PRABHUPĀDA: Jaya. Jaya. Jaya.
Very nice. The first vibration is
jaya.
Anandamayo ’bhyasat. This Krsna
consciousness is simply full of
bliss. Nobody should become
morose. If he’s feeling morose,
then it is lack of Krsna
consciousness. This is the sign.
brahma-bhutah prasannatma na
socati na kanksati samah sarvesu
bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate
param [Bg. 18.54]
Krsna consciousness is a stage
after liberation. Brahma-bhutah.
Brahma-bhutah means “I am
now free from all material
anxieties.” That is called brahma-
bhutah stage. Just like a person
suffering prison life for years
together, and if he is given
freedom, “Now you are free,”
how much delight he’ll feel. “Oh,
now I am free.” You see? So that
is the stage of brahma-bhutah.
Prasannatma [Bg. 18.54], joyful,
immediately. And what is the
nature of joyfulness? Na socati.
Even in the great loss, there is no
lamentation. And big profit, there
is no jubilation, or there is no
hankering. That is called brahma-
bhutah stage. Equipoised.
brahma-bhutah prasannatma na
socati na kanksati samah sarvesu
bhutesu… [Bg. 18.54]
In that stage one can see all
living entities on the same
understanding of spiritual
identity. In another place
Bhagavad-gita says, panditah
sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18] When
a man is learned he sees
everyone on the same level of
spiritual understanding. So when
one has reached this stage, then
actually Krsna consciousness
begins. Mad-bhaktim labhate
param [Bg. 18.54].
So Krsna consciousness is so nice
that it is activities of liberated
stage. Everyone is trying to get
liberation from these material
pangs, every philosophy. Buddha
philosophy, they are also trying—
nirvana. Nirvana means
extinguish this. So they want to
make void. All these material
varieties, they want to make it
zero. That is Buddha philosophy.
Mayavada philosophy is more or
less like that. It is a second
edition of Buddha philosophy.
Zero, but that zero is without life.
Mayavada philosophy says, “Yes,
that zero, but with life.” That is
the mistake. If there is life, then
there must be varieties. Life
without variety is not possible.
Dead body without variety, not
life without variety. So these are
the defects of all other
philosophies. They’re not defects,
but the class of people amongst
whom the philosophy was
taught, they could not
understand more than that.
That’s all. Just like a patient too
much disturbed, he wants some
medicine from the physician:
“Please stop my disturbance. Kill
me. Kill me.” Sometimes they say
like that: “Give me some poison,
kill me. I cannot tolerate.” A
physician says, “Yes, there is no
need of killing. I shall give you
good, healthy life.” He’s so much
impatient, “No. I cannot tolerate.
Please kill me.” So this Buddha
philosophy, Mayavada philosophy
is like that. Kill him “Kill me,
please. Make me zero, void.” So
much frustration. So much
disturbance that they want to
make it zero. But our philosophy
is life, real life.
But it is difficult to understand
this philosophy, Krsna
philosophy. Why it is difficult?
That is explained, grha-
vratanam. Grha-vratanam. Grha
means “house.” So vrata means
“vow.” Just like everyone,
common man, anywhere, they
are interested with these bodily
comforts, nice apartment, nice
country, nice state, confident,
nice bank balance. These things
are their aspiration, no more.
Nothing more. First of all this
body, grha. Grha means “house,
living place.” So I am the soul, I
am living, and this body is my
first living place. This is also grha.
I am not this body. Just like I am
living in this apartment, I am not
this apartment. Similarly, I am
living in this body, but I am not
this body. This is the beginning
of spiritual education. Unless one
does not understand that “I am
not this body; I am living in this
body,” there is no question of
spiritual education. He does not
know what is spiritual and
material. So this
misunderstanding, that “I am this
body. I belong to this apartment,
I belong to this society, I belong
to this country, I belong to this
nation, I belong to this world, I
belong to this universe”—you can
expand—that is all
misunderstanding. All
misunderstanding. If you say,
“Oh, now I am not…” Just like
big leaders, they say that “My life
is for the nation.” And some
ordinary common man says, “Oh,
my life is for my family.” And a
less important person, just like
childlike, he is or she is for this
body. That’s all. So this
expansion from bodily concept of
life to family life, or to, from
family to community life, from
community to society life, or
national life, or universal
brotherhood life, that is very
much appreciated. “Oh, this man
is after universal brotherhood.”
These are all bogus. You see?
But this is a misconception. You
can expand. However you may
expand, the defect will be there.
Just like the so-called nationalist
or humanitarist or universalist,
they are packed up within the
boundary of the human being.
They have no expansions toward
other living entities. Their
national conception, that the
human body should be given
protection but animal body no
protection… Why? They are also
nationals. But they have no such
idea because all these ideas are
defective. There is shortcut.
So only Krsna consciousness is
the perfect… So Bhagavata says,
na te viduh… matir na krsne
paratah svato va mitho
’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. So
actually grha means this material
confinement. Grha, real grha,
means one is bound up within
some limited space. So grha
means to keep oneself within
some boundary. So Bhagavata
says so long one is interested to
keep himself within the boundary
of some limited area, he cannot
understand Krsna consciousness.
Matir na krsne. He cannot
understand what is Krsna
consciousness or God
consciousness. He’s limited within
certain boundary. So Bhagavata
says Krsna consciousness is not
possible for persons who are
limited by certain boundary,
including universal concept of
life. That is also boundary. And
matir na krsne svatah. Svatah
means by his personal mental
speculation. Just like many
philosophers are thinking to
reach the Absolute Truth beyond
this limitation. That is called
svatah, by personal speculation.
Svatah, paratah. Paratah means
from authorities. From a spiritual
master, from scriptures, from
authoritative books, authoritative
source of knowledge, that is
called paratah. Matir na krsne
paratah svato va mitho. Mitho
means by great assembly. Just
like the United Nation is trying to
solve the problem for the last
many years, twenty to twenty-
five years, all the nations. This is
called mithah, assembly. Mithah
means assembly. So why it is not
possible? Because they are
limited. Their real concept is that
“I am this body, I am this nation,
I am this this, I am this, I am
that.” That’s all. The basic
principle is wrong. Therefore it is
not possible to make a solution of
the problems, either by personal
speculation or by receiving
knowledge. Just like our principle
is to receive knowledge from the
spiritual master. But if I keep
myself within this boundary…
Suppose if somebody thinks that
“I am American,” then naturally
he’ll be inclined, “Oh, why shall I
be inclined to hear from a
spiritual master who is Indian,
who is Hindu?” So he’ll not be
able to capture paratah.
Similarly, if you go to the
assembly like United Nation or
Commonwealth conference, like
that, but if you keep yourself that
“I am this, I am this, I am this,”
there is no possibility; therefore
they are failing. The basic
principle is wrong. Grha-vrata.
The concept of life is wrong.
Grha-vratanam. And why they
want to be limited by this poor
concept of life? This is called
material existence. Adanta-gobhir
visatam tamisram. This limited
concept of life is due to unbridled
sense. This limited concept of life
they want to keep because they
want to satisfy their senses. I am
going to the assembly, United
Nation, but I am keeping myself
as American or as German, as
Russian, or Indian, that “My
nation shall be happy in this
way.” Indian is thinking in that
way, American is thinking that
way, Russian is thinking in
another way, another way. They
are keeping themself in that
limited area, and what benefit
they will derive simply by wasting
time in the assembly and talking?
This is called grha-vratanam.
So one has to go outside this
limited area. That is called
brahma-bhutah stage. Then
they’ll have real Krsna
consciousness. Matir na krsne
parato svato. So why I want that
I shall be happy in this way? I
make my own plan: “My nation
will be happy in this way.” This is
called samsara, adanta-gobhir,
because I want to satisfy my
senses. Adanta-gobhir visatam
tamisram. And the position is
punah punas carvita-carvananam
[SB 7.5.30]. Punah punas
carvita-car…, carvita-carvana
means chewing the chewed.
Something is chewed and thrown
away in the street, and if
somebody comes and chews
again that thrown away article,
he cannot get any juice out of it.
Similarly, we are making plan,
but because it is on the platform
of sense gratification, the whole
thing is coming to the four
principles of animal life—eating,
sleeping, mating, defending—
that’s all. That means in a circle,
coming to the same animal
platform. The distinction between
animal and man is that… Man
and animal, they have got
common platform of these four
principles of life: eating, sleeping,
mating, and defending. The only
extra qualification of man is that
he can come to understand what
is Krsna and what is God. That is
his special qualification. But
because they are trying to keep
themselves within the limit of
sense gratification, they’re
coming again and again to that
same platform, eating, sleeping,
mating, and defending, without
Krsna consciousness. So this is
the secret how to become Krsna
conscious. We should not limit
ourself under certain area. And
how it is possible? That is Krsna
consciousness, that “I am eternal
servant of Krsna, or God.” That is
Krsna consciousness.
So if we keep ourself within some
limit, then it will be not possible
to understand what is Krsna
consciousness. Matir na krsne
paratah svato va mitho
’bhipadyeta grha… These are
verses… Bhagavata verses can be
explained for so many days. They
are so important. Yes. Another
verse is, why they are keeping
themself within the limit of this
sense gratificatory platform? That
is answered in Bhagavata: na te
viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
[SB 7.5.31]. This is very
important. These foolish persons,
they do not know what is the
ultimate goal of their life. Na te
viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
[SB 7.5.31]. They do not know
that their self-interest… Everyone
is self-interest(ed). Everyone is
eager to look after his self-
interest, but they do not know
what is the self-interest.
Durasaya. Because they do not
know, therefore, out of ulterior
motive, they are thinking that
“Satisfaction in the material way
of life will give me ultimate
pleasure or ultimate satisfaction.
That is my ultimate goal.”
Therefore the scientist, the
politician, everyone is trying,
making their own plan. And what
is that plan? By manipulating this
external energy, dura, bahir-
artha, bahir-artha-maninah. Now,
we are preaching Krsna
consciousness. People are not
interested in this thing. Had I
been an expert in certain
technology, electronics,
improvement in electronics, then
thousands of students and
people would come and hear me.
Bahir-artha-maninah. Because a
person is dealing with the
ingredients of the external
energy, people are thinking,
“This technological knowledge
will give me happiness.”
Durasaya. That is durasaya. That
is useless hope. Bhagavata says
this kind of hope, that this kind
of material advancement, this
kind of material adjustment…
After all, it is material. That will
not give you happiness. But they
are thinking like that. They are
hoping like that. Durasaya.
Durasaya ye bahir-artha-
maninah. Andha yathandhair
upaniyamanas. Andha. This
means that we are blind, we do
not know what is the goal of our
life. (child making noise) (aside:)
Stop. We do not know what is
the goal of our life, and the
leaders, they also do not know
what is the goal of our life. Our
Back to Godhead editorial, they
have written very nicely that with
the change of some politician we
are thinking that something new
will be done and we shall be
happy. Just like there is
advertisement, “America Needs
Nixon Now.” (laughter) People
are thinking, “Now, instead of
Johnson, when Mr. Nixon will be
President, we shall be happy.”
But they do not know from which
stock either this Mr. Johnson or
Nixon is coming. The source of
supply is the same. If the source
of supply is the same, then what
is there, replacing Mr. Johnson by
Nixon or Nixon by Johnson? The
leader(s) themselves, they are
blind. They do not know what is
the ultimate goal of life.
Therefore our position is that we
are blind and our leaders are
blind, so what will be the result?
If a blind man leads other
hundred men to cross over the
street, certainly there will be
some accident because all of
them are blind men. If one man
is with eyes, open eyes, he can
lead hundreds and thousands of
men behind him. But if the leader
and the led, both of them are
blind, then the result will be that
all of them will fall into the ditch.
So, andha yathandair
upaniyamana te ’pisa-tantryam
uru-damni baddhah. They’re
promising, “My dear citizens, my
dear countrymen, if you give me
vote, because the country needs
me at the present moment, then
I shall give you all comforts, all
solutions.” But he is isa-tantryam
uru-damni baddhah. By the laws
of God, by the laws of nature, he
is tightly packed up. You see? If
your hands are tightly knotted, if
your legs are tightly, then how
you can work? So these leaders,
they do not know that they are
under the control of the stringent
laws of nature. Prakrteh
kriyamanani gunaih karmani
sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Suppose if
there is a heavy earthquake.
Suppose the Atlantic Ocean…
And there is some suggestion like
that, some years they will mix
together, by the scientists.
Suppose the Atlantic Ocean and
Pacific Ocean mix together. Then
how you can check? Your hands
and legs are tightly packed up.
You cannot check the laws of
nature. Therefore blind leaders
who are so tightly packed up by
the laws of nature, how they can
lead? They cannot lead. They
cannot lead to the goal of life.
The goal of life is God or Krsna,
but they are enamored by the
glimmering of, the glittering of
this material nature. So they
cannot lead. Then how, what is
the solution? If Krsna
consciousness is not possible to
cultivate by speculation, by
assembly meeting, or by
knowledge derived from higher
authoritative sources, the leaders
are misleading, then how it is to
be attained? How the goal of life
can be attained?
Then that is suggested by
Prahlada Maharaja: naisam matis
tavad urukramanghrim. One
cannot become Krsna
consciousness…, one cannot
become Krsna conscious, naisam
matis tavad urukramanghrim
anartha, anarthapagamo yad-
arthah. Sprsaty anarthapagamo
yad-arthah. As soon as one
becomes Krsna conscious or one
becomes in touch with Krsna
consciousness, sprsaty, anartha,
immediately he becomes
delivered from all these
misgivings of material existence.
That is the test. How one is in
contact with Krsna consciousness
will be tested—how he is freed
from all misgivings. Just like for
example—not very gigantic
example; very small—our
students, as soon as they take to
Krsna consciousness, initiated,
immediately so many misgivings
they give up. So many. The basic
principles of misgiving, what is
that? No illicit sex, no
intoxication, no meat-eating, no
gambling. It is very difficult for
persons, especially in the
Western countries, to give up all
these habits. They are so much
entangled. Even Lord Ronaldsay
said, Marquis of Zetland… One of
my Godbrothers, some years
ago, in 1935 he went to London,
and Lord Zetland, Marquis of
Zetland, Lord Ronaldsay… He
was a Scotsman. I don’t think
whether he is living, but he was
very interested in Indian
philosophy. He was once
governor of Bengal. In our
childhood we saw him. He came
to our college. So he inquired
from this preacher, my
Godbrother, that Bannerji, he
was Mr. Bannerji, Goswami
Bannerji: “Bannerji, can you
make us brahmana?” Bannerji
said, “Why not? Yes, we can
make you brahmana. Then you
have to follow the rules, these
four principles of rules. Then you
can become a brahmana.” He
said, “Oh, it is impossible.” He
said. You see? Such a big
personality, he is interested in
philosophy, he holds some
position, responsible man, he
flatly denied, “Oh, it is not
possible to give up these habits.”
But our student, hundreds of
students who are coming to
Krsna consciousness, they are
giving up very easily. They don’t
feel any inconvenience. This is
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-
arthah. Krsna consciousness, the
first test is that in the beginning,
from the very beginning, all
misgivings will go on. Will go on.
Our student can twenty-four
hours sit down before a Deity
and chant Hare Krsna. Bring any
student of any yoga society, let
him sit down for five hours. He’ll
fail. They are so restless. Simply
official fifteen minutes, half an
hour, by closing the eyes and
murmuring something,
meditation. These boys are
twenty-four hours engaged in
Krsna consciousness.
So Krsna consciousness is so
nice. That is the test. All these
boys, any man can come and ask
them how they are feeling.
Unless they feel some spiritual
satisfaction, how they can give
up everything and be engaged in
this Krsna conscious chanting?
Therefore this is the test. Naisam
matis tavad urukramanghrim.
Matis tavad. Matis tavad
urukramanghrim.
Urukramanghrim. Urukrama,
Krsna’s another name is
Urukrama. Urukrama means…
Uru means very difficult, and
krama means steps. Just like
Krsna in the Vamana-avatara, He
forwarded His steps up to the
sky. His name is therefore
Urukrama. So one cannot fix up
his mind on the lotus feet of
Krsna unless mahiyasam pada-
rajo-’bhisekam niskincananam na
vrnita yavat. This is not possible
so long he has not the
opportunity of touching the dust
of the lotus feet of a personality
who is niskincana, who has no
material hankerings; mahiyasam,
and life is dedicated only for
Krsna. As soon as one comes in
touch with such personality, by
his grace, this thing, this Krsna
consciousness can be achieved.
Not by any other method.
Naisam matis tavad
urukramanghrim. The test will be
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-
arthah mahiyasam pado-rajo-
’bhisekam niskincananam na
vrnita yavat. This is the test, and
this is the way to approach a
bona fide person and receive this
Krsna consciousness from him,
by his mercy, by his grace. But as
soon as one receives,
immediately his liberation from
material entanglement begins.
Immediately, immediately. And
then as he makes further
progress, progress, progress, his
life becomes sublime. Now one
thing… One may question,
suppose one has taken up to
Krsna consciousness out of
sentiment, but he could not finish
it. What is the result? That is also
said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Tyaktva sva-dharmam
caranambujam harer [Bhag.
1.5.17]. Sva-dharmam. Sva-
dharma means everyone has got
some specific duty, occupation.
Everyone. So if somebody gives
up his specific duty in which he’s
engaged, tyaktva sva-dharmam…
Just like many boys and girls,
they come here. They were
engaged in something else, but
all of a sudden they give up and
they join this Krsna
consciousness movement. So for
them, Bhagavata says, tyaktva
sva-dharmam… Sva means his
own occupation, dharma. Now
here the dharma is not religion.
Occupational duty. Tyaktva sva-
dharmam caranambujam harer.
Suppose after hearing some
lectures of this Krsna
consciousness movement, he
settles, “Now I shall begin Krsna
consciousness,” and gives up his
prescribed duties or occupational
duty. Tyaktva sva-dharmam
caranambujam harer bhajann
apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi
[Bhag. 1.5.17]. Bhajann. Now he
begins chanting or regulative
principles, but all of a sudden, he
falls down. He falls down. He
could not prosecute. By some
reason or by some
circumstances, he falls down. So
Bhagavata says, “What is the
wrong with him even if he falls
down?” Just see. Even if he falls
down due to immature
development of Krsna
consciousness, still, he’s not
loser. And Bhagavata says, ko
vartha apto ’bhajatam sva-
dharmatah. And what profit will
he get, one who is very steadily
engaged in his occupational
duty? He’s simply a loser because
he does not know what is the
aim of his life. But here, a person
who comes in Krsna
consciousness, even for a few
days if he is with us, he gets the
contamination of Krsna
consciousness so that in his next
life he’ll begin again, again,
again. So he’s not loser. One
injection of Krsna consciousness
will make him some day perfect
in Krsna consciousness, and he’s
sure to go back to Godhead, back
to home. So try to spread this
Krsna consciousness movement.
And this is your sadhana,
execution of austerity, penance.
Because you have to meet so
many opposing elements. You
have to fight with them. That is
tapasya. You are tolerating so
much insults, so much
botheration, and so much
inconveniences, personal
discomfort, everything sacrificed,
money—but it will not go in vain.
Rest assured. It will not go in
vain. Krsna will, I mean to say,
reward you sufficiently. You go
on executing this Krsna
consciousness.
Thank you very much.
DEVOTEES: Jaya. Hare Krsna.
Haribol. (offer obeisances)
PRABHUPADA: SO ANY
QUESTION?
MADHUDVISA: Prabhupada,
could you tell us something about
Krsna’s rasa-lila?
PRABHUPADA: (pause) Krsna’s
rasa-lila should not be discussed
in public meeting. It is most
confidential. Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu never discussed. He
discussed Krsna’s pastimes, lila
with gopis, with His confidential,
very confidential circle. Or those
who are… Lord Caitanya had
many thousands of followers,
and… He was not discussing
even within these five persons,
sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-
nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara
srivasadi, Nityananda, Advaita,
Gadadhara, Srivasa, and Himself,
these five persons. So when He
was at Navadvipa, He was not
discussing even with them, what
to speak of others. He set up this
example so that in future people
may be very cautious. Because
unless one understands what is
Krsna, how he can understand
Krsna’s pastime? So this
discussion of rasa-lila is the
summit of Krsna consciousness.
It is not ordinary thing. They’re
purely spiritual. There is nothing
material. But because we are not
completely free from material
concept of life, we may think that
Krsna’s lila is something like this
material. So that is offense. But
that is the ultimate goal, to
understand Krsna’s rasa-lila. But
you have to wait for relishing that
Krsna’s rasa-lila, to become more
perfect in Krsna consciousness.
Anarthapagamam. Anartha
means when one is freed from all
anarthas. But it is so nice, even
those who are with anartha,
misgivings, if they are devotee, if
they have got full surrender unto
Krsna, so they also will derive
benefit. Krsna’s rasa-lila means
that Krsna was adopted or foster
child. Is that foster child? Yes.
So, of Nanda Maharaja. His
father exchanged. His father
Vasudeva wanted to save Krsna,
and he brought from Mathura to
Vrndavana, Gokula. And Nanda
Maharaja had a daughter. So he
placed Krsna on the lap of
Yasoda and took away the
daughter, and this daughter was
given to Kamsa for killing. Just
see, there is selfishness. He
wanted to save his own son and
wanted to kill Yasoda’s daughter.
(chuckling) You see? So this is
not selfishness; therefore we
shall misunderstand. That
daughter was not ordinary child,
she was the material energy
herself, Durga. So when Kamsa
took that child by the leg and
wanted to, what is called? Slash?
Smash, yes. Smash on the stone,
the daughter slipped from his
hand and appeared as Durga,
that “You fool, you want to kill
me. The boy, the child who will
kill you, is already born. Don’t try
for killing me. He’s already born.”
So Krsna, up to sixteen years, He
was in Vrndavana. Naturally,
there were many children, boys
and girls. They played together.
So they were very… Krsna,
everyone loved. Vrndavana
means simply center figure is
Krsna, and everyone loves. So
some of the girls, they loved
Krsna, and a girl’s loving means
she wants Krsna as husband. But
according to Vedic concept, the
girls are married at the age of
twelve to sixteen years, and boys
are married from twenty to
twenty-five years. So all the girls
were married mostly, but Krsna
was not married. And some of
the girls were not married, but all
the girls, they were very fond of
Krsna. So from the childhood
they were friends. So Krsna used
to play His flute, and all the girls
would come. So this rasa-lila was
performed on this day, the Krsna,
in the full moon night, He played
the flute, and the girls assembled
and there was dance. There is
similar dance, just like ball dance
in your country. But the specific
significance of this dance was
that Krsna bifurcated Himself in
so many boys as many girls there
were, and they began to dance in
pair. That is sum and substance
of rasa-lila. So if you go to
Vrndavana and if you like to
dance with Krsna, the facility is
for you. That is the ultimate goal
of our life. If you want to love
Krsna similarly as the gopis loved,
you can have the chance. Or if
you want to love Krsna as His
cowherds boyfriend, that chance
is also there. If you want to love
Krsna as child, that chance is also
there. Any capacity you try to
love Krsna… Krsna is ye yatha
mam prapadyante. “Anyone who
worships Me or loves Me in any
way, I am prepared to answer.”
So if you want to enter into the
rasa-lila, if you desire like that, so
you love Krsna in that way, as
the gopis. Then you’ll have the
same perfection. There is no
difficulty. It is not at all difficult.
Simply you practice. But you
have to forget the rasa-lila of this
material world. (chuckling)
Otherwise there is no chance. If
you want to imitate that rasa-lila
in the material world then you
play havoc. That risk is there.
Yes. “Krsna enjoyed with so
many girls, so let me also
become Krsna and enjoy.” That is
finished everything. (laughter)
(pause) (baby laughs) Oh, she is
appreciating. (chuckles) Yes.
Thank you.