740427BG.HYD

Pradyumna: Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. [Prabhupada and devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse]

[break] [03:06]

Translation: "Now hear, O son of Prtha, Arjuna, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt."

Prabhupada:

In the human society, it is a prerogative to know God. In the animal society, there is no such question. The human society is meant for understanding what is God. That is the privilege of human being. We come to this form of human being after many, many births. There are 8,400,000 species of life, beginning from water. Then on the land... In the water there are nine lakhs species of life, different aquatics. So in the beginning of creation the whole planet was merged into water. That is also scientifically... Modern science. And from sastras also, we understand, pralaya-payodhi-jale dhrtavan asi vedam, kesava dhrta-mina-sarira jaya jagadisa hare [Dasavatara Stotram 1]. So in the beginning there was water. So there must be living entities, because living entities are everywhere-in the water, in the air, on the land, within the land, within the water, everywhere. Therefore the living entities are called sarva-ga. Sarva-ga means the living entity can go anywhere. As we are now trying to go to the moon planet, so we may go or not go, but there are living entities in all the planets, in different positions. There are innumerable planets and innumerable universes also. And beyond this material world, there is another nature. Paras tasmat tu bhavah anyah avyaktah avyaktat sanatanah [Bg 8.20]. That nature is permanent.

This material nature is not permanent. It is bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg 8.19]. Everything here, in the material world, everything comes into existence, takes birth, janma, then stays for sometimes, grows the body, then produces some by-products, then dwindles and then finished. This is the material nature. Just like your body, my body, it has taken birth at a certain date, it is growing, and it is producing some children, by-products. Then, as we are growing old, then one day the body will be finished. This is the material nature. Either you take it personally, individually, your body, or this gigantic body of the universe, in whichever way you may take it, the nature is bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg 8.19]. Here the material nature is you take your birth or appearance and again disappear and again appear. This is the instruction of spiritual life. The spirit soul is there, but it is not getting a permanent settlement. This is material world. Tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg 2.13].

As the body is changing, there are so many children, they will also become old like me. But the spirit soul is there. In the presence of mother, although the body is changing, the mother knows that "My son is there." Although from babyhood the son has grown to boyhood, the body, original body, child's body, baby's body, is not existing, the mother knows that "My boy is there."

So this is common-sense understanding. People do not understand it, very nice common sense, that the body is changing but the soul is there. Exactly the same example: the mother knows that "My boy, my child, although he has changed body, now he has grown-up, say, fifty years old, but my child he is. He is my child." Where is the difficulty to understand? Anyone can understand. But people do not believe in the transmigration of the soul. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13].

This kind of education, what is the value? The real knowledge begins when we understand that we are not this body, material body; I am different from body.

This is our position. Then, when we understand that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi, then real knowledge begins. Otherwise, so long we are in the bodily concept of life, we are animals, because animal cannot think that the animal is not the body.

So first education should be given to the students that he is not this body; he is spirit soul. And because he is spirit soul, he has got a different business than to maintain this body. Maintenance of the body, that is being done by the cats and dogs also. They also take care of the body very nicely. They fight, struggle for existence to... They fight to keep the body fit. The tiger also, he fights. He secures his eatables by fighting. Similarly, this struggle for existence to get things for eating, sleeping, mating and defending, that is current in the animal society also.

So sastra says, therefore, nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. Sastra says ayam deha, this body, human body... Nayam deho nrloke, deha-bhajam nrloke. Nrloke means in the human society. The animals... Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye. Vid-bhujam means an stool-eater animal, stool-eater animal, hog. You know. Although it is not very easily found in the cities, in our Indian villages, there are so many stool-eater hogs loitering in the street, in the village. The only business is, "Where to find out stool?" This is the business. Whole day and night they are working, to find out stool. So if human being is educated to find out his eatables... Of course, the hog's eatables are the stool. They like it very much, very palatable thing. Similarly, we also, for some palatable things, we also work day and night. But sastra says, na ayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate. Why this human society should be trained up to work so hard simply for eating, sleeping, mating and defending? This is not good.

Then what is it meant for, human life? Tapa. Tapasya. Tapo divyam yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. The human life's business is to accept tapasya, voluntarily accepting some inconvenience of life. That is called tapasya. Tapa means some trouble. Just like to become brahmacari, it is tapasya. Just like we are prescribing this formula: "No illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling." People want to do it. People want illicit sex. The whole city is full of pictures, simply how to indulge in illicit sex. Then meat-eating-big, big signboard-and intoxication, wine shops. They want it. That is the natural propensity. Loke vyavayamisa-madya-seva nitya hi jantor na hi tatra codana [SB 11.5.11]. You do not require to encourage them in these things. They have got natural tendency. That is material world-to enjoy unrestricted sex life, to eat meat, fish eggs, amisa... Amisa-madya-seva. Amisa means eat meat, fish, eggs. These are amisa. And vegetarian means niramisa. So amisa-madya-seva. Madhya means intoxication. Either wine or cigarette or bidi or ganja, bhaṅg, teas, coffees, they are all intoxication. So amisa-madya-seva and vyavaya. Vyavaya means sex life. You do not require to educate them. In the school, college, the boys and girls are not, I mean, given lesson... Of course now, I think, they are now giving lesson also. But naturally, without any lesson, they know how to do it. Similarly, without an education, one can take to intoxication. So these things are natural. But when we try to stop these material instincts, that is called tapasya, tapasya.

So human life is not to be carried away by the so-called natural instinct. Natural instinct, material life... There are two kinds of natural instinct. So long we are in the bodily concept of life, there are different natural instincts, and when we come to the platform of spiritual understanding, that natural instinct is different. That is real natural instinct. So that natural instinct, spiritual natural instinct, can be attained by tapasya. Tapo divyam. That is the instruction of Rsabhadeva. Now, people may say that "Why we should undergo this tapasya, austerities? If we want to enjoy life, why we shall voluntarily give up this and undergo austerities?" No, there is reason. Tapo divyam yena suddhyet sattvam yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam. It is very reasonable. You have to undergo tapasya, voluntarily restraint. That is called tapasya. So why? Now, yato suddhyet sattvam. Your existence will be purified. "What is the wrong in my existence?" But that we cannot understand; that is called illusion. There are so many wrong things. Always we are in miserable condition. The summary miserable condition is, as described in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg 13.9].

That is intelligence, that "I am now put under... Although I have solved all my problems..." But Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "You have solved all your problems by your so-called scientific advancement; that is all right. But where is your solution of janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, repetition of birth, death, old age and disease? Where is your solution?" This is very intelligent question.

Krsna says therefore that "You have solved all the problems of miserable condition of life. That is all right. But you should always keep in front these problems, prominently: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanu..." Janma, the tribulations of janma, to live within the womb of the mother, everyone we have suffered, but we have forgotten. Similarly, we are awaiting another suffering at the time of death. That is also suffering, janma-mrtyu. Then, when we take birth, we get old. That is also suffering. And we suffer from diseases. But as we are spirit soul... That is described in the Bhagavad-gita: na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg 2.20]. The spirit soul does not die after the annihilation of this body. That is our position. We are accepting different types of bodies, but we are eternal, part and parcel of the Supreme. Not only eternal; full of knowledge and blissful. This is our position. But at the present moment, because we have got this body, it is not very pleasurable condition. It is miserable condition. There are adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika miseries, and always we are under. That we cannot understand. We are thinking that "Things go on like this. Don't bother about these things. Go on. Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy." That means we are living very foolishly. Although the problems are there... I do not wish to die; the death is there. I do not wish to be within the womb of my mother, but I am forced to take a body within the womb of my mother. Then when I get the body, I come out, I am subjected to so many tribulation on account of this body-old age, disease and so many.

So actually, this is the problem of living entities, and that knowledge can be acquired in the human form of life and it can be solved, not that simply we get the knowledge, but it can be solved. So therefore, real business of human life, to understand oneself, that is called self-realization, brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20], and find out the remedy and act accordingly. That is the mission of human life. Not like to dance like cats and dogs with a nice dress. That is not human life. This is the subject matter of Bhagavad-gita, our whole Vedic instruction. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg 15.15].

This is God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, or self-realization. Self-realization means either you see yourself or see the Supreme Lord, either way. But without seeing the Supreme Lord, you cannot see yourself. Just like without seeing the sun in the darkness... Just like it is now night. There is no sun. So I cannot see also. In darkness I cannot see also myself. But when there is sun in the morning, I can see the sun and I can see myself also. This is the theory. So if we want to understand ourselves rightly, that "I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi, then we must take to Krsna consciousness.

So how one can take to Krsna consciousness, that is being described by Krsna in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. The first verse is,

Because we have to see God. Just like I told you, if you see the sun, then automatically you see everything. You see yourself, you see your neighbor, you see the city, you see the house, you see... Everything you can see when there is sunlight. Similarly, if you can see God, then you can see everything. Yasmin vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati [Mundaka Upanisad 1.3].

If you can understand what is God, then you understand everything. Now why don't you take this process to understand God? That is the prerogative of human life, to understand God. Why you deny the existence of God? How you can deny? You cannot deny. There is a controller, supreme controller. That we have to accept. We are not free. We are being controlled. However we are trying to become independent of any controller, that is not possible. Prakrteh... You are under the control of the prakrti.

Rascals and fools, they are thinking that "We are independent." They are completely under the grip of the material nature. Every one of you know. We want to do something; we don't want excessive heat. Why there is excessive heat so that we have to manufacture this fan and air condition, so many things? This is simply struggle against the control of the material nature. This is a fact. And we have to accept this. You cannot deny it. That is described:

Those who are fools and rascals, they are thinking, "We are independent." You are not independent-under the prakrti, under the nature. And what is the prakrti? Prakrti is the agent, or agency, of Krsna. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg 9.10]:

"Under My control." Prakrti is controlling you or me, and prakrti is being controlled by Krsna. Therefore Krsna is the supreme controller. That is accepted in the Vedic literature, isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs 5.1].

Krsna is controller-we are surprised. How? I am also a human being, and Krsna is also a historical person, human being. How He is controller of the whole material nature? That is answered, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Although He comes as a person, but He is not a person like us. He is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha.

That we can understand, study. What is that sac-cid-ananda-vigraha? Sat means eternal, cit means full of knowledge, and bliss..., ananda means blissfulness. But so far my body is concerned, your body is concerned, they are not sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. My body, your body will not exist. Therefore it is asat. It is not sat. My body, your body is full of ignorance. Therefore it is not cit. It is acit. And my body, your body is not at all pleasing. There are so many troubles. Therefore it is not ananda. Therefore Krsna's body is different from us. Therefore He is controller. We think, "If Krsna has got a body, then He must have a body like us." Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg 9.11].

"These mudhas, rascals, because I appear before them to give them the lesson about God, what is God, these rascal think of Me as one of them." This is rascaldom. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam, param bhavam ajanantah. That sac-cid-ananda-vigraha can control the whole material nature-that they do not know. Param bhavam ajanantah.

So therefore it is our duty to understand Krsna. What is the difficulty? Krsna is personally..., God is personally explaining Himself, what He is, and if we accept that, then where is the difficulty to understand God? Why you are making so much research work to find out God? God is canvassing at your door, "Here I am. You try to understand Me. Here I am explaining Myself." "No, no, no. We shall find out God somewhere else." This is called mudha. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg 7.15].

Naradhama means not even ordinary knowledge of a human being. Lowest of the mankind. We are searching out what is God, and God is canvassing here. We do not accept. Therefore naradhama. Why? Mayayapahrta-jnanah, because their knowledge has been taken away by the illusory energy. But one who is..., whose knowledge has not been taken away... Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was personally instructed by Krsna, and how he accepts Krsna? He accepts Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan, purusam sasvatam adyam... [Bg 10.12]: "O Krsna, You are Para-brahman." Para-brahman.

The word... There are two words: Para-brahman and Brahman. Aham brahmasmi, that does not mean aham parabrahmasmi. Aham brahmasmi: I am also spirit soul, but not the Supreme. Para-brahman is Krsna. I am also isvara. Isvara means controller. You are also isvara. Just like in this school, the teacher is isvara in his class. He is controlling some students. I am controlling my disciples. I am also isvara. So everyone can be isvara. There is no... Everyone can be god. But we are using the word "Godhead." Just like there are some clerks and there is head clerk, similarly, we are all gods. The Mayavadi philosophy, they say, "Everyone is God." That's all right. But you are not the head God. Head, there... If there is god, there are so many gods, there must be one head God. That is our natural experience. Anywhere you go, there are so many people, but there is some leader, head. I had some talks with one Russian professor, Professor Kotovsky, in Moscow. So we had very long talks. At last I asked him, "Mr. Kotovsky..." I forget to..., "Comrade." [laughter]. But I said "mister." [laughs] "So where is the difference between your philosophy and my philosophy, or our philosophy? You have to accept one leader, head, and we also accept one head. Then where is the difference between Communism and other ism?" So he was stopped. He appreciated very much. "The difference is that you have accepted Lenin as your head and we have accepted Krsna as our head."

So there is no difference of the philosophy. You have to accept. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam [Katha Upanisad 2.2.13]. That is the Vedic instruction. What is meaning of "God"? God means the head of the living entities. What is the difficulty to understand it? Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. Nitya means eternal. We are also eternal, and God is also eternal. So what is the difference? So qualitatively we are one. Because God is eternal, I am also eternal. I am now somehow or other in diseased condition, that I have to change my body. But God does not change His body. Sambhavamy atma-mayaya [Bg 4.6].

He says, atma-mayaya: "By My own will-power. I am not forced." Just like according to my karma, I have been forced to accept this material body, certain type of body. I cannot dictate. As I am creating another body by my karma, so the karma, by... Prakrteh kriyamanani [Bg 3.27], another place. So why the living entities are getting different types of bodies? That is also answered: karanam. The reason is guna-saṅgah asya sad-asad-janma-yonisu. Karanam, the cause, is the material nature.

The material nature is divided into three modes: sattva-guna, tamo-guna, rajo-guna. So to become within the material nature, under the control of the material nature, means to accept one of these gunas, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So if you accept this sattva-guna, the brahminical qualification, satyam samo dama titiksa arjavam ksantih, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava... [Bg 18.42]. If you associate with the brahminical qualification, then you get nicer body. Ūrdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah [Bg 14.18].

Those who are associating with the sad-guna, they are also described. Sad-guna means satyam samo dama titiksa arjavam ksantih, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma... This is brahma-karma. So tapasya means come to the brahma-karma, not to the sudra-karma. Karanam guna-saṅgo 'sya [Bg 13.22]. Don't associate with the sudra qualification. Now, what is the sudra qualification? Paricaryatmakam karyam sudra-karma svabhava-jam [Bg 18.44].

You are highly educated, but your desire is how to get a service. Paricarya... I am highly educated, but unless I render service to somebody else like a dog, I am not recognized. This is called sudra-karma. Why a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya should search after service? Therefore in this Kali-yuga it is said, kalau sudrah sambhavah: "Kalau, in this Kali-yuga, everyone is almost sudras." There is lack of brahmana. There is lack of ksatriya and vaisya. So in Bhagavad-gita we'll find all the solution of the human problems. All the solution. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg 4.13].

Unless you divide the whole human society into four divisions-the brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra... You must have to divide. You cannot say "classless society." That is useless society. Classless society means useless society. There must be an intelligent high class, ideal class of men to see that "Here is human civilization." That is brahmana. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma... Unless people see the ideal men, how they will follow? Yad yad acarati sresthah, lokas tad anuvartate [Bg 3.21]. The brahmana is compared with the brain of the body. Unless there is brain, what is the use of these hands and legs? If one's brain is cracked, madman, he cannot do anything.

So at the present moment, because there is scarcity of brahminical qualified men in the whole human society... It is not meant... Brahmana is not meant for simply for India or Hindus. For the whole human society. Krsna never says that the catur-varnyam maya srsta is meant for India, or for Hindus, or for a class of men. For whole human society, there must be a very ideal intellectual man, so that people will follow. Brain, brain of the society. That is the teachings of Bhagavad-gita. You cannot say that "We can do without brain." Suppose from your body if the brain is cut off, your head is cut off, then you are finished. What the hands and legs will do if there is brain..., if there is no brain? So at the present moment there is scarcity of brain in the whole human society. Therefore, it is in the chaotic condition. So there is need, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. The human society, the whole human civilization, must be reformed in this way, that there are intellectual class of men, naturally. There are first-class intellectual class of men, second-class intellectual, third class, fourth class, like that. So the first-class intellectual men, they must be brahmanas, in the brahminical qualification, and they must be Krsna conscious. Then they can guide the whole society in the right way, and there will be no problem. This is Krsna consciousness movement.

So here Krsna says how to become Krsna conscious. That is for the brahmanas, or the intellectual class of men. That is being described by Krsna. What is that? Mayy asakta-manah: "The mind should be attached upon Me, Krsna." This is the beginning. Some way or other we have to... Our mind is attached to something else. Mind cannot be detached. We have got so many desires. So mind's business-to become attached. Therefore, I accept something, I reject something. This is mind's business. So you cannot become zero; you cannot become desireless. That is not possible. Our process... Just like others, they say, "You become desireless." That is a foolish proposal. Who can become desireless? It is not possible. If I am desireless, then I am a dead man. A dead man has no desire. So that is not possible. We have to purify the desires. That is required. Purify the desires. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc Madhya 19.170]. This is called purification. Nirmalam. Tat-paratvena. Tat-paratvena means when God conscious, Krsna conscious, then desires become purified.

So we have to come to the point of not desirelessness, but to the point of purified desires. That is wanted. Therefore here it is said, mayy asakta-manah: "You can not make your mind desireless, but you fix up your mind upon Me." That is required. Mayy asakta-manah partha. This is the yoga system. This is called bhakti-yoga, and this is called first-class yoga. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita, that yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg 6.47].

The yogi, the first-class yogi, yoginam api sarvesam... "There are different kinds of yoga system, but the person who has accepted this bhakti-yoga, he is thinking of Me always." Just like these boys and girls, they are being taught always thinking of Krsna: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So if you read Bhagavad-gita and chant Hare Krsna, immediately you learn the whole science, how to become attached to Krsna. This is called mayy asakta-manah. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan, to practice yoga... This is bhakti-yoga. Mad-asrayah. Mad-asrayah means "under My direction," or "under My protection." Asraya.

So if you read Bhagavad-gita as it is, that is mad-asrayah. But if you interpret Bhagavad-gita according to your rascal imagination, that is not Bhagavad-gita. Therefore it is called mad-asrayah, "under My protection, as I am tea..." We are therefore presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. We do not change. Why should you change? What right you have got to change? If Bhagavad-gita is a book of authority, and if I make my own interpretation, then where is the authority? Can you change the law book according to your interpretation? Then what is the meaning of that law book? That is not law book. You cannot change. Similarly, if you accept Bhagavad-gita as the book of authority, you cannot change the meaning. That is not allowed. What right? If you have got some opinion, if you have got some philosophy, you can write in your own book. Why you are, I mean to say, killing others and yourself by interpreting Bhagavad-gita? You give your own thesis in a different way. But these people, they take advantage of the popularity of Bhagavad-gita and interpret in a different way according to their own whims. Therefore people do not understand what is Krsna. That is the difficulty. And the purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to understand Krsna. And all the so-called scholars' and politicians' commentary is to banish Krsna or to kill Krsna-the Kamsa's policy. The Kamsa was always thinking of Krsna, how to kill Him. This is called demonic endeavor. So that will not help you.

Therefore Krsna says you have to develop your love and attraction for Krsna. That is wanted. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. "This yoga practice can be performed," mad-asrayah, "under My protection or My devotee's protection." You cannot take protection of another rascal who interprets Bhagavad-gita in a different way. You have to take shelter directly. Of course, Bhagavad-gita instruction is there. Everyone can take shelter of Krsna directly. Where is the difficulty? Just like here it is said, mayy asakta. You have to develop your attachment for Krsna. You can do that. How these Americans and European boys, they have developed their attraction for Krsna? There is a process. If you adopt this process... They are with me for the last two, three or four years. Now they are... You detach them from Krsna consciousness if you have got any power. You cannot do that. Even you bribe them or, no, what you can do? Their father, mother, their countrymen can give you enough. They are all rich men's sons. But they cannot give up Krsna consciousness. Even the Christian priests, they regret, that "These are our boys, and they never came to church. They never liked to understand what is the idea of God. Now these same boys, they are after..., mad after God. What is this movement?" They are surprised.

So there is a process. If we adopt that process, then everyone can become mayy asakta-manah, krsna-asakta-manah. We have to accept the process. That process is called yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. You have to accept the yoga system under the protection of Krsna personally or His bona fide devotees, representative. Then you will be... Then what will be the result? The result will be asamsayam, without any doubt. Now people are educated in all other institution about God, but they are all full of doubts, full of doubts: "What kind of God? What is the nature of God? Whether there is God? Whether there is no God?" So many doubts. But if you accept this Krsna consciousness yoga system, then you can understand Krsna asamsayam, without any doubt. And samagram, in fullness, not that partial. Partially understanding of God, that is also understanding, but it will again take time, because unless you fully understand what is God, you cannot go back to home, back to Godhead. That is the formula.

There are different stages or phases of understanding. That is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam . The Absolute Truth is that. It is one, but it is realized into different phases: as Brahman, as Paramatma and as Bhagavan. So if you understand Brahman, that is also partial understanding. If you understand Paramatma... Brahman is understood by the philosophical speculation, Mayavada philosophy, or jnana-marga. Then you can understand partially. Just like to understand the sunshine is partial understanding of the sun. It is not full understanding. Full understanding, if you have got power to go to the sun globe, to see the predominating deity there, Vivasvan, the sun-god, then it is full understanding. If you think that understanding the sunshine you have understand the whole feature of the sun globe, that is wrong. Similarly, to understand Brahman, impersonal Brahman, is also partial understanding. And to understand Paramatma, isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg 18.61], that is also little higher stage, but that is also partial. But when you understand Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality, that is full understanding. Therefore it is said, bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan uvaca, full understanding. Vyasadeva could have said krsna uvaca. But because Krsna is understood wrong way sometimes by the fools and rascal, therefore he says directly, bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan uvaca.

You cannot question the statement or instruction of Bhagavan. Bhaga means opulence. There are six kinds of opulences. Bhagavan means one who is full with six kinds of opulences. So nowadays there are so many bhagavans, but because they have no full opulences, they cannot be accepted as Bhagavan. Bhagavan means full opulences.

Full opulent: complete wealth, complete strength, complete beauty, complete knowledge, complete renunciation. One who possesses all these six things completely, He is Bhagavan. Bhagavan is not so cheap thing that it can be found in the lanes and streets and road. So that is also another misunderstanding. Therefore, Vyasadeva says sri-bhagavan uvaca. He is complete in everything. Isvarah paramah. Isvara means controller. Parama means supreme, no more better than that. That is also enunciated by Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg 7.7]:

"There is no more superior element than Me." So if we study Bhagavad-gita, if we understand what is the nature of Bhagavan, then our life is successful. Asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu [Bg 7.1]. So Krsna is describing Himself. You try to understand from the statement of Krsna with your logic, argument, science and everything. You will find complete answer.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is not a concoction of mind. It is scientific. It is based on the Vedic knowledge. It is primarily on the background of the teachings of Bhagavad-gita. If we take to this Krsna consciousness, then our human life, its mission will be successful. That is our request to you all.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Indian: [indistinct] .... There are millions.... But we are being ridiculed..

Prabhupada: The difficulty is that when you are admitted into some school. If you accept the regulation of the school, then you make progress. And from the very beginning if the student says, "Why shall I do this, why shall I do this?" Then there is no question of making progress. If the teacher says, "Write A, like this, write B, like this." And if the student protests, "Why shall I write this, why not this way, why not this way." Then how he will make progress? So our difficulty in this country, they have learned everything. Although they are rascal number one. [light laughter from audience] that is the difficulty. When you put Krsna, here Krsna says and sastra says, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].

All these people will come forward, "Why Krsna shall be the bhagavan, I have got another bhagavan, I have got another bhagavan, another bhagavan." That is the difficulty but these four people, they have no idea of another bhagavan. So I am speaking to them, Krsna is the supreme personality. They are accepting and making progress. This is the difficulty in this country.

Krsna says, we are very much proud of reading Bhagavad-gita but you don't accept bhagavan as... Krsna as the supreme bhagavan. This is our difficulty. Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat, there is no more superior element than me. So why we shall accept Krsna? Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66].

The so-called scholars, "Oh, it is too much." Why? This is the difficulty. They read Bhagavad-gita, but they read in their own way. And the purpose is to kill Krsna. That is the difficulty. Kamsa's philosophy. Kamsa was always thinking of Krsna, Krsna conscious. But what is the thinking? How to kill Krsna. That is demoniac, the demon's they also think of God. But their purpose is how to [indistinct]. That is the movement, you take it. Krsna consciousness.

Indian (2): Swamiji; [indistinct] if Krsna is the supreme Lord where does Rama come in?....

Prabhupada: What is that?

Indian (2): ...Rama, Hare Rama is also you sing...

Devotee: You sing.

Prabhupada: Rama and Krsna are the same.

We don't distinguish between Rama and Krsna. Rama is the supreme Lord, Krsna is also the supreme Lord. Ramadi murttisu kala-niyamena, not only Rama, there are so many other forms of Krsna. They are mentioned in the sastra. That is summarised in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. That all the names of God, incarnations, are mentioned here, listed here, unlisted. But, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, the name Krsna that he is the supreme original personality of Godhead. Yes?

Indian (3: Is guna a state of birth or a state of consciousness?

Prabhupada: No, guna karma, just like engineer. He is by his qualification and by his work. Suppose a man is qualified as an engineer so he should be accepted as an engineer but if he does not work as an engineer. Then also he will not be accepted as an engineer. In he simply passed engineering qualification and then sit down at home. Nobody will go to consult him. If you work as an engineer and you have got the qualification of engineer, then you are engineer. Similarly, one must possess the qualification of brahmana, the qualification of ksatriya or vaisya and he must act accordingly, guna-karma-vibhagasah,

As the different parts of the body, the head, the hand, the belly, the legs, all of them combined together, trying to serve this whole body. Similarly, there for convenience sake there must be brahminical class, ksatriya class, vaisya class, sudra class and altogether they should maintain the whole body. That means the whole, the whole is Krsna. So everyone should be engaged in Krsna consciousness but it doesn't matter for management of the society there must be a first class, intellectual class. First class brain class, who can defend the whole society, and there must be productive class, and there must be labourer class. This is very simple to understand. But everyone should be engaged for understanding Krsna consciousness. That is transcendental position. Everything is clearly described in the Bhagavad-gita. Yes?

Indian (4): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes.

Indian (4): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, it has got a medicinal effect. That is described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

If you chant this Hare Krsna mantra, then all these things will come one after another. The first thing is, ceto-darpana-marjanam, cleansing of the heart. All rascal things are within our heart, if you chant, if you hear the vibration because it is transcendental vibration Krsna. The chanting and Krsna is not different--absolute. Here in the material world the name and substance are different but in the spiritual world. This vibration is coming from the spiritual world, golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-saṅkirtana . It is not manufactured within this material world. It is coming down from the spiritual world. Just like, some vibration comes, some news comes from another country. Similarly, it is from another nature, superior nature. There from coming it is down by parampara system. It is brought by Narada Muni. Because if you chant, you say this name is not different from Krsna. Therefore, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra means associating with Krsna directly. So if you associate with Krsna then you become purified, you become purified, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc Antya 20.12]. As soon as you have got clear consciousness then, bhava-maha, all the problems of this material world is finished:

So this is the effect of chanting, why don't you try it?.... Yes?

Indian (4): Is it not possible to chant the names of Rama instead of Krsna?

Prabhupada: Yes, you can chant Rama, somebody chants like that. hare rama, hare rama, that does not make any...

Indian (4): Rama and Krsna, why Krsna cult, why not Rama cult?

Prabhupada: So you take Rama cult. [laughs] thank you very much. All right chant Hare Krsna. Yes you want to ask something? Yes.

Indian (5): That there should be four classes but practically [indistinct]

Prabhupada: In other countries?

Indian (5): Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes, therefore we are teaching this Krsna philosophy everywhere. So that they may take to the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, everywhere. And they are taking it. It will take some time but this is necessary, without taking this Krsna philosophy you cannot be saved. Yes?

Indian (6): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Hm?

Indian (6): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Krsna and Krsna disappeared. Yes?

Indian (7): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes, just to confuse you. Because you are thinking Krsna as human being. So he is confirming your attitude, yes I am human being. I am not God. Just to confirm you. Because those who thought Krsna as human being. Just to keep them in that ignorance, Krsna did that. But it is stated also that Krsna went in his own chariot to Vaikuntha. So that means he is not killed like an ordinary human being. Hm?

Devotee: Prabhupada. That gentleman has passed up a question on a piece of paper.

Prabhupada: Ah. What is that?

Devotee: It is useful to have different gods with different characteristics to suit varieties of people. Why force one God upon the people. It is like giving one coat and asking everyone to fit into it. Kindly...

Prabhupada: Yes, that is answered in the Bhagavad-gita:

To worship different demigods, that is not forbidden in the Vedic literature. But Krsna personally says, that, tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. Those who are less intelligent, they are allowed, at least let them accept some authority. That is for, alpa-medhasam, less intelligent class of men, that's all. But when Krsna is advising, why you should keep others less intelligent? He, he is personally advising, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg 18.66], you will get everything, you will get everything. But the less intelligent class of men they cannot understand it. Therefore, they go to demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya.. hrta-jnanah! [Bg 7.20] And their intelligence is lost. If you can get something from some demigod, can you not get it from Krsna? The supreme God. You can get it, that is advised in the sastra:

Even if you are, sarva-kamah, you have got so many desires, material. Still, you should worship Krsna because one day you will come to Krsna consciousness. By directly being attracted by Krsna, just like Dhruva Maharaja. Dhruva Maharaja he went to perform severe penances, austerities to get some land. Wanted his father's property or better than that. But when he saw Krsna, Narayana and Narayana wanted to give him benediction. Whatever he liked. He said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Cc Madhya 22.42].

So if you are desirous of something which you want to take from another demigod. You can ask it from Krsna. The benefit will be, you will see Krsna and that you will be desire less. No more desires for material things. That will be your profit. But if you continue to get some temporary benefit of this material world. So you will get it but, antavat tu phalam tesam, with the end of your body everything is finished, tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. So this kind of worship is preferred by less intelligent class.

Indian (8): There is a feeling that, Swami, the way that vaisnavism is presented in this country. Intellectuals are more responsible than is the other class.

Prabhupada: Yes, always intellectuals are responsible.

Indian (8): Taking any part in any activities. In any field, this contribution of the government of the country, religious leaders, socially or economically.

Prabhupada: Because they are blind, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. One blind man is leading other blind men. So what will be the result? [light laughter from audience] Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah, vacisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. Hm. Don't mind, just like our leader Gandhi, spoke so many things but he was killed himself. You see? Just see what is his position. Mr Patel warned him, that I am hearing so many things, do not go in the meeting today. But he voluntarily, "No I shall go." And he was killed.

So he did not know what is going to happen next moment and he is our leader. Therefore the sastra says, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. This is the fact. If it is fact with Mahatma Gandhi, then what is there with other leaders? He was such a great personality. Therefore we should take lesson from the person, bhagavan uvaca, take lesson from Bhagavan and be happy. That is our propaganda, don't take lesson from andhah. That will not help you, bhagavan uvaca, that is wanted. All right chant Hare Krsna. Thank you very much.

Hare from the sabda hara, ah, don't talk. From hara, just like lata sabda, late. So addressing, hara means the energy. God is there. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.8]. The supreme Lord has many different types of sakti. The Durgasakti is also His sakti, Maya sakti is also His sakti.

Durga is also His sakti. So, we are addressing all the sakti's of Krsna. Hare, that is Hare. Hara is the sakti of Krsna and he has got multi-sakti's. Just like we are requesting everyone, all the sakti's, first of all Hare Krsna, then we are addressing Krsna. Similarly Hare Rama, the same thing. What, why you are addressing? The addressing is, nejinka kunmara pradas ye[?], I am now fed up with the service of so-called material happiness. Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada matsarya, now my business is to serve but I am never satisfied by serving this maya, please engage me in Your service. This is the Hare Krsna movement. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, praying because I have become servant of so many propensities. Neither my masters have become satisfied, neither am I satisfied. Just see this same example, who can give greater service to his country than Mahatma Gandhi? The result was he was killed. That means they were not satisfied, so this is the position of material service. You are not satisfied and the service rendering to a person, he is also not satisfied. This is our business, therefore when one becomes intelligent he gives up all those so-called service and servant and master, he comes to Krsna and Krsna also demands that, that is perfection of life. Krsna also says:

And we also, we agree, yes sir. From today I'm your servant. Then our life is successful.

Indian (8): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Because you do not know God, therefore we are speaking like that. God says,

Why does not give God, God says, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, you become my devotee, you always think of me. Why do you say that God does not say? [end]