Bhagavad-gītā 9.1–2 – June 30, 1974, Melbourne

Chant, Dance, Eat Prasada... Go Home

Prabhupada: Sri-bhagavan uvaca.

Devotees: Sri-bhagavan uvaca.

Prabhupada:

I am speaking… [aside:] that child; disturbance …from Bhagavad-gita, ninth chapter. Sri-bhagavan uvaca. In every chapter you will find this word, sri-bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan means the…

[children crying in background]

Devotee: Please take the children out.

Prabhupada: Bhagavan means the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhaga. Bhaga means "opulence," and van means "one who possesses." So God means "who possesses all the opulences in fullness." He is called Bhagavan. The definition of God is "He is the richest, He is the strongest, He is the most beautiful, He is the wisest, He is the most renounced." In this way, you analyze. There are many rich men, but nobody can say that "I am the richest of all." That is not possible, because there is competition. If I am rich, you are richer than me, another richer than you, another richer than him. So nobody can say that "I am the richest of all." That only God can say. So in this way, where you find the Supreme, Supreme Being… The word God is defined in dictionary as the Supreme Being. What is that Supreme Being? The richest, the strongest, the most beautiful, the wisest, the most renounced-in this way.

So that Bhagavan, that Supreme Personality of Godhead, is speaking. Therefore, this knowledge, Bhagavad-gita …Bhagavad-gita means the knowledge given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Not secondary knowledge; first-hand knowledge. So we have to receive first-hand perfect knowledge; then our life will be successful. Not defective knowledge. Knowledge received from a living being, as we are, that is imperfect; always imperfect-because we are deficient. We are deficient. Deficient means we commit mistake. Any big man you take, no big man can say that "I did not commit any mistake in my life." That is not possible. He must commit. He is illusioned; he takes one thing for another. Just like big, big men nowadays at the present civilization, these all of them are accepting this body, "I am this body": "I am Indian," "I am American," "I am Canadian," "I am this, white," "I am black." But no. I am not this body. This is called illusion. So everyone commits mistake, everyone is illusioned, and everyone, because he has got imperfectness and still he wants to teach, therefore he is a cheater. With imperfectness you cannot teach. You cannot teach when so long you say "perhaps," "it may be." So what is this knowledge? That means you do not know. "Perhaps," that means you do not know. "Maybe"- suggestion. All these theories, big, big theories-politician, scientist, philosopher-they simply say "perhaps," "maybe," "missing link." [laughter] This is not knowledge. Therefore we are reading Bhagavad-gita: sri-bhagavan uvaca. There is no imperfectness. Complete knowledge. So if you read Bhagavad-gita, you get complete knowledge.

So what Bhagavan says?

Bhagavan, Krsna, is teaching Arjuna. So in the ninth chapter He says, "My dear Arjuna, I am now speaking to you the most confidential knowledge,"guhyatamam. Tamam means superlative. Positive, comparative and superlative. In Sanskrit, tara-tama. Tara is comparative, and tama means superlative. So here Bhagavan says, the perfect Personality of Godhead says, idam tu te guhyatamam pravaksyamy: "Now I am speaking to you the most confidential knowledge."Jnanam vijnana-sahitam. The knowledge is with full knowledge, not that imagination. Jnanam vijnana-sahitam. Vijnana means "science," "practical demonstration." So jnanam vijnana-sahitam yaj jnatva. If you learn this knowledge, yaj jnatva moksyase 'subhat. Asubhat. Moksyase means you get liberation, and asubhat means "inauspicity." Inauspicity.

So our present life, at the present moment, present life means so long we possess this material body, it is full of inauspicity. Moksyase asubhat. Asubhat means inauspicity. So what is that confidential knowledge? Now Krsna says, again stressing,

This confidential knowledge is raja-vidya. Raja means…Raja means "king," or "royal." Just like we have got experience, we have got palaces or houses. But when we come to the royal palace, that is the best. In a city, of course, nowadays the royal palaces are abolished, but still somewhere, just like in London we have seen the Buckingham Palace. That is the best house in London. Similarly, raja-vidya. There are different types of education and learning, but this knowledge which Krsna is now imparting to Arjuna, He says it is raja-vidya. Raja-vidya means the king of all education.

There are education, different types of education, different departmental education, but this is the best of the royal education. Raja-vidya raja-guhyam. And most confidential. It cannot be understood by ordinary person. Raja-vidya raja-guhyam pavitram. Why it is…

[break] …so confidential and it is called raja-vidya, the King of knowledge? Pavitram. Pavitram means the purest; not contaminated. Not contaminated means not material knowledge. It is spiritual knowledge. Material knowledge is contaminated. There are three qualities in the material world: sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna-goodness, passion and ignorance. So it is above; above goodness. Passion is condemned, ignorance is condemned, even this material so-called goodness, that is also condemned. Above.

Uttamam means "without any darkness." Tama means "darkness" and ut means "above." Uttamam.

Now, you take some knowledge. Suppose you are going to be cured from some disease. So doctor is giving you medicine and treatment. So pratyaksavagamam: it is not theoretical. You understand that your fever is diminishing, you are getting strength. Then it is pratyaksavagamam, directly perceived. Not that you go to a doctor, and he gives you medicine, and you do not understand whether you are being cured or you are in the same position. No. That is not. You will feel. Another example is just like if you eat, then you will feel pleasure, strength, satisfaction. Not that you are going to be eating continually, but… No such thing. No. That will be understood automatically. Similarly, pratyaksavagamam dharmyam. Dharma means religion. Religion… Don't understand religion which is mentioned in the English dictionary as a kind of faith. No. It is not faith; it is fact.

Dharma means fact. Dharma is not imagination, or religion does not mean something imagined: "I imagine something; you imagine something." Now there are so many rascals, they say you can manufacture your own dharma, or religious system. No. That is rascaldom. You cannot do it. Dharma, I have several times explained, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19].

This bhagavan, bhagavata-dharma…Dharma means-religious faith means-the course, the orders given by God. This is the shortest description. As in the state, in the government, the king or the legislative assembly, they…, it can give laws. You cannot manufacture laws at your home. If you say that "I have manufactured my own law," that will not be accepted. Similarly, you cannot manufacture a kind of dharma, or faith. No. Dharma means-that is the description of the Vedic literature-dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma, or the system of religion, can be given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Unfortunately, we do not know who is the Personality of Godhead and what is His order and what is His law. We do not know. Every one of us in the darkness. That kind of knowledge is not being described. Perfect knowledge: uttamam. Uttamam means "beyond darkness." Tama means "darkness" and ut means "transcendental," uttamam. Pratyaksavagamam. And if you execute, you try to follow this system of religion, then you will directly understand: Yes, you are making progress. Directly. Just like these boys and girls, and you also join, dancing. This is directly connecting God. Otherwise they are not dogs, that they are..., I have given some bribe, and they are dancing. No. They are feeling God consciousness, Krsna consciousness; therefore they are dancing. It is not that I have come from a foreign country and I am giving bribe, and they are dancing like a dog. No. This is pratyaksavagamam dharmyam, directly perceiving the presence of God.

Therefore, it is called… This system, this Krsna consciousness system… Because in this age we are so fallen. We cannot undergo severe penances, austerities, go to the Himalaya, go to the forest, and press your nose for so many years. It is not possible. This is not possible. But this dharma, this system of God realization, is so nice, you have seen on the stage-a small child is also dancing. Because he is not artificially trained up, but he is dancing because it is directly connecting with God consciousness. Therefore it is called pratyaksavagamam, and su-sukham. Su-sukham means "very happily done," "not very difficult."Su means "very nice" and sukham means "happiness." So, so long they are dancing, they are feeling happiness, su-sukham, very easy, and directly perceived connection with God. This is called

To execute this kind of religious system is very, very nice. Now you chant, you dance and take prasadam. There is no question of becoming a very highly learned person, very expert in philosophy, and so on, so on, big, big words. But that will not help you. In this age people are so fallen that they cannot accept any philosophy or any high talk. That is not possible. But by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whose statue is standing before you, He has given us such a nice thing, this sahkirtana movement, that anyone can join, and anyone can immediately perceive what is God consciousness. That is His excellence. What is described in the Bhagavad-gita, that is practically demonstrated by the dealings, by the behavior, of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore He is called Maha-vadanyayavatara.

Srila Rūpa Gosvami, when he met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Prayag… There is a place, holy place in India, which is called Prayaga. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, after accepting His renounced order of sannyasa, He went to Prayaga and other holy places. So Srila Rūpa Gosvami, he was minister of the government, but he gave up everything and joined this Hare Krsna movement with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So when he first met, and he offered this verse, namo maha-vadanyaya. Vadanyaya means "the most magnanimous." There are many incarnation of God, but Rūpa Gosvami said, "Now this incarnation of God, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is most magnanimous."Namo maha-vadanyaya. Why magnanimous? Krsna-prema-pradaya te: "You are delivering Krsna immediately by Your this sahkirtana movement." To understand Krsna is very difficult job. Krsna has personally said in the Bhagavad-gita,

"Out of many, many millions of persons," not only in this age, in the past also…Manusyanam sahasresu, "Out of many millions of persons,"kascid yatati siddhaye, "one is trying to become perfect." Generally, they have no knowledge what is perfection. Perfection they do not know. Perfection means to stop this process of birth, death, old age and disease. That is called perfection. Everyone is trying to be perfect, but they do not know what is perfection. Perfection means this: that when you are free from these four imperfections. What is that? Birth, death, old age and disease. Everyone. Nobody wants to die, but there is forcefully: you must die. That is imperfection. But these rascals, they do not know. They think that we must die. But no. Because you are eternal, you are not meant for death, but nature is forcing you, "Must die." "Sir, I have got many business to perform." "No, immediately die." Where is your science to stop it?

Big, big scientists talking all nonsense. No. There is no remedy. They are trying to control birth, so many contraceptive method, even killing their own children, abortion-but still the population increases. Still, every minute, every three minutes or something like, one, like that; I do not know… But increasing. Therefore they are perturbed: the population is increasing. So where is your science to stop? That is not possible. So birth, death. Nobody wants to die; the death is there, forced upon you. And birth also, they want to stop. No. Birth is also going on. Birth, death and old age. Who can be free from old age? Everyone wants to remain young man, but that is not possible. Just like I was also a young man. Now I am thinking, "Oh, I am getting old. I am getting old." So where is the process? So birth, death, old age and disease. So long you are in the material body there must be disease. You cannot stop it. You can be very proud that you have manufactured very nice medicine, but why not stop the disease? So that is not possible.

So these are the imperfections of our life: birth, death, old age and disease. And science or advancement of education and so many things-what you call, big, big words, that you may go on-but still you remain imperfect, because you must die. Again, after death, you'll take birth. And as soon as you take birth, your body also becomes older and older, and you must suffer from disease. This is called imperfection. But they have become so dull that they cannot understand. They cannot imagine that one can be perfect against this imperfection. They do not know it.

So Krsna consciousness movement is to give you perfection. It is not ordinary movement. Perfection. You will have… After giving up this body, if you complete your business of Krsna consciousness in this life, that is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

It is said by Krsna. Krsna says, Everything, whatever knowledge you are getting, it is directly from Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Perfect knowledge. So Krsna says,

Because they do not know what is perfection. They are so rascal, they are so in the…, so much in darkness that they do not know what is perfection. They think the death must be there. They have no… Because they do not know how to stop death. They do not know. So in this world of fools and rascals who do not know what is perfection, they are simply thinking, "So long I live, let me live very opulently, and let me dance like the dog. That is perfection." No. Perfection means you must stop birth, death, old age and disease. That is perfection.

So out of many thousands of people, one is expert how to stop this imperfection.

And out of many such persons who are actually trying for perfection, out of many thousands,

Krsna says, "One who has attained perfection, and out of many such people, many hundreds and thousands, one may know Me." Kascin vetti mam tattvataḥ. Just see how to understand Krsna is so difficult. That Krsna is being delivered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Take Krsna, immediately. Chant, dance, and take Krsna, and eat prasadam, and go home. Just see how much efficient this movement is. Immediate. Therefore it is called pratyaksavagamam. Yes. Those who are chanting and dancing, they are realizing. Why? Because Krsna Himself is delivering: "All right. Take Me. It is very difficult to understand Me by..., you are so defective. But I give Myself to you. Come on." This is Krsna consciousness movement. Try to understand. Yes. Pratyaksavagamam dharmyam [Bg 9.2].

And it is not difficult; even a child can take. You see a small child, he is offering obeisances, he is dancing, he is offering flowers. This movement, just see: from the very beginning of life. Not only one child. We have got hundreds of children in Dallas, they are being trained up. They are being trained up. They are becoming godly from the very beginning of life.

So our request is that you try to understand this pratyaksavagamam dharmyam [Bg 9.2]. You can understand it very easily if you simply join with us, chanting and dancing. That's all. You don't require to become M.A., Ph.D., D.H.C. or D.A.C. If you are, it is already very good. But even if you are not, if you have no knowledge, still if you simply join with us in this chanting and dancing, very soon, or immediately… I have already explained that this dancing, they are not paid dancer, but why they are dancing? There must be feeling. This is practical. They are feeling pratyaksavagamam. So I am very much thankful to you that you are joining with this movement every Sunday. So this is very easy. If you continue this, and very soon you will realize God, and your life will be successful. Understanding God means that is success. Otherwise no success. Otherwise, again take birth. Dehantara. Tatha dehantara-praptir [Bg 2.13].

You have to change this body, and you have to accept another body. And so long you continue to accept this material body, there cannot be any happiness. You may try to become happy by constructing big, big skyscraper house and possessing three dozen motorcars, but that is not possible. Happiness is not possible. That is [indistinct], be assured. If you are fool, you can think

[break] …in the Bhagavad-gita, in the fourth chapter, you will find,

Krsna says, "Long, long ago, many millions and millions of years ago, first I spoke this philosophy to the sun-god. And the sun-god, he explained this philosophy to his son, Manu. And Manu explained to his son, Iksvaku." In this way there is the param…, disciplic succession. Disciplic succession means the original lessons which was given by Krsna, that should be transmitted from the original person to his disciple. So our, this Bhagavad-gita, we have named it Bhagavad-gita As It Is. As it is. And here, Professor Dimmock, he has also written, "The definitive English edition of Bhagavad-gita." So we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. This is called disciplic succession. We don't say-not like the rascals-we interpret. No. No interpretation. The rascals, they interpret. He is a rascal, as if Krsna left Bhagavad-gita for this rascal's interpretation. How much rascaldom it is. It is not… [indistinct] Bhagavad-gita as it is. Krsna, as He says... Krsna says,

"My dear Arjuna, I am the Supreme. There is no more better authority than Me." So we are presenting this, that Krsna is the original authority. So this is parampara system. We are not changing, that "Krsna means this; Krsna means that." We don't commit such rascaldom. Krsna is the supreme authority. And… [aside:] What is that?

Devotee: Water?

Prabhupada: No. Another, Krsna says,

We are teaching that you just think of Krsna always, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna…As soon as you pronounce this sound, this vibration, immediately you remember Krsna: "Here is Krsna and Radharani." So that is natural. You say "Krsna," and if you hear, immediately you remember Krsna's form, Krsna's name, Krsna's quality, Krsna's activity, Krsna's teaching-everything. This is called Krsna consciousness. So man-mana bhava mad-bhakto [Bg 18.65]. And Krsna says, "You become My devotee." And we are teaching that. We are opening temples of Krsna and requesting everyone, "Please become devotee of Krsna."Man-mana bhava mad… Mad-yaji. And then after opening temple, go away and manufacture some, another philosophy-we are not such nonsense. We are worshiping. Worship. Because Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: "Worship Me." Regularly worship, as it is prescribed in the sastra: to rise early in the morning, to have mahgala-arati, to offer this, to offer that, offer that-fully engaged. That is called mad-yaji.

"Just offer Me obeisances." So these things, four things, that is not very difficult. Everyone can do it. Everyone can think of Krsna always. Where is the difficulty? Our mind must be absorbed thinking something, so think of Krsna. Then your life is perfect. This is parampara. It is not very difficult; it is all described.

Devotee (2): Srila Prabhupada, is it possible for the Krsna consciousness movement to change the nature of the Kali-yuga?

Prabhupada: Certainly. Certainly. Just like if there is epidemic disease and you get vaccinated, then there is no disease for you. Similarly, the Kali-yuga may be with so many defects, but if you remain Krsna conscious, these defects will not touch you, because you become transcendental. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita:

Anyone who is engaged in the service of the Lord, he is transcendental to all these material laws. He is not material. Just like this child: he does not know what is Krsna consciousness, but he is also dancing, because he is already on the transcendental platform. Not that he is a child; he has to grow an old man like me, then he will dance. No. Immediately. So Krsna consciousness is so perfect that immediately you become on the transcendental platform. You are not contaminated by these material laws.

Devotee: Are there any other questions?

Prabhupada: Hm. Yes.

Devotee (3): What is the knowledge that Krsna revealed to Arjuna? What was that knowledge?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Madhudvisa: He asked what is the knowledge that Krsna revealed to Arjuna?

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna asked that "You rascal, surrender unto Me." [devotees cheer and applaud] You are all rascals; you surrender to Krsna. Then your life will be successful. This is the sum and substance of Krsna's instruction.

Krsna is not asking only Arjuna. He is asking all us, all rascals, that, "You are manufacturing so many things for becoming happy. You'll never be happy, rest assured. But surrender to Me, and I will make you happy." This is Krsna consciousness, that's all. One line. So the one who is intelligent, he will take this process, that "I have tried my best to become happy, but everything is failure. Now let me surrender to Krsna." That's all. And Krsna also has said. It is not my manufactured thing, that I am saying everyone is rascal. Krsna said,

Mūḍhas, rascals. [laughter] "Those who are rascals, they do not surrender to Me." So our only test is if anyone has not surrendered to Krsna, he is rascal number one. Never mind he is M.A., Ph.D., D.A.C. or whatever he may be. But we take him first-class rascal, that's all, because he has not surrendered to Krsna. This is the test. We are simple, because we are not very educated; but we take the words of Krsna. Krsna says that only these classes of men. What? Duskrtinaḥ. Duskrtinaḥ means one who has got merit, but the merit is being engaged for sinful activities. Just like the atomic bomb. One who has manufactured this, he has got merit, certainly, great scientist. But how he has used his merit? To kill men, that's all. "So men are being killed, sir. They are already dying. What you have manufactured?" But, "No, I have got Nobel Prize." "Why?" "I have invented something which will very quickly kill." That's all. Not slowly, but quickly. And he is offered Nobel Prize. You see? He has manufactured something. "Why don't you manufacture something that men will not die? Then I could consider your merit." But no; his merit is utilized for doing something sinful. That is called duskrtinaḥ. These classes of men, they cannot surrender to Krsna, because they have to suffer for their sinful activities. So they cannot surrender.

Surrender means you become freed from all sinful activities. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66]. Krsna assures, "If you surrender, then I immediately give you release from all reaction of sinful life." But they will not surrender. Therefore they will continue; they will suffer. Na mam duskrtino mūḍhaḥ. So mūḍha means rascal, fool. Krsna is giving so much opportunity, but he will not accept. Therefore mūḍha. And naradhamaḥ. Naradhamaḥ, lowest of the mankind. This instruction can be taken in this human form of life. Krsna says, "Surrender unto Me." A dog cannot do that, but a human being can do it. If he does not do it, then he's the lowest of the mankind. He is not taking the opportunity. Naradhamaḥ. But one may say that there are so many big, big men, educated, learned. Krsna says, mayayapahrta-jnana. Although they have learned so many knowledge, still, maya has taken. The real knowledge has been taken. Asuram bhavam asritaḥ. Because they are demons and atheists, they cannot take it.

So what can be done? Krsna is offering all opportunities, and we, humble servant of Krsna, we are trying to preach it. But the rascals will not accept it. What can be done? That is the difficulty. They want to continue to remain as rascals. That is. What can be done? This is the difficulty. Otherwise everything is there. If we take it…, even a child can take benefit out of it, of Krsna consciousness. That you have seen practically. But we will not take it. That is the difficulty.

Devotee (4): [indistinct]

Madhudvisa: His question was that we are all performing sinful activities, and we cannot come to the platform of knowing Krsna as long as we have sinful activities…

Prabhupada: No. Even if you are sinful, Krsna says, therefore, "You surrender." Krsna will take charge. You surrender, then Krsna will take charge. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66]: "I shall give you release from all reaction." You haven't got to wait, that "First of all finish my business and suffering from sinful…" No. As soon as you surrender to Krsna fully, "Krsna, so long I was in darkness. Now I surrender unto You. If You like, You can kill me; if You like, You can maintain me." This is surrender. Then Krsna takes charge. And if you continue that surrender, then you are cleansed. But if you again commit, that is your business. But if you really surrender, and as Krsna says, you do not do, then you remain perfect even in this life. And as soon as you become perfect, you become eligible to go back to home, back to Godhead. Then your all problem solved. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg 4.9]. Everything is there.

Devotee (5): Srila Prabhupada, how is it possible to obtain humility?

Madhudvisa: His question was, "How is it possible to obtain humility?"

Prabhupada: That is in your hand. We are teaching that you become humble, meek, surrender. If you don't do it, that is your... You have got the independence. That is your business. Where is the humility? You are already surrendering to so many nonsense habits. Why not surrender to Krsna? A little intelligence, that "I have surrendered to my sense enjoyment. My senses are dictating to do something, and I am doing it. I am doing it. So my business is to surrender. So I have already surrendered to my sense activities, to my whims, to my whimsical activities. Why not surrender to Krsna?" A little intelligence. You cannot be independent. Just like if you say that "Don't care for the government laws." You may say, but you have to take care. You have to take care. Similarly, you may say that "I don't surrender to Krsna," then Maya is there. Maya is there immediately, he takes charge…, she takes charge.

Then you become servant of intoxication, this, that, so many things. But if you are intelligent, then you will understand your position, that "I have already surrendered to so many nonsense things. Why not give up this and surrender to Krsna?" This is intelligence.

So one who has no intelligence, he will continue to suffer. What can be done? You cannot say that "I am not surrendered." You are surrendered to your dictation of the senses. But because you are foolish, you do not know that "I am working under the dictation of my senses. My masters are the senses." So, "Why not accept Krsna as my master?" This is intelligence. You cannot be free. That is not possible. I asked this question to one big professor in Moscow, Communist. I asked him that "What is the difference between your philosophy and our philosophy? You have accepted a leader, Lenin, and we have accepted a leader, Krsna. So, so far accepting a leader, there is no change; only in the process. So if the leader is perfect, then the process is perfect. And if the leader is a rascal, then the process is also rascal." So he could not answer. So where is the communistic movement has advanced? There is no advancement, because they have to accept one leader, surrender to somebody. But the man to whom he has surrendered, if he is perfect, then it is perfect. And if he is a rascal, then whole system is rascal. So therefore, our advice is that you have to surrender to somebody. So better surrender to the supreme perfect person, Krsna. Then you will be happy. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Hare Krsna. [end]