680108CC.LA
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 6.254

Los Angeles, January 8, 1968
Prabhupada:
This is a prayer offering to Lord Caitanya. The central figure, dancing, a boy about eighteen years old, He introduced this movement, sankirtana movement, being compassionate with the fallen souls of this age. He recommended, He recommended from the authorized scriptures, not that He manufactured. Nowadays it has become a fashion to manufacture a certain type or system of religious or yoga principle. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not do that. What He introduced, that is recommended in the scriptures, that "In this age, for spiritual realization, one may simply chant the holy name of Krsna." Krsna means God. If you have got any other name for God, you can chant that also. It is not that you have to chant "Krsna." But Krsna means God. The word meaning of Krsna means "all-attractive." Krsna, from His beauty, all-attractive. From His strength He's all-attractive. From His philosophy He's all-attractive. From His renunciation He's all-attractive. From His fame He's all-attractive.
Five thousand years before, Krsna spoke this Bhagavad-gita; still going strong. It's so famous. And Krsna claims that sarva-yonisu kaunteya [Bg. 14.4]. Most of you must have read Bhagavad-gita, and in the Fourteenth Chapter you'll find that Krsna says, "My dear Arjuna, in all species of life there may be as many varieties of forms." We are all living entities. Here even, even in human society, we have got different types of forms. Nobody will be exactly like the form of another gentleman. There is difference. So this is the beauty of creation. If you go to a tree, there are millions and billions of leaves, and you won't find one leaf exactly like the other. So there are varieties of living entities. Out of the varieties of the living entities, the human kind living entities are very small. From sastra, from scripture, we understand that there are 8,400,000 species of life, 8,400,000 species of life. Out of that, aquatics, water animals or water-living entities, are 900,000. The botanist or the physiologist, how many they have seen or how many they have experimented or how many we have seen? But from the sastra, from the Vedic scriptures, we find that there are 900,000's of species of life in the water, and 2,000,000 species of life in the botanical department. Similarly, there are birds, there are beasts, there are four-legged animals, and at last, the human beings. The human life is considered to be the developed form of all species of life. Darwin's theory also, some idea, gives some idea. I think he might have taken this idea from Vedic literature. But the gradual evolution is recommended, is, I mean to say, mentioned in the Vedic literature that from aquatics to plant life, then worms' life, then birds' life, then animal life... There are thirty-three hundred thousands of animal life. So at last this human form of life. And the human form of life, there are many species, some of them civilized, some of them not civilized. Some of them have no religion. But we can know from the history of human civilization that any civilized nation, it doesn't matter whether he's Christian, whether he's Muhammadan, or a Hindu, or Buddhistthere is some type of religion.
So in the Vedic literature (it) says that without religion, without accepting religion... Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah. If in some society there is no religion... Religion means to abide by the laws of the Supreme. That is religion. It doesn't matter whether it is Christian religion or Muhammadan religion or Hindu religion, religion means... Just like citizen, good citizen. Good citizen means who abides by the law of the state. It doesn't matter what he is. Similarly anyone, either he may be a Christian or may be Muhammadan or may be Hindu, that doesn't matter. Anyone who accepts the Supreme Lord, God, and abides by the laws of God, or laws of nature, he's called religionist or an advanced human being. But Krsna says, "Either advanced or not advanced, that doesn't matter. It is a kind of dress only. But I am the father." Aham bija-pradah pita [Bg. 14.4]. Just like father is the seed-giving agent into the womb of the mother, and then the child, baby, comes out... Without the combination of father and mother, there is no possibility of generation. Similarly, Krsna says that "In all species of life, the living entities, I am the seed-giving father, and this material nature is the mother." Nobody can deny. Because our this body... Just like the child's body is made by the mother. Father gives the opportunity to develop the body, and the mother supplies the ingredients for developing the body, similarly, God impregnates, God impregnates material nature with the living entity, and they come out in different forms: aquatics, birds, beasts, animals, trees, plants, vegetables, so many. And Krsna says that "I am the father of all of them."
So my request to you (is) that don't accept Krsna as something Indian god or Hindu god. No. Krsna is the original father of all living entities. He claims. If you don't accept... If the father says, "You are my son," and the son says, "No, I am not your son," oh, that is son's prerogative. He may deny it if he doesn't believe his mother. Now what is the proof that one man is my father? The mother is the proof. There is no other source of understanding who is my father. If a boy wants to understand, "Who is my father?" the only authority is the mother. Mother will say, "My dear boy, my dear child, here is your father." You have to accept. If you say, "I don't accept. I must have proof that he is my father." How it is possible? It is not possible. Similarly, the Vedic literature is to be considered the mother and Vedic literature says, janmady asya yatah: [SB 1.1.1] "The Supreme Absolute Truth is that who is the source of all generation, all emanations." And what is that source? Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that "I am the father." So if you believe scriptures, Vedic literatures, if you believe Bhagavad-gita, then you have to accept Krsna as the supreme father because the mother... Vedic literature is considered to be the mother. She gives evidence that Krsna is the father. Just like mother gives evidence who is your father, similarly, the Vedic literatures is compared to a mother, and the Vedic literature says that Krsna is the father. In your Christian literature, Bible, Jesus Christ is accepted as the son of God. He presented himself as son of God. And here Krsna says that "I am the father." So there is no contradiction. The son of God also says about God, and the father also says about the God, Himself. The son of God says that "You surrender unto God," and God says, "You surrender unto Me." Then where there is contradiction? There is no contradiction.
So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement is to understand the father. It is nothing new. It is old. But in a new process, convenient for the people of this age. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. We have forgotten our father. We have forgotten God. The modern civilization, wherever you go, they say that "We are secular state." Secular state. Secular state means without knowing who is the father of the mankind. That is secular state. But the Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, a great logician during the time of Lord Caitanya, he was also godless. And generally, the so-called learned philosophers, scientists, or so-called educators, they deny the existence of God. They depend more or less on their experimental knowledge of science. But actually, the fact is that there is God. There is God. In every religion they accept there is God, and actually, the fact is there is God. In the Vedic literatures it is accepted, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. And in the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said by Krsna that "I am the father." Not only one place, in many other places. I am especially referring to the Bhagavad-gita because most of you, you're acquainted with the study of Bhagavad-gita. Similarly, in the Tenth Chapter you'll find, aham sarvasya prabhavah: "I am the origin of everything." Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate: "Whatever you see, that is from Me." Iti...
One who understands this perfectly... One has to understand. So Krsna says, "One who has understood that I am the origin of everything..." Budha. Budha means one who is learned. Bhava-samanvitah. Bhava-samanvitah means "with thoughts." Not that whimsically or sentimentally to accept something, but with thought. "With thoughtful attitude or mood, one who has understood this fact," budha bhava-samanvitah, "he worships Me." These things are there.
So Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, he was a great logician. He was unfaithful. Not... He was moralist, but he had no faith in God, or impersonalist. There are many persons who have faith in something superior or absolute, but they do not believe in the personal nature of God. But here, from the Bhagavad-gita, we can clearly understand, from Bhagavata we can clearly understand, from Vedanta philosophy we clearly understand that God is person, a person like you and me. Take, for example, in the Vedanta-sutra, the first aphorism is janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The first sutra is athato brahma jijnasa: "Now you have to understand what is Brahman, or what is the Absolute Truth." The next aphorism is, immediately, that "The Absolute Truth is that from whom everything emanates, the original source of all emanation." Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Janma, janma means birth. Adi means et cetera. But janma, where there is birth, there is death and there is existence. Whenever there is birth, you must know there is death also. There is not a single instance you have got experience where birth is possible and death is not possible. This material world is going on in that way: birth, then existence, then development, then by-product, then dwindling, then vanishing. Six changes, everything. Either take your this body or a fruit or a flower, anything material you take, these six changes are there. First of all birth, then growth, then existence, then by-products, then dwindling, and then vanishing. So Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The original source of birth, the source of maintenance, the source of growth, the source of development, and the source of dwindling, and after all, vanishing, or the conservation of the vanishing elements, everything is the supreme Brahman.
So this janmady asya sloka has been interpreted in various ways, but the most important commentator is Vyasadeva. He's the original writer of Vedanta-sutra. Not only he's the writer of Vedanta-sutra, he's the writer of all Vedic literature. Vedic literature means four Vedas: Sama, Atharva, Yajur, and Rk. And from the Vedas, there are Upanisads. There are 108 Upanisads. And there are Puranas. Puranas means those who will not understand the Vedic aphorisms and the Upanisads, statement of the Upanisads, for them, for ordinary men, there are many stories. The stories are concluded with the Vedanta-sutra. Then there is Mahabharata. You have heard all these names. Mahabharata, the history, history of Indian royalty. The Mahabharata is the history of fighting between two groups of royal family, the Pandavas and the Kurus. And in that Mahabharata you'll find all kinds of sociology, politics, religion, and military science. Everything is complete there. And in that Mahabharata is put this Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita is only a portion of the Mahabharata. This was also written by Vyasadeva. But at last, he was not satisfied. Or even after writing so many big literatures, he was not satisfied. So one day he was sitting very morose, and in the same time, his spiritual master, Narada, came to see him. Because Narada is not an ordinary spiritual master. He could understand that "My disciple is sitting morose. So I must go there and give him some encouragement because he's a great personality. He is giving human society so many nice things, but he's not very happy in his mood. So I shall go and give him some encouragement."
So I am reading from the Bhagavata this introduction, how Bhagavata was compiled by Vyasadeva. I am reading that chapter. This is the First Canto, Fifth Chapter. So when his spiritual master, Narada, came... It is the custom of disciple to receive him, and to give him nice seat, and offer obeisances, and then talk on different subject matters. So when Narada came, Vyasadeva offered him good seat, and..., comfortable seat, and offered his obeisances. Then Narada is preaching to him. He saw his disciple Vyasadeva very much morose. So he's asking,
"My dear Vyasadeva, I see that you are not very happy. But I am asking you question, whether a person becomes ever-happy who has accepted this body as self or the mind as self?" There are two classes of men in the material worldI mean to say intelligent class. I am not speaking of the ordinary class of men. Those who are interested in knowledge, in higher thoughts, in philosophy, in religion, ethics, morality... So many things there are. In science, in literature... So Vyasadeva is everything in one person. And he has written so many books, as I have described. Now Narada is asking him, "My dear Parasarya...," Parasarya means Vyasadeva was the son of Parasara. His father's name was Parasara; therefore he's addressing him, parasarya maha-bhaga. Maha-bhaga: "You are very fortunate. You have got the opportunity of doing the best service to the humanity by presenting such important literatures. Therefore you are maha-bhaga."
To serve the human society is not ordinary task. And now it is not possible for any ordinary man. All great men or great personalities who have appeared on this earth and rendered great service to the humanity, they are still remembered. Just like in your country, President Washington, he rendered very valuable service to your country. He's still remembered. Recently, President Kennedy... He's still remembered. Similarly, those persons who have dedicated their life for the welfare of the human society, they are not ordinary men. Therefore he is addressed as maha-bhaga, the most fortunate personality, because he dedicated his life for the good of the humanity. The greater man is engaged for the service to the humanity, he is considered the great man. Similarly, Lord Caitanya, He also renounced this world. You see His feature is just eighteen-years-to-twenty-years-boy. And after this movement, sankirtana movement, at Navadvipa during His householder life... He was married at the age of seventeen years. So He was considered to be a householder. And His first wife died at the age of twenty years. Then His mother requested to marry... [break]
...To do the best service to the humanity, that is His order. To do the best service to the humanity. He was so much compassionate with the human society. So by His grace, His philosophy, His teachings are now being spread in the Western countries. And I have taken up the humble responsibility. Please help me. You'll be happy. It is such a nice movement. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was also humanitarian. He's not a religionist. He was not meant for preaching a particular cult to gather some followers. No. It is the need of the human society, and He wanted to preach all over the world. Because it was not possible at that time, in His time. He lived only for forty-eight years. He took sannyasa at the age of twenty-four years, and He passed away in... Twenty-four years He was very busy all over India. Therefore He left His legacy to the Indians, any Indian, to take up this cause and preach this cult of sankirtana movement all over the world. So I shall request you to understand the philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His movement. We have got already six centers, five centers in your country. I started first in 1966, July, in New York. Then I started in San Francisco, then Boston, then at Montreal. Of course, I did not go everywhere. These boys, the sincere boys and girls who are helping me, who have joined this movement, they are doing. This center was started also by one boy. I have come for the first time here. Now I will request you that this movement is nothing sectarian or anything bluff. It is the movement as the necessity of the human society. You join it, you consider it. You put your logic, arguments. In every way, you'll find that this is the necessity of the present day.
So not only one center in Los Angeles, but you open centers in every village, every country, every home. And the process is very simple. You chant Hare Krsna and dance in ecstasy and everything will come within yourself gradually. Everything will come. You'll practically feel how you are becoming reformed. There is no need of wasting time. This Hare Krsna movement can be done at home, outside home, when you are working, when you are walking, every moment. So try to understand this movement and try to follow it. It is not sectarian; it is the need. I shall discuss all these points gradually. If you kindly come and attend our classes, I shall be very much thankful.
Thank you very much. If there is any question, you can ask.
Yes?
Guest or devotee: What should you be thinking about when you're chanting?
Prabhupada: Beg your pardon?
Guest or devotee: What should you be thinking about when you're chanting...
Devotee: What should you be thinking about when you're chanting? What do you think about when you're chanting?
Prabhupada: Chanting. You simply hear. When you say "Hare Krsna," you try to hear the very sound, "Hare Krsna." That's all. Nothing more. This is meditation. Your tongue and your ear should be engaged in sounding this transcendental vibration, "Hare Krsna." Best meditation. This is also accepted in Bhagavad-gita: the best meditation. You don't keep your mind elsewhere. You keep your mind on the chanting. "Hare Krsna," and hear. So this is responsive. When I was chanting, you were hearing; when you were chanting, I was hearing. So it is exchange. I hear your chanting, you hear my chanting. This is the process. So there is no possibility of thinking anything else. Best and the easiest type of meditation. Fully.(?) Factual. You at once become on the transcendental plane. Therefore we feel dancing. You see? So practice it and you'll see how spiritually you are making advancement. And it is very simple. When you are walking on the street, you can chant Hare Krsna. There is not tax. There is no expenditure. There is no loss. But the gain is very great. Why don't you try it? If without any loss, without any expenditure, you gain something, the supermost sublime thing, spiritual realization, why don't you try for it? We are not asking any money. We are not asking $250 for paying for hearing. No. It is freely distributed. Please take it and try it. Make an experiment. There is no business here. You simply chant Hare Krsna and try to hear the sound, that's all. Nothing more. [break]
Guest: I have a question. I was wondering why Krsna is always portrayed as being blue.
Prabhupada: Why the sky is blue? Can you explain?
Guest: Because the sky is blue?
Prabhupada: Yes, why the sky is blue? First of all, you try to explain this. This is you are seeing every day. Can you explain? You don't? You cannot? Sky is blue! That's all! Therefore it is blue. Krsna is blue! Therefore He's blue. (laughter)
Guest: But his consort, His consort is not blue.
Prabhupada: Sky is the reflection of Krsna's bodily effulgence; therefore it is blue. Just like if the cover of the light is blue or, I mean to say, red, the radiance also becomes... Similarly, Krsna is blue. It is described in the Vedic literature, venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam [Bs. 5.30]. God's bodily hue is just like bluish cloud. But it is very beautiful. (end)

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