka by the power of his yoga. In Dwarka, he married Rukmini, then Jambavati, and Satyabhama. He also saved his kingdom from Nakasura, the demon king of Pragjyotisapura, had abducted 16,000 princesses. Krishna freed them and married them since they had nowhere else to go.

Krishna, the Hero of the Mahabharata

For many years, Krishna lived with the Pandava and Kaurava kings who ruled over Hastinapur. When a war was about to break oput between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Krishna was sent to mediate, but failed. War became inevitable, and Krishna offered his forces to the Kauravs and himself agreed to join the Panadavas as the charioteer of the master warrior Arjuna. This epic battle of Kurukshetra described in the Mahabharata, was fought in about 3000 BC. In the middle of the war, Krishna delivered his famous advice, which forms the crux of the Bhagavad Gita, in which he put forward the theory of 'Nishkam Karma' or action without attachment.

Krishna's Final Days on Earth

After the great war, Krishna returned to Dwarka. In his final days on earth, he taught spiritual wisdom to Uddhava, his friend and disciple, and ascended to his abode after casting off his body, which was shot at by a hunter named Jara. He is believed to have lived for 125 years. Whether he was a human being or a God-incarnate, there is no gainsaying the fact that he has been ruling the hearts of millions for over three millennia. In the words of Swami Harshananda, "If a person can affect such a profound impact on the Hindu race affecting its psyche and ethos and all aspects of its life for centuries, he is no less than God."

Prabhupada Speaks to the Birlas, India’s Richest Family (MP3 Audio)

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To become very big businessman is not ordinary thing; it requires very great labour, brain. But the result, Krishna says, Give it to Me. So there is no harm to become very big businessman, earning money. That is all right–but you give it to Krishna. Then in any position you can remain Krishna consciousness.

sri prahlada uvaca
kaumaram acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha

(aside:) You can give some stand. How long he will stand?

durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam

This is the instruction of Prahlada Maharaja to his class friend. Prahlada Maharaja was born of Hiranyakasipu, great demon. He is described as demon because he was interested only in material comforts. Hiranya means gold, gold and very comfortable situation of material life. He was interested in that, and he wanted to teach his son about this economic development. But Prahlada Maharaja, when he was in the womb of his mother… There was fight between the demons and the demigods, so the demons–sometimes when there is fight, sometimes one party is victorious, sometimes the other party is victorious–so the demigods’ party became victorious, and they were harassing the demons like anything. So Hiranyakasipu’s wife, she was pregnant, she was captured by Indra, the King of heaven, and she was being dragged to take her in the house of Indra. In the way, Narada Muni met them; he chastised Indra. Narada Muni was devarsi, rsi amongst the demigods. So he said, “Why you are giving trouble to this woman? This is not good.” So the demons replied, demigods replied that “This woman is pregnant, and there is Hiranyakasipu’s son. So we want to kill that son also, because he is demon. So we are taking this woman to our place just to wait for the time of her delivering the child.” At that time Narada Muni said, “No, no. This child is not a demon child. This child who is within the womb of this woman, he is a great devotee, so don’t try to kill him. Neither you can kill him, that is not possible.” So they are demigods, they accepted Narada Muni’s proposal. So they offered respect to the woman, that “Here is, within the womb of this woman, a great devotee.” So they circumambulated and offered respect to the wife of Hiranyakasipu and they went away. So Narada Muni took the wife of Hiranyakasipu to his asrama: “My dear girl, my dear daughter, you please come with me, remain with me till your husband comes back.” So she agreed, and woman’s natural propensity is to serve, so she was very nicely serving Narada Muni, and Narada Muni became very much pleased and he instructed about transcendental knowledge. Although to the wife of Hiranyakasipu, but still the Hiranyakasipu’s son Prahlada Maharaja was within the womb, he also heard the instruction and he learnt everything. Later on he will explain that “My mother, on account of being woman, she has forgotten the instruction of Narada, but I heard it even from within the womb; I remember it.”

So this Prahlada Maharaja is repeating the same instruction which he heard from Narada Muni when he was packed up within the womb. So this is one of the instruction, that spiritual instruction does not depend on any material condition. In any position one can understand spiritual instruction. Ahaituky apratihata yena atma samprasidati.

sai vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yena atma samprasidati

That is first-class religion, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo. Para means supreme. There are different types of religion, but the supreme religion is para dharma, that is yato bhaktir adhoksaje, that religious system which instructs the followers how to become a perfect devotee of the supreme Lord. That is first-class religion. We are fighting in this material world. “You are Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am Sikh,” “I am Jain,” “I am this,” “I am that,” but this not paro dharma; this is aparo dharma. Para and apara, there are two qualities, just like material and spiritual. Material is called apara, and spiritual means para, as it is stated in theBhagavad-gita, apareyam.

bhumir apo ‘nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
bhinna me prakrtir astadha

These material elements–earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence, and false ego–these are eight material elements, out of which five are gross–bhumir apo ‘nalo vayu–and three are very subtle. Just like everyone: I know you think with your mind; you know also I think with my mind. But mind is subtle. I cannot see your mind, neither you can see my mind, neither I can see my mind, nor you can see your mind. This is subtle. And the finer than the mind is intelligence, and finer than the intelligence is egoism or egotism, and finer than egotism is the soul.

So our Krishna consciousness movement is little difficult for ordinary persons who are interested with the material gross and subtle elements. For them it is little difficult. But Krsna says apareyam, “This is inferior, these energies.” They are energies, prakrtir me astadha. Prakrti means energy, just like prakrti means woman, naturally a woman is under the control of the man. That is our Vedic system, and natural system also. However, the woman may claim equal rights, they are under the control of the man. That is natural. So similarly prakrtimeans which is under the control of the Supreme Lord. That is prakrti. In another place,Bhagavad-gita it is said,

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivarate

Krsna says mayadhyaksena: “Under My control the material nature is working.”Mayadhyaksena prakrtih. In another place in Brahma-samhita it is said how prakrti is under the control of the Supreme Lord: srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga. Durga is the material nature. It is very powerful. Srsti-sthiti, creation, maintenance and annihilation, is going on under her control, Durga-devi. We have seen the picture of Durga, ten hands with ten kinds of weapons. So she is very powerful, but still she is under the control of Govinda.

srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya ca cestate sa
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

The mula prakrti, the original prakrti, is fully under the control. Control means she acts according to the direction of Govinda. Yasya ajnaya, she is acting. So this prakrti is inferiorprakrti, and there is another, superior prakrti. That superior prakrti is represented by Srimati Radharani. Radharani and Durga, both of them are prakrtis of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but one prakrti is meant for controlling this material world, and the other prakrti is meant for blessing the spiritual world. Two prakrtis are Krsna’s prakrti. Therefore Krsna says,

apareyam itas tu (anyam)
viddhi me prakrtim para
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat

So this jiva-bhuta, living entities, we are living entities, we also belong to the spiritual prakrti,we are expansion of spiritual prakrti. Just like Srimati Radharani is always engaged in the service of the Lord, anaradhyate. Aradhyate, it is Radharani. The Radharani, the name has come from the word aradhyate. Aradhana, aradhana means worshiping. So everyone is meant, beginning from Radharani, and her expansion, Laksmi, in Vaikuntha, laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. Here we worship mother Laksmiji, goddess of fortune, to receive some favor. But in the Vaikuntha world there are many hundred thousands of Laksmi, laksmi-sahasra-sata, and they are sambhrama-sevyamanam: with great respect, they are engaged in serving the Supreme Lord. So, we being expansion of the spiritual Laksmi, or Radharani, our duty is to serve Radharani, and through Radharani to serve Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are missing this point, that instead of learning from Radharani how to serve Krsna, we are being controlled by the another prakrti, material energy, Durga, with weapons in her ten hands. This is our position. Therefore we are missing the point, and it is said in Brahma-samhita…,no, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam… This is also spoken by Prahlada Maharaja:

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te ‘pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah

So in this material world they do not know what is the aim of life. Na te viduh. Na te viduh svartha-gatim. Everyone is very much expert to see his interest. Two businessmen, they are agreeing, but everyone is trying to see his personal interest first. This is called svartha-gatim.That is natural. But Prahlada Maharaja says, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnu.Unfortunately, these materialistic persons, they do not know what is his real interest. The real interest is Visnu, how to serve Visnu.

That is explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the beginning. Sanatana Gosvami, a great minister of Nawab Hussein Shah’s government, he retired from his ministerial activities and became a servant of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to preach this Krsna consciousness movement. The six Goswamis of Vrndavana:

sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-ragunath
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-ragunatha

So there are many description about their activities in Vrndavana. Some of them are described by Srinivasa Acarya. The prime duty was, these Gosvamis, they were ministers, big, big zamindars. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was the only one son of his father and uncle, and in those days, five hundred years ago, their paternal income was twelve lakhs of rupees. So such person joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa sanatana bhatta-ragunatha. Either they were very, very learned scholar or coming from very, very rich family, big post, all the six Goswamis.

sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha

So their business was, these Gosvamis, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau: they were always engaged in chanting “Krsna.” That is the real purpose of human life, especially in this age. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaja by Sukadeva Goswami, he described the symptoms of Kali-yuga: it is very, very faulty. But he concluded that kalau dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah. In this age of Kali it is very fallen age, mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah. The population in this age, they are, almost all of them they aremanda–manda means bad or very slow–so they do not understand what is the aim of life, or very slow to understand; therefore they are called manda. And because they do not understand their real interest of life, they can be called very bad, manda. So these are the symptoms: mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah. So in this age, although it is so fallen, the sastra says, dosa-nidhe rajann, kalau dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah. There is one great opportunity. What is that great opportunity? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet. If one takes to chanting this Hare Krsna mantra, then he becomes relieved or freed from the all contamination of this age, and mukta-sangah, he becomes liberated and he goes back to home, back to Godhead. Simply by chanting. That ismukti. Mukti means, we are now under the influence of this material energy, bhumir apo ‘nalo vayuh, this is apara prakrti. So apara prakrti, we have to give up the association of the apara prakrti, and we have to take shelter of para prakrti. This is our aim of life. The subject matter was how to become successful in life. That we are trying to explain. The success is that we have to give up the control, we have to become freed from the control of the apara prakrti,and we shall voluntarily submit to be favored by para prakrti. This is our business, aim of life. Then our life will be successful. If we miss this opportunity to give up the shelter of apara prakrti, and do not take shelter of the para prakrti, then we are missing the opportunity. It is very subtle thing, there is no education, but the information and the enlightenment is there in our sastra. In Bhagavad-gita everything is explained, how one can give up the control of theapara prakrti and be under the shelter of para prakrti.

daivi hi esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te

It is not very difficult. Krsna comes to instruct this simple truth, that “You are being controlled by the material energy. You give up this business; you be controlled by the spiritual energy, and your life is successful.” This is the method. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te.

So we are…, our Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose, that simply we are trying to educate people how to give up the control of the material energy, and under the control… Not to control the material energy; that we cannot do, that is not possible. But not to become under the control. That is very simple method: mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. Just like if you become honest, if you are not criminal, then there is no police control–police may be there. But as soon as you become criminal, you come under the control of police. Similarly our business is, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained, and everywhere in the sastra, and actually we are so, we are eternal servant of God, or Krsna. This is our real position. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa. But our disease is instead of becoming dasa, we are trying to become the master of the prakrti. This is called materialistic way of life. So that will not make us happy at any stage of our life. This is very dangerous. We are missing the point.

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te ‘pisa tantryam uru-damni baddhah

We are forgetting that we are absolutely under the control of the material nature.

prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate

We are fully under the control of material nature, and foolishly, ahankara, on account of being bewildered by false egotism, we are thinking that “I am independent.” This is called material illusion.

So our first business is to understand what is this material world, what is the spiritual world, what is God, what is my relationship with Him, and how to execute the business of my life, to become successful in this human form of life. The success of human form of life is to understand this thing: our relationship with God. And we should act in relationship with God. Then our success of life will be achieved. This is the main purpose of Krsna consciousness movement. It is a very profound subject matter to understand, but everything is explained. Our only request is that you read Bhagavad-gita as it is; don’t try to interpret. That is useless. Otherwise why people have lost in India their own culture? Because they have interpreted wrongly. Every sastra has been interpreted wrongly and therefore people are misguided. They could not take advantage of the instruction of Bhagavad-gita because all through, theBhagavad-gita has been misinterpreted. So many so-called politicians, scholars, but it is maybe for the first time–not first time; it is there–but to make it broad propaganda wide, that try to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any interpretation. That is our mission. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. Don’t try to interpret and spoil it. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. Ei desa means, He was born in Bengal, India–it may be Bengal or in India–He, we have interested with every man all over the world,

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara hoibe mora nama

So He was interested in all the parts of the world, how they can be delivered from the clutches of this material energy. So He wished especially the Indians to take this job of preaching the teachings of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He wanted it.

bharata-bhumite manusya janma hoila yara
janma sarthaka kari karo para-upakara

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, para-upakara. It is not the business of the Indian people to exploit others. The mission is they must be very, very merciful to all outsiders, born in, out of India. That is India’s mission. Because they are in darkness, they do not know. So instead of enlightenment, giving them jyotir gamah–tamasi ma: “Don’t remain in darkness”–so we are imitating them. This is not India’s good fortune. We should not imitate. That is not very good civilization. That is, this has been described as asuric civilization in the Bhagavad-gita. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnu: they do not know. Anyway, although they do not know, they are accepting now. The Krsna consciousness movement is so potential that they are accepting, that is upakara. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted this, para upakara. They are in darkness, tamasi. Bring them in the light: tamasi ma jyotir gamah.

So this attempt has been done by us individually, with teeny effort, but it is becoming successful. But if we take up seriously this movement, every one of us become completely aware of this movement and take this mission as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa: “Every one of you, you become a guru,” by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So “I shall become guru? What shall I do? I do not know anything.” No! You haven’t got to know anything. You simply, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. You simply repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. Whomever you meet, you try to convince him; then you are guru. So our mission is this, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s. We are trying to execute the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We don’t say anything else except what is described in theBhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita says, Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Simple thing. It is not very difficult thing. Krsna says, “Always think of Me.” Is it very difficult task? No. You chant Hare Krsna, you remember Krsna immediately. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So always remember Krsna, this is Krsna’s instruction, man-mana, “Always think of Me,” mad-bhakta, and naturally you become bhakta. As soon as you go on chanting Hare Krsna, just like these European and American boys, they have been instructed to chant Hare Krsna mantra…Don’t think that I showed them any magic, how to manufacture gold, or how to become this or that. No. Simply I have asked them to chant Hare Krsna, and they have joined me because they have chanted Hare Krsna. Why? Ceto-darpana-marjanam. By chanting this Hare Krsnamaha-mantra, the dirty things within the heart will be cleansed. They you will understand what is my position, what to do.

So this is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, yare dekha tare kaha, Krsna said that man-mana bhava mad-bhakta: “You just think of Me, you just become My devotee, mad-yaji, you just offer a little flower and water to Me.” Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. If you think that “We have got money. The money is for my enjoyment, and Krsna may be offered a little water and flower,” that is cheating; that is not good. According to your position you must worship. This is wanted. Otherwise, bita (indistinct). If you have got money and if you don’t serve Krsna, and you serve Krsna with a little water and flower, Krsna can understand this kind of cheating business. No. Everyone should worship Krsna according to his position. That is wanted. Kurusva tad mad-arpanam. Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi kurusva tad mad-arpanam. To become very big businessman is not ordinary thing; it requires tapasya, very great labour, brain, yat tapasyasi. But the result, Krsna says, kurusva tad mad-arpanam, He’s asking, “Give it to Me.” So there is no harm to become very big businessman, earning money. That is all right–but you give it to Krsna. Then in any position you can remain Krsna consciousness. And if you remain Krsna conscious, then you will understand Krsna. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

mayy asakta-manah partha
yogam yunjam mad-asrayah
asamsayam samagram mam
yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu

Krsna is explaining that everyone is trying to understand God, but by speculation you cannot understand. By service only you can understand. By attachment. You cannot serve Krsna without being attached. Therefore Krsna says in the Seventh Chapter, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah: “Taking shelter of Me, or My devotee, if you practice this yoga system, bhakti-yoga system, increasing your attachment for Me, this is wanted.” Krsna consciousness means we have got attachment so many things, but that attachment has to be transferred to Krsna. Then you’ll become Krsna conscious. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah asamsayam. Then asamsayam, without any doubt. To understand God there are three features: brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. So the ordinary person, they can be able to understand Brahman; a little advanced than them, they can understand Paramatma; but to understand Krsna is very difficult. Bahunam janmanam ante. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye. Out of many millions of persons, one tries to become siddha, perfect. What is that siddha? Brahma-jna. Yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah. And out of the siddhas, those who are actually self-realized, aham brahmasmi,out of many of them maybe one is able to understand Krsna.

So Krsna can be understood only by devotion. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. So we have to take this process, sravanam kirtanam visnu. So our only request is that to understand Krsna is not very difficult if we read Bhagavad-gita perfectly, seriously. Then Krsna is understood. And as soon as you understand Krsna… Because Krsna is explaining Himself, what is the difficulty to understand Krsna? Hm? If you, Mr. Birla, you explain that “I am like this. I have got so much money, I have got so many business, I have got so many factories,” if you explain, then where is my difficulty? But if I speculate, “Mr. Birla may be…, so much (indistinct) may be had.” That is always imperfect. But if you understand directly from Mr. Birla, then it is clear. So Krsna, God, is explaining Himself, “I am like…”Asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu. So there is not very difficult to understand Krsna if we simply… But if we interpret foolishly, and try to understand Krsna by misinterpretation, then the business is finished. Don’t do that. Simply try to understand Krsna as He is explaining Himself, then your life is successful. How it is successful?

janma karma ca me divyam
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti…

That is successful. If one can understand Krsna, about His activities, why He comes, He explains, yada yada hi dharmasya, (break) …change this body. But we do not know what kind of body I am going to get. These information are there. But any kind of body you get, even in the higher planetary system as demigod, a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino ‘rjuna, that is not good. The best thing is you get a body, a spiritual body, like Krsna, sat-cit-ananda-vigraha. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti… Then you haven’t got to accept any more this material body. Then what happens to me? Mam eti, you come to Krsna and enjoy with Him. That is success of life.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada!

Prabhupada: Any questions?

Giriraja: Any questions? (long silence)

Prabhupada: Boliya mataji. Prasna boliya? There should be question. (another long silence)

Giriraja: The process of hearing and then asking questions is the way to clarify our understanding, just like Krsna and Arjuna. So actually we must have some questions in our minds; otherwise we would all immediately surrender to Krsna.

Prabhupada: Yes. Either you surrender to Krsna or clear it by question. (end)

[751217LE.BOM Lecture Engagement at Birla House Bombay, December 17, 1975]

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The Whole World is Fighting for Sense Gratification (MP3 Audio Morning Walk)

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I must have nice eating, I must have nice sleeping, I must have very good sex, and I should be defended by bank balance, by military soldiers, by police force, by atomic weapons. Rascal does not understand that, in spite of all these things, I will have to change the body…

Prabhupada: In the material world, everyone is given the facilities for eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse and defense. Now, if some dangers come, so we may be victims, but a bird immediately goes. He has better defense. Is it not? If some dangers come immediately… Suppose all of a sudden a motorcar comes and kills us. We cannot do anything, but the bird, small bird, “Hut!” He can do that. Is it not? So his defensive measure is better than us. Similarly, I want to have sex. I have to arrange for that, find out some… But the female bird is always around him, at any time. This sparrow, the pigeon. You have seen it? Immediately ready for sex life. And eating? Oh, there is some fruit. Immediately he can eat. And sleeping? That is also very comfortable. So these facilities, don’t think that it is available on this skyscraper building. They are available for the birds and the beasts. It is not that unless you have got a very nice apartment in the skyscraper building, you cannot have all these facilities of eating, sleeping and sex life. Anywhere. Visayah khalu sarvatah syat. This is called visaya. Visaya means the facilities for sense enjoyment. That is called visaya. Our process is visaya chadiya se rase majiya.One has to give up this visaya and relish the transcendental bliss. It is a different platform. And these persons, bodily concept of life, their only enjoyment is this visaya. So sastra says that you are after visaya. This is available in any life. Why you are repeating this visaya in different forms of life either as bird or beast or tree or human being or cats and dogs? Punah punas carvita carvananam. Again and again, the same thing, in different forms. So those who are interested with this visaya, matir na krsne paratah svato va, they cannot become Krishna conscious,paratah, by instruction of spiritual master or experienced person, or by themselves. Themselves, they cannot. Even by instruction by the spiritual master or higher authorities. Paratah. Svatah,personally, or by others’ instruction, matir na krsne, they cannot become Krsna conscious. Mitho ‘bhipadyeta. Mithah, or by conference, consulting, making a meeting, “What is the problem of life?” They cannot take to Krsna consciousness. Why? Grha-vratanam. So long they have got this determination, “We shall be happy in this material world,” they cannot take… Grha-vratanam. Grha means home and grha means this body also. Those who are trying to be happy within this body, material world, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness. Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho ‘bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. Why they cannot? Adanta-gobhih: their senses are so uncontrolled. Therefore they must undergo the process of punah punas carvita-carvananam,again and again, the same visaya: eating, sleeping, mating. That’s all.

Nitai: So our business is to convince them that they can’t be happy in the material world?

Prabhupada: Yes. That they have got experience. Therefore daily they are founding so many parties, manufacturing so many means and plans and this and that, but they are not happy. But they are so fool, great fool, that in spite of being repeatedly baffled, still, punah punas carv…, the same thing, under different form. What is the difference between these rascal communists and capitalists? After all, they are animals. How they can make things, better arrangement? That is not possible. The only thing… This man will say, “Exploit others,” and other man shall, “Give food to the others.” What is there? Give food to the others or exploit–the same animal propensity. Where is the advancement? The capitalists are thinking, “Exploit others.” The same thing, like animals. This dog, as soon as he saw the shadow of his own body with the food, he thought that “Let me capture that food.” This is exploitation. And another will say “No, first of all give food.” So they are fighting like this. So everyone’s aim is that we shall remain within this material world and happy. Therefore grha-vratanam.

Satsvarupa: If we can get enough to eat and sex, we will be happy.

Prabhupada: That’s all. And then they become impotent and go to the doctor, “Give me sex medicine.” You see? Punah punas carvita-carvananam. The same thing. Not at home sex, but “Let us go to the prostitute, go to the naked dance.” They have no other ideas. Punah punas carvita-carvananam. These class of men cannot take to Krsna consciousness. First of all, one must be in knowledge that “I am not anything of this material world. I am spirit soul. My happiness is in the spiritual world.” Then he can be.

Haihaya: Some people say that what make us different from the animals is that we can enjoy art and we can enjoy music and we can enjoy all type of art…

Prabhupada: The animals… the snake also can enjoy music. Do you know that? You play very nice music. A snake will be charmed. He will stand. It will not attack you. Similarly the deers… The hunters, they play very nice music, and they assemble here, and they fight and kill them.

Nitai: The birds are also making their music.

Prabhupada: No. That is another thing. But these deer and the snakes, many animals, they are very much fond of music. They enjoy.

matir na krsne paratah svato va
mitho ‘bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas carvita-carvananam

Next question is “How one can become interested in the spirit soul or Krsna consciousness? How?” This is the position. They cannot. So next proposal is, “How they can be?” Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim sprsaty anartha…, yad-arthagamam, niskincananam, pada-rajo-’bhisekam.

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam
niskincananam (na vrnita yavat)

Naisam matih. Esam, “of these rascals and fools,” matih, “consciousness,” cannot be turned.Naisam urukramanghrim, “towards the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, Urukrama.” Urukrama means “one who acts very wonderful.” And his lotus feet. So naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim:“Their attention cannot be converted or turned towards the lotus feet of Krsna who acts very wonderfully.” Anartha apagamah: “And all these misconcepts of life becomes vanquished.” How it can be? Now, “So long one does not touch his head to the dust of a devotee of the Lord who isniskincana, who has nothing to do with this material world, that devotee, who is simply interested in Krsna.” If one has got the opportunity of touching his head to the lotus feet, to the dust of the lotus feet of such a great devotee, then it is possible. Otherwise, it is not. Niskincana, mahiyasam pada-rajo ‘bhisekam. Mahiyasam, such glorified devotee, the dust of the lotus feet, can help him, that’s all. Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim sprsaty anartha.

Satsvarupa: The pure devotee gives the chance to everyone, but only a few approach. So still the question is how can they become interested in the pure devotee?

Prabhupada: No, this is the…, that you do it. If they do not do it, then who will come? This declaration is there, that “If you do this, then you can be interested.” But if you do not, then you go on with your own business. A similar… The same things Krsna, sarva-dharman parit… mam ekam. Krsna is demanding that you do it, “Surrender unto Me.” The sastra also says, “Surrender unto the representative of Krsna,” mahiyasam. But if they do not do, what can be done? Just see this sparrow. The sex is always accompanying, any time ready. The pigeons, any time ready.Visayah khalu sarvatah syat. That is the only attachment for this material world, visaya. Whole world is fighting for this visaya. “I must have nice eating, I must have nice sleeping, I must have very good sex, and I should be defended by bank balance, by military soldiers, by police force, by atomic weapons.” This is going on. Defense. Rascal does not understand that “In spite of all these things, I will have to change the body, and the same thing will be available again, in a different way.” This intoxication, cigarettes. The ant, the small ant, they are very fond of intoxication. You know that? As soon as there is information, “On the top of the skyscraper building, there is a grain of sugar,” they will go. (laughing) Because sugar contains intoxication. The wine is made from sugar, molasses. It has got the intoxication. You keep a grain of sugar there, and there will be hundreds and thousands… (laughter) Gold rush. Study. You see what is the difference of this civilization and the ant civilization, dog civilization, cat civilization. No difference. It is in the simply formation only.

Dhananjaya: Yes, I’ve seen sometimes at the Sunday Feast we make some sweets, like sweetballs, and there’s some left over. They’d find the next day so many drowned ants, because they’d been so wild, they’d jump into it and drown themselves.

Prabhupada: So sastra says, labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante: “My dear human being, please note. You have got this form of life after many many births, bahu-sambhavante.You had to undergo the aquatic life, 900,000 species, the birds, trees and plants, two million. How much time it has gone by for this evolution. Now you have come to the human form of life.”Labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante manusyam: “This is human form of life.” Artha-dam: “Now you can achieve success. Although it is temporary, but you can achieve the highest perfection of life. Therefore,” turnam yateta anumrtyu yavat, “before next death, you be very dexterous to complete the success.” And if you think, then what about my sense enjoyment?Visayah khalu sarvatah syat: “It will be available any life. This life you spend for this purpose. Don’t waste simply for visaya.” Visayah khalu sarvatah syat. This you will get even if you become cat and dog. But in the cat and dogs, I will not get this opportunity, how to get out of this material existence. Labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante. These are the instructions of Prahlada. These rascals have no education to understand. Therefore we must give this education. We must induce them to read these books in the school, colleges. That is propaganda. Now we have got books. These rascals, they have no books to read about this realization. They have got only Freud’s philosophy and this… What is that? And Darwin’s theory. All rascaldom, simply rascaldom. Let them read these books. This philosopher, that philosopher. What is that?Punah punas carvita-carvananam. The same philosophy, repeatedly for sense gratification, that’s all. That rascal Mahesh Yogi, he also said that, “You take this special mantra; your material enjoyment will be easier.” The same: the punah punas carvita. He has no other information. “It will be better.” And they accepting. “Oh, my enjoyment will be better? All right, take $35. Give me that mantra.” They like it because they are promising that “You will get this…” Politicians also, they are promising, “You take this ism. Your sense gratification will be easier.” The same promise. This ism or that ism. This yogi, that yogi. But nobody knows what is actually happiness.Harer nama harer nama harer nama. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha. They are trying to be happy by sense enjoyment, material body’s enjoyment. Durasaya. It is simply a hope which will never be fulfilled. Durasaya. Asaya means hope and dur means very difficult. It will not be possible. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. And they are being led by such rascal leaders, who are promising sense gratification. Because they are blind, another blind man comes and says that “You will be happy in this way. Come on this way. Your sense gratification will be very much easily satisfied. come on.” “Yes. Very good leader.” Adanta-gobhih. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te ‘pi. They forget that they are bound up by the stringent laws of nature. There is no freedom. Only varieties of sense enjoyment is offered because he want, want, wants. Actually, that is not enjoyment. That is bound up. Nature’s… If you enjoy more sex life, nature says, “All right, you become impotent for ten years.” And still he wants to enjoy. Little this way, that way–immediately punishment. “Oh, you have eaten more, three days suffer. No diet, no food. Suffer dysentery.” And they are enjoying. What is this enjoyment? As soon as violate a little of the nature’s law you are immediately punished. Na te viduh. Isa-tantryam baddhah. Isa-tantryam, the laws of nature, they are so much bound up, hands and legs. Still, they are declaring freedom. What is the freedom? Immediately he will be kicked by shoes as soon as he violates a little, immediately. There is ocean of salt. Now we require salt for making our foodstuff very tasty. But if you take little more salt, you cannot eat. No, you cannot eat. If you think, “Oh, so much salt? Let me put more salt, more salt,” it will be useless. You can take only so much quantity. That’s all. In this way you are bound up, always. And still, you are declaring freedom. What freedom? What is the meaning of this freedom? But they are fools. They cannot understand.

Haihaya: Then Krsna consciousness is the right quantity of salt.

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna consciousness is giving you everything in right way so that you can save your time, you do not waste your time, and you can advance in Krsna consciousness. That is required. We don’t say that you stop eating. You eat. Take little Krsna prasadam. We don’t say that “Don’t sleep.” No, you sleep, but must rise early in the morning for mangala-arati. This is our philo… Eating, sleeping, and sex. No, we don’t say no sex life. Yes, you have sex life. Get your bona fide wife, live peacefully. And defense also, we have. We never say that you forego all these things. No, this is not our philosophy. But similarly, as much as you absolutely require, not more than that. The balance time, save for advancement. These people are simply engaged for eating, sleeping, mating. They have no time for Krsna consciousness. This condemned civilization must be stopped. Killing, killing civilization. The human being got the opportunity of getting out of thispunah punas carvita-carvananam, repeatedly, and they are not being given the chance. They are being engaged more and more for sense gratification, visaya. Killing civilization. Jnana-tapasa. Bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mad-bhavam agatah. By this process, bahavah, many, by knowledge and tapasya. Putah, purified, came back, back to home. Bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mad-bhavam agatah. Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upasritah, bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mam…What is that, last word?

Nitai: Mad-bhavam agatah.

Prabhupada: Ah, mad-bhavam agatah. Mad-bhavam, “My nature.” “My nature” means spiritual nature. Krsna is spirit. Or the another nature. This is material nature. This is another nature. That is kingdom of God, spiritual nature, Vaikuntha planet. Agatah: “They came.” Every information is there, every opportunity is there. Simply they are not educated. Therefore the Krsna consciousness movement is meant for educating these rascals. That’s all. They are mad after sense gratification. Nunam pramattah, mad. From the morning, as soon as they rise, “Give me a cup of tea, immediately I have to go to there and there and there.” What you will do then? “Yes, I will die. I will die in a motor accident. They are waiting for me.” All right, go. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. All kinds of forbidden works they are doing. What? What is the purpose? Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaye. Purpose is only sense gratification. The rascal does not know that “I am doing all these sinful activities for sense gratification, and I will have to accept a very low-grade body.” That he does not know. He has already got one low-grade body. He is suffering only. And he will still get another low-grade body, more suffering. That he does not know. But still, he will do everything for sense gratification.Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti na sadhu manye: “Oh, it is not good.” Na sadhu manye yata atmano’ yam: “This kind of activities will cover your soul by body.” “Well, this body is temporary. Don’t bother.” Then another body, rascal. This body is temporary, but you get another body, most abominable. Why you are doing like this? Asann api. Although this body is temporary, but why don’t you understand that it is klesada: It is always subjected to miserable condition of material life. Klesada. This is klesada, another body you get, klesada. Any body you get, klesada. Why do you get this? Stop these activities. This is Krsna consciousness. That they do not know. Da means “that gives.” Any type of material body you accept will beklesada. They have constructed this building. If for few hours there is severe cold, so many people will die, even in this comfortable building. Is it not? So klesada is there; either you remain in this way or that way, the sufferings will be there. And to take this comfort of this high building, how much klesada, how much miserable condition, one has to pass. “Sir, I am not doing; the workers are doing.” But you have to collect the money to pay them. How much miserable it is to acquire this money to pay another klesada, laborer. So simply they are captivated by money. Otherwise it is klesada. Sometimes they fall down and die while constructing. Is it not? Now, I have heard that in New York there are many buildings and there is no tenant. Klesada. The proprietor of the house, he is also suffering. “I have spent so much money. No tenant.” In London I have seen there is, for the last six or seven years, very big building. It is vacant.

Dhananjaya: Tottenham Court Road. Yes, that big one. Central Point.

Prabhupada: Yes (laughing). His klesada is if he keeps tenant, that is more miserable than without keeping tenant. Is it not? Yes. Therefore he keeps without. Because so much taxes will have to be paid that it will be more miserable than keeping tenants. So he is avoiding that. So while constructing, it was troublesome; now, keeping this, it is also troublesome. To find out pleasure they have manufactured so many things. But still, they cannot enjoy it. For few minutes they can enjoy; again it is nonsense. “Let us go away.” (break)

Satsvarupa: …that I can actually become a bird or a dog because…

Prabhupada: What are these… Wherefrom these birds and dogs are coming? Let them answer. Wherefrom they are coming?

Nitai: Well, they would say from other birds and dogs.

Prabhupada: Yes, other birds or these birds, wherefrom they are coming?

Satsvarupa: But that’s not my condition. I am a human being.

Prabhupada: That you may think, but you do not know the nature’s law. You have to accept. Just like this apartment, either you accept or somebody accept. Similarly, these bodies are apartment. You have to accept or your brother has to accept. Somebody must accept. They are also living entities. Wherefrom they are coming? As I am a living entity, they are also living entity. So changing body, I may change to that body, he may change to this body. Where is the unreasonableness? We are all living entities. These are different types of bodies. So we have to accept some body. Similarly, he has to accept some body. So he may accept my body, I may accept his body. This apartment change. I may go to this apartment, he may go to another apartment. But there are so many apartments, grha. Therefore it is called grhamedhi. If you say, “No, no, I am not going to accept that apartment.” “No, no, it is not your judgement.” Daiva-netrena. “What money you have got, sir, to occupy?” “I have no money.” “All right, then go this apartment.” You must accept. Karmana daiva-netrena. By your work it will be ascertained what kind of apartment you will get. It is not upon your decision. There are so many, many rascals. They think that after getting human body, he is never degraded. The theosophists think like that. That is very palatable. (laughing) But nature will force him to accept the body of a cat and dog. That is not your decision. Daiva-netrena, the superior decision. Just in office, you get promotion or degradation. That is not your decision. That is the decision of the higher directors. You cannot say that “No, no, I am not going to accept this post.” No. You have to accept. Karanam guna-sango ‘sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. These different types of birth are due to your association with different types of the modes of material nature. Otherwise, why there are so many varieties. One has become crow, one has become sparrow, one has become human being, one has become dog, one has become cat, one has become tree, one has become grass. But nature is so expert that in spite of different varieties of life, the nature assembles them in such a nice way that it looks beautiful. There is grass, there is tree, there is sparrow, there is human being, but arrangement is such nice that everything… (end)

[740530mw.rom] Morning Walk May 30, 1974, Rome

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada