Bhagavad-gītā 6.40–46 – July 18, 1971, Detroit
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710718BG.DET
Bhagavad-gita 6.40-46
- July 18, 1971, Detroit 710718BG-Detroit [38:12 Minutes] CDM_118-1
Prabhupada:
sri-bhagavan uvaca
partha naiveha namutra vinasas tasya vidyate na hi kalyana-krt kascid durgatim tata gacchati [Bg. 6.40] Once begun-transcendental life, spiritual life, or Krsna consciousness. It will never be stopped, you can finish it, even some [indistinct]. You have to live again from that point to further advancement. That is the, that's the spiritual assets is never lost, material assets is not with this body. As soon as we change our body, whatever we are acquiring materially in this world. A house, business, bank balance, fees, education, this is all finished, just with the end of this body.
Take for example that we sometimes worship our past leaders. In your country, George Washington, or in our country, Gandhi or somebody else. But this is false because we do not know where is that gentleman Washington has gone. We are simply worshipping a shadow, a photograph, a statue. But we do not know where is actually that spirit soul. There is transmigration of the soul, the soul goes to another body, and we foolishly worship the dead body which is useless. This is called bhūtejya, in Sanskrit language it is called bhūtejya-ghost worship. Yanti bhūtani bhūtejya [Bg. 9.25]. So, this is only sentiment but because all the name, fame, assets-material gain is as with that body it remains with that body. Now you have to begin another body according to your own karma. But the spiritual assets which you acquire that goes with you because you are spirit it goes with your spirit. And the material assets left with this material…
They do not know, foolish people they do not know, they are after material acquisition. They do not know this will be finished just with the finishing of the body. This is called illusion for this body which will not go with me I am working so hard day and night but the spirit as I am. I do not know where from I have come, where I am going. Therefore, we have to follow the direction of authoritive persons, scripture. To mold our life, how to work that is called karma-yoga. Simply working is not karma-yoga, karma-yoga means… It is a described in the Bhagavad-gita: yat karosi [Bg. 9.27]-whatever you are doing-yat karosi, yaj juhosi-whatever you are sacrificing. Yad asnasi-that whatever you are eating, yad dadasi-whatever you're giving in charity. Kurusva mad-arpanam-give Me. You want to give some charity, "give Me"; Krsna says. But people will not give Krsna if, if the members of Krsna consciousness goes to some foundation. "Sir we are doing this work give us some money." "No. All money is meant for hospitals and educational institution" ah, "and what you are producing?" "Atom bomb." "Oh, that's all right." This is going on.
So, we are by material advancement we are just advancing the cause of illusion, that's all. You do not know what you know. Therefore, a person who believes in spiritual life in Krsna consciousness his assets will go with him. Never mind in this body we maybe a little uncomfortable as spiritually advanced men or a person in Krsna consciousness. He is never in discomfort; we have already discussed this point.
yasmin sthitaḥ gurunapi
duḥkhena na vicalyate yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tataḥ [Bg. 6.22] When one attempts perfection in Krsna consciousness he does not want anything more. Everything is complete and the symptom will be seen that he is not disturbed even in the serious point of miserable condition.
You will be surprised to know that Haridasa Thakura we always glorify him after our kirtana's. "Haridasa Thakura ki jaya!" This Haridasa Thakura how he was undisturbed, there are many instances. Lord Jesus Christ, he was also undisturbed when he was being crucified. So similarly, this Haridasa Thakura he happened to be Mohammedan, and he joined this Hare Krsna movement. So, the Mohammedan magistrate called him, "Oh, you are born in such a nice family, and you are chanting Hare Krsna, Hindu? You are chanting Hare Krsna in Hindu state? Then what is your explanation?" So Haridasa Thakura was, he could understand that he is now in dangerous position. So, he replied "dear sir many Hindus also have become Mohammedan's. So, if some Mohammedan becomes Hindu, what is their harm?" "Oh, you are arguing?" That means he was to be punished, give the dog a bad name and hang it. So, he was ordered that this man should be caned and in there at that time now the at 22 marketplaces. So, in each marketplace he should be taken as in the public, he should be flogged. So that he was done, and the idea was that by flogging he would die. The magistrate's idea was that but fortunately the Haridasa Thakura did not die, neither he cried even. He was as good as silent. So, these persons who were flogging they fell on his feet. "Sir, there he wants that you die, but now I see that you do not die. So now our punishment is awaiting. He will think that we have not flogged him sufficiently."
Then Haridasa Thakura says "what do you want?" So, we want that you should die. Then he made himself into samadhi and the, the flogger took him to the magistrate. And here is the condition. This magistrate thought he is now dead. So told him "Throw him in the water don't put him in the graveyard. He has become Hindu." So: yasmin sthitaḥ gurunapi na vicalyate [Bg. 6.22]. So, he was so disturbed but he was steady who will do such a thing? He was chanting and the others were flogging him, and he was chanting:
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So spiritual assets is like that, of course that is a higher perfectional stage Haridasa Thakura or Lord Jesus Christ and there are many instances. But that is the ideal, that one who is spiritually advanced he is not disturbed by any material, miserable condition. No.
Therefore, Lord Krsna says that a person who is spiritually advanced for him there is no miseries even in this world and what to speak of on the other world. Partha naiveha, naiveha, naiveha means "in this world." Namutra, amutra means "next life." Vinasas tasyas…, tasya vidyate. Now vinasaḥ, vinasaḥ means "annihilation." So, he has no annihilation. What is annihilation? We have understood from Bhagavad-gita in the second chapter that soul is never annihilated, indestructible. So how it is said that vinasaḥ. Vinasaḥ means when we are in the whirlpool of this material transmigration of soul from one to body to another and we do not know where we are going. Either we are going, I am going to become an elephant, or I am going to become an ant. I do not know. After leaving this body, I am in the [indistinct] of different species of life. So, I forget myself, I forget myself that is called "vinasaḥ." Vinasaḥ means that living entity is not annihilated but he does not know where I am. Just like if you are thrown into the Pacific Ocean by the waves, you oh you are thrown into the middle you don't see any land, so you do not know-that is vinasa. That is annihilation. Although you are living there, similarly, if we miss this, we do not know what I am going to be in my next life. But my life, my next life is a fact the next life is fact. Suppose if you drive me away from this room so I must take shelter of another room. But so, you do not know that where I am gone, so this is called vinasa. This is called vinasa.
So, one who takes to the spiritual life he has no vinasa, he has no [indistinct] means that his next life is going to be again human being. He is not lost in the wilderness of other species of life because he has to begin again. Suppose he has finished 10% Krsna consciousness; now he has to begin 11% again. So, in order to begin I mean to say 11% to Krsna consciousness he has to take a human body. So, this means that if anyone takes to Krsna consciousness his next life human body is guaranteed. Is guaranteed. It is very nice and without Krsna consciousness I do not know what my next body is going to happen but if Krsna consciousness or spiritual consciousness you are advanced never mind whatever little percentage it is. You are sure to get the chance of another human body. Therefore, it is said, so at least do, how we guarantee that our next life is going to be human life. Everyone should take the Krsna consciousness. Yes. From, I mean to say mundane profit point of view.
There is a story Savitri-Satyavan. Savitri-Satyavan it is not a story it is a historical fact and that one gentleman he was a king's son, Prince. His name was Satyavan but he was to die at a certain age and his horoscope said but one girl Savitri she fell in love with that boy. Now she wanted to marry, her father told he will die at a certain age, don't marry but she was bent. She married, in course of time the boy died say after four or five years. And the girl became widow so she, she was so staunch lover she won't let the dead body go away. And the Yamaraja, the what is English I do not know. Who takes away the body or the soul after death? So, he came to take the soul away, so this chaste girl could not allow the husband's body to go away. Then, then Yamaraja told that it is my duty that I should take, you give it up then otherwise he will be also be punished. So, she gave, and she was following Yamaraja, so Yamaraja become compassionate. The Yamaraja become compassionate she, he, benedicted her, my dear brahmana you go home I give you benediction you will have a son. Don't, I mean cry for your husband. Then she was again following and when the Yamaraja said "why you are following me?" "You are taking my husband how can I have my son?" Oh, and then he was in dilemma he returned her husband. So similarly, this is a statement that if you take to Krsna consciousness then your husband or this human form of life is guaranteed.
Ah, naham partha naiva, naiveha namutra, vinasas tasya vidyate, na hi kalyana-krt [Bg. 6.40]. Kalyana-krt-a spiritual life is the most auspicious life. Kalyana, kalyana means "auspicious." So, anyone who has done something auspicious-na hi kalyana-krt kascid durgatim tata gacchati. Anyone who has done something nice auspicious thing oh it will never be vanquished. He will never be put into difficulty; this is such a nice thing.
prapya punya-krtam, krta lokanam… eh lokan
usitva sasvatiḥ samaḥ sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrasto 'bhijayate [Bg. 6.41] Now, those who are transcendentally advanced what is their next life? That is, that was the question of Arjuna. Krsna says that next life is that "he is transferred to the higher planets." Prapya punya-krtamlokan; lokan means "place." He is transferred to the higher planetary system where all pious and righteous men are living.
prapya punya-krtam lokan
usitvasasvatiḥ samaḥ Sasvatiḥ samaḥ, samaḥ means "year" and sasvatiḥ means "almost eternal." Almost eternal, why? That because in the higher planets the duration of life is very great. Our six-month equal to their one year…eh, one day. Our six months. That we have already tested that in the higher space the aeronautics… Or what is called? The, nowadays they have travelling in the space they rounded in some one hour, or one and a half hours. They cir… I mean circumambulate the earth so many times. That means so many days and nights passed in one hour. So similarly, it is a fact as you go in the higher planetary system the duration of time is different. That is accepted by Professor Einstein also.
So sasvatiḥ samaḥand if you're transferred to the higher planetary system. Then your duration of life will be increased like that. If your six month and their one day. Such, by such calculation of one day, you lived there for 10,000 years, 10,000 years. That one day our six months now imagine. Similarly, Brahmas other higher planetary Brahma life that is also described.
So Krsna says that… This transcendentally advanced persons they are transferred to the higher planetary system and live there for many many years to enjoy life there. Then again, they are transferred again-here. This is called a birth of [indistinct]. And he wants the answer, he questioned that when he is transferred again to this planet what has he become? Does he become any animal or that? No. He still becomes a man. And what sort of man?
A sucinam means "very pious family." A righteous family just like in India they are found, the brahmana family, a ksatriya family, pious family. There is their mode of life is very high standard, clean and righteous, pious. So many things, so sucinam and srimatam, sucinamsuch pious family you'll find many in India. And srimatam, srimatammeans "rich." So rich family there you will find in your country many. So that person who is coming again he is born in a rich family or in pious family.
One who is not such as full in executing the yoga perfectly [indistinct] that means to have one's birth in a rich family means he has no anxiety for his bread. He is happy, now he can happily execute the yoga process or in a pious family automatically the yoga process of transcendental life is there. So, he can begin also there, there is chance. So those who are born in such family, in righteous family or rich family they should take instruction from Bhagavad-gita that this is a chance given by God to execute our spiritual life not for sense enjoyment increasing because I have got so much money. Let me enjoy senses more, I mean to say acutely. So:
Athavaor [indistinct]
Athava yoginam eva, yoginam eva means that "neither rich nor very pious but actual yogi." His parents, he gets such a parent that who are actually in execution of spiritual life, Krsna consciousness or yoga. The father and mother, so children they generally imitate, imitate the parents. I mean to say habits, their activities. So fortunately, we had the opportunity of getting such a father. So, we are imitating our father in the, in my childhood I imitated my father he was worshipping Deity of Krsna. So, I asked him "my dear father I shall worship, give me the Deity of Krsna." So, he gave me a little Deity of Krsna and Radha and I was imitation. So, beginning of life, so these are actually a fact. Maharaja Pariksit also he was playing as, with Krsna-the Krsna dolls. Just like Mirabhai she was playing with Krsna dolls and later on she becomes a very highly devotee. So, these chances are there,
He is given the chance of being born in such good family. Etad dhi durlabhataram, now this kind of birth in a family of devotee and yogi is very I mean to say rare. And he is far better than the other two lives to have birth in rich family or in pious family. Actually, they are acting, just like when a child… A boy born of a father who is a medical man. We have seen it, so naturally he becomes a medical man. Because he sees his father and the inclination he inherits. In that way the Indian caste system originally it was a division but because the son imitated the father. In this way it has come to a, a caste system by birth.
So anyway, these chances are given the purport is that we everyone every man should begin spiritual life. Either any yoga system his spiritual life is called yoga. Yoga means "to link." We are part and parcel of the Supreme and Absolute Brahma[n] or Bhagavan whatever you call or Paramatma it doesn't matter. But yoga means "linking", the linking either you link with impersonal, formless the Supreme Brahma[n], that is also linking and if you by meditation you link up with the Supersoul within yourself, that is also transcendental activity. Or you directly worship as a devotee Krsna, anything you adopt that is spiritual life. But to become Krsna conscious or a devotee of Krsna that is the ultimate goal. That we are, in the Bhagavad-gita:
The other two stages, and impersonal conception of the Supreme or localised realization of the Supreme, they have again to come to this consciousness-Krsna consciousness after many many births. So therefore it is better if they are intelligent enough when you get the information that ultimately you have to come to this point-Krsna consciousness. Vasudevaḥ sarvam iti, vasudevaḥ means "Krsna." Sa mahatma sudurlabhaḥ that sort of great soul is very rare. So why not become a rare great soul immediately and just become in Krsna consciousness and make your life successful?
Thank you very much. Any questions?
Yes?
Mataji: You say one should not revere the photograph of someone one loves but the photograph of a spiritual teacher can be very helpful to teach spirituality because it is a photograph of a spiritual teacher is not material value, but it symbolises the spirituality…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Mataji: That we had [indistinct]…
Prabhupada: Yes. Those who are spiritual, really advanced their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Krsna, He is not different from Krsna. The original person Krsna and this statue of Krsna is the same. Similarly, a, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage, in the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference.
Is that clear? In the absolute stage there is no difference, just like we are chanting Hare Krsna the Krsna is the name of the Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, this name and Krsna is non-different. Do you realize it? There is no different between Krsna who is in His supreme abode and the name Krsna which you are chanting. There is the same. There is no difference this is absolute conception. Whether if I am thirsty and if I call the name of water-water, water, water. Ah, I required the substance water actually simply by calling water will not do. That is the difference between matter and spirit. And actually, if we are not getting some spiritual enlightenment by chanting Krsna, then do you think that we are simply wasting our time? No. We are not wasting our time we are actually getting spiritual ecstasy because there is no difference. But you take, similarly the name of water or something else what you want. That will not suffice. This is the absolute and relative conception.
In the absolute stage there is no difference name, quality, form, pastime, endurance, everything the same. If you chant Krsna's name, it is as good as Krsna. If you see Krsna's form, it is as good as Krsna. If you think of Krsna's activities these are as good as Krsna. This realization is spiritual realization. Therefore, the first class devotee who is advanced in Krsna consciousness he sees everything Krsna, nothing different from Krsna.
Any other question?
Mataji 2: Ah, you said that absolute [indistinct] this body [indistinct] Krsna consciousness and then you go to a highest level [indistinct]…
Prabhupada: No! If you are, if you make perfection of Krsna consciousness then after leaving this body you, you go directly to Krsna. But if you are not perfect, if you are simply executed a certain percentage only then you get the chance of another human body. Either in this planet or any other planet to execute the [indistinct]. That is the, according to percentage of advancement one is given birth in a rich family or in a pious family or in a yogic family that depends on the percentage of advancement. But one who has completed his spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness. He is at once transferred…
That is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gita. That one who has understood what is Krsna, how Krsna takes His birth, how Krsna acts, what are His activities, both. One who has understood factually. The result is simply by understanding Krsna the result is-tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. He doesn't get any more material birth. Then where does he go? Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti-mam eti-"he comes to Me". That means he is at the supreme abode of Krsna. That is the highest perfection but if the highest perfection is…Therefore, we should be very serious, why should we wait for another birth either in a very pious family or rich family or in other planet? That is also condemned in Bhagavad-gita:
Even if you are elevated to the highest planet of this material world you will have to come again. To prepare yourself so best thing is that we are now here in this planet and immediately take to Krsna consciousness and surrender unto Him and become perfect. Why should you wait? For another birth or any other planet-finish it. Now if you are actually serious about Krsna consciousness then finish it now. This is the opportunity.
Labdhva sudurlabham idam bahu-sambhavante [SB 11.9.29]. This birth is ah, obtained after many, many evolutionary process. Manusyam arthadam-this human body can give you the highest perfection. So tūrnam yateta, be very serious and try for that perfection. Na pated anumrtyu yavan-until next death comes. So we are not serious. We are not very serious; we are serious about how to make our sense gratification very nicely. That is our attribute. And human advancement, advancement of civilization means how nicely you can gratify your senses. This is going on. Only to give all sorts of comfort to this body but actually the human civilization means that people should be very serious to have perfection of this human body. Spiritual perfection, that is perfect human civilization. That is missing at the present moment. [End].
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/7/bhagavad-gita-6
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