720319LE.BOM
Lecture

Bombay, March 19, 1972
Prabhupada: So when I was coming on the (indistinct), one gentleman remarked that "Your, this movement, will help forgetful Indians who are trying to forget God.'' Not only in India, throughout the whole world they are trying to forget God. And this forgetfulness of our relationship with God is material condition. Material life and spiritual life, the difference is that when we forget God, that is material. And when we are fully conscious of God, that is spiritual life. (aside:) Why they are allowed to sit here?
Devotee (1): All the children should leave. All the children should leave?
Prabhupada: Not leave; just keep them quiet.
Devotee (1): Would all the children kindly be very quiet during tonight's lecture, please. All you parents that have your children here, will you kindly keep them quiet so that Srila Prabhupada can be heard by everyone, please.
Prabhupada: The real disease is, as it is stated by a Vaisnava poet,
krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare
pasate maya tare japatiya dhare
When we forget Krsna and want to lord it over the material nature, this is called maya. Maya means which has no factual existence. So this idea that I shall lord it over the material nature, this is maya.
krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare
pasate maya tare japatiya dhare
As soon as we think of becoming the Lord and lording it over the Lord's creation, that is called maya. And Krsna consciousness movement is just an attempt to revive the original consciousness that "I am not the lord, but I am the servant of the Lord.'' This is Krsna consciousness.
So our program is to speak on Srimad-Bhagavatam in the evening and to speak in English, and in the morning we speak on Bhagavad-gita in Hindi. So we are very much grateful to you that you are kindly trying to cooperate with this movement and hear about Krsna. Your cooperation means you please hear about Krsna. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, radha-krsna bolo sange calo ei-matra duhkha cai. We are simply begging you that you chant Hare Krsna and please come along with us. This much begging we are submitting.
Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada? The slide show is ready for the children if they would like to go.
Prabhupada: So why not? Yes?
Devotee (1): There is, in this tent on this side, there is a slide show for the children, which is beginning just now. So if all the children would like to go there, they can see many nice pictures of Krsna and of all our activities all over the world. Very nice show. (aside:) It's working. (noise as children leave)
Prabhupada: Hm. Hare Krsna. So maya, or illusion... There are two platforms: maya and Krsna. Krsna is just like sun. It is said that Krsna is just like the sun and maya is just like the darkness. So whenever there is sun, there is no more darkness. Just like at the present moment it is dark night because the sun is absent from our vision. This is called maya. Sun is always there in the sky, but when the sun is not visible, this is called darkness. Similarly, Krsna is present always within our heart, everywhere. It is said in the Brahma-samhita, andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. Andantara-stham. Krsna is within the universe, Krsna is within your heart, Krsna is within the atom. Andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. You can take it from the sastras, from the Vedas, that Krsna is always present everywhere; therefore He's God, the original Visnu, all-pervasive. This is also stated in the Brahma-samhita:
yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-bilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.48]
The Maha-Visnu, from whose breathing period millions of universes are coming out, and when He is inhaling, millions of universes are going within Him, He is called Maha-Visnu. That Maha-Visnu is described in the Brahma-samhita. That Brahma, Lord Brahma, who exists only on the breathing period of Maha-Visnu, that Maha-Visnu is partial expansion of Krsna. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says that there are many manifestations of the Supreme Lord Visnu. Just like candles, there are many candles, each candle has got the illuminating power. Similarly, eko bahu syam. Visnu expands Himself in many, many millions of forms. Those forms are called svamsa and vibhinnamsa. Svamsa, personal expansions, and separated expansions. The separated expansions are we, we living entities. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mamaivamso jiva bhuta [Bg. 15.7]. So we are also expansions of Visnu, or Krsna, but we are separated. Means we are not personal expansions. The personal expansions is called Visnu-tattva, and the separated expansion is called jiva-tattva. And jiva-tattva is also sakti-tattva. Visnu is saktiman, and we are sakti. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita:
apareyam itas tu viddhi
me prakrti param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
[Bg. 7.5]
So we are sakti-tattva. We are not saktiman-tattva. It is not corroborated. One who thinks that "I am God,'' saktiman-tattva, that is false. We are sakti-tattva. Saktiman means the powerful, one who possesses the power, and sakti means the power or energy. Or one who controls the energy, He is called saktiman, and the energy acts in different way. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. There are different kinds of, millions of energies, of the saktiman. So we are energy of Krsna. We cannot be Krsna. Just like fire and heat or light. Heat is not different from fire, but heat is not fire. If you feel heat, it does not mean that you're touching the fire or that you are being burned. So simultaneously one and different. This philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, acintya-bhedabheda-tattva: simultaneously, inconceivable one and different. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, Vaisnava philosophy. We are neither different nor one, simultaneously, and therefore it is called inconceivable, acintya. In our material conception we cannot think that one thing may be simultaneously one with another and different from another. So this is our position: jiva is sakti-tattva and bhagavan is saktiman-tattva. But sakti, saktiman abheda, there is no difference. There are many other examples. Just like the sun and sunlight. Sunlight is not different from the sun, and still the sunlight is not the sun. In the morning, when you find that there is sunlight within your room, you can say that the sun is within your room. You can say that, but the actual sun is far, far away, 93,000,000 miles away from us. So there are so many examples that we are energy of the Supreme Lord, we living entities.
So the Srimad-Bhagavatam therefore begins with the first aphorism of the Vedanta-sutra, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], the Absolute Truth. Vyasadeva has given you Srimad-Bhagavatam after his mature experience. He wrote all the Vedic literatures but he was not happy. So when he was not in his mood, he was deeply thinking that "What is the defect in my writings that after writing so many Vedic literatures I am not feeling very happy,'' at that time his spiritual master happened to appear before him, and he explained that why he was not happy. He explained that "You have touched many subject matters about dharma, artha, kama, and moksa-religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberationbut you have not explained about the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore you are feeling unhappy.'' So Vyasadeva, after writing Vedanta-sutra, he, by the instruction of Narada Muni, his spiritual master, he compiled this Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam is explanation of the Vedanta-sutra. Srimad-Bhagavatam is explanation by the same author. Vyasadeva is the author of the Vedanta-sutra, and he explains what does he mean by the Sutras. That is very nice. The author explains his mind. That is perfect explanation. I cannot understand the author's mind. I may imagine something, but you cannot understand the author's mind, what does he want to explain. Therefore Vyasadeva explains himself about the Vedanta-sutra: athato brahma jijnasa, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The human life, atha, now it is the time for inquiring about the Supreme Absolute Truth. Not in other life. "Other'' means other than the human life: animal life, beast life, plant life, aquatic life, insect life. There are so many, 8,400,000 of species of life. By evolutionary process, when we come to the human form of life, it is our duty to understand and inquire about Brahma. Athato brahma jijnasa. That Brahma is explained by the author. That Brahma is that from where everything emanates, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Janma, siti and loi(?). Janma means birth, siti means stay, and loi(?) means annihilation. So wherefrom everything is coming out, and from whom everything is staying, and after annihilation, where everything is enteringthat is Brahma. Janmady asya [SB 1.1.1]. Janmadi.
Now, that source of energy wherefrom everything is emanating, now what is the actual position of that thing? Is it inanimate or animate? Just like some scientists explain the theory of creation, that "There was a chunk that was inanimate. From inanimate things animation has developed under certain conditions.'' That is not possible. We have no such experience that from inanimate things some animation has developed. Sometimes we see, it is called (Sanskrit?). Sometimes we see that from heaps of rice stocked, one scorpion is coming out. It does not mean that the inanimate rice has given birth to a scorpion. No. The actual fact is the scorpion lays down eggs within the rice, and by fermentation they develop, and then it comes out. So there are different types of emanation. That is biological subject matter. But here in Srimad-Bhagavatam Vyasadeva says that origin of the emanation of everything is sentient, conscious. He's not like matter, unconscious. Janmady asya yatah 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah sva-rat [SB 1.1.1]. He says that the origin of creation must be conscious, abhijnah. Abhijnah means conscious. Unless the origin of creation is conscious, how things are so happening so rightly and nicely? How all the planets are rotating in their orbit, there is no collision, there is no fall down? So there is a great plan. Therefore the creator must be conscious, a person. That is the verdict of Vyasadeva. And anyone who is also conscious and intelligent can understand. He says, janmady asya yatah anvayad. Anvayad: directly and indirectly. Directly He's conscious of the creation, and indirectly, as we are, we are also conscious because we are parts and parcels of the Supreme. Another explanation is that my birth has taken place from my father. My father's birth has taken place from his father. In this way you go on researchinghis father, his father, his father. So everyone is a conscious personality. So why the original source of everything should not be conscious personality? This is another thing. Conscious and person. Just like my father is conscious and person, his father is conscious and person. In this way you go on researching according to our Vedic knowledge, you come to Brahma. Brahma is considered to be the original creature within the universe, adi-kavi. So now this Brahma is also born of the navel lotus of Visnu; the Visnu, He must be conscious. The Visnu is conscious, abhijnah. So the origin of creation cannot be unconscious. Origin of creation must be conscious. That is the version of the Vedas, Vedic literature. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], this is the Vedanta-sutra verse. He must be conscious.
Now Vyasadeva is explaining that supreme consciousness. He has already offered his respect, om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, janmady asya yatah. Sripada Sridhara Svami has commented on this om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, that Vasudeva means Krsna. Cinma karundaya krsnaya, he has said in his comment. Om namo bhagavate parama... paramahamsa asadhi carana kamala.(?) Paramahamsa. This consciousness, supreme consciousness, can be realized by the paramahamsa asadhi. The paramahamsas can taste what is that supreme consciousness. Paramahamsa asadhika carana kamala cinmakarundaya bhaktajana manasa nivasaya sri krsnaya. Bhaktajana manasaya nivasaya. That Supreme Absolute Truth, cinmakarundaya, in the peaceful lotus within the heart, He lives there. He lives in everyone's heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Krsna has explained that Isvara, the Supreme Lord... He is the Supreme Lord. He says that Isvara, the Supreme Lord, lives in everyone's heart, and He also lives there as paramatma, cinmakarundaya. So the paramatma and the atma both are living within the heart. Cinmakarundaya krsnaya. So Paramatma is partial expansion of Krsna, and jivatma is separated part and parcel of Krsna. And Krsna is the original person, Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sarva-karana-karanam. In the Bhagavad-gita it is also said, aham sarvasya prabhavah mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. Sarvam means the creative deities: Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara. They are also from Krsna. The Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara are called guna-avataras of Krsna, incarnation of the material qualities. Brahma is incarnation of the material quality passion, rajo-guna, and Visnu is incarnation of the quality sattva-guna, and Lord Siva is the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in tama-guna. So the example is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam also, what is the difference between Lord Siva, Lord Brahma and Lord Visnu. The difference is they are one but they are different manifestations. Just like firewood. In the wood there is fire. So in the beginning there is no fire, but when there is little fire, there is smoke, then there is ignition, flame. But we are concerned with the flame, neither with the wood nor with the smoke. Similarly, although Lord Siva, Lord Visnu and Lord Brahma are different manifestations of the same thing, Absolute Truth, still we are concerned with the fire of Visnu, not with the wood, nor with the smoke. This is the conclusion of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Therefore Vyasadeva says that the original person, or the Absolute Truth, must be conscious. (Sanskrit). Directly and indirectly He knows everything. In the Bhagavad-gita it is also said, vedaham samatitani [Bg. 7.26]. Krsna knows everything, past, present and future. That is also explained in the Fourth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, where Krsna said that "Long, long ago I spoke this philosophy of Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god.'' Vivasvan manave praha imam ivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. "This version of Bhagavad-gita, avyayam, inexhaustible knowledge, was first spoken by Me to the sun-god."
So at that time Arjuna inquired from Krsna for clearance how Krsna spoke millions of years ago this Bhagavad-gita, all about this Krsna consciousness, to the sun-god. He inquired as an ordinary man, "My dear Krsna''Krsna was his friend and cousin-brother alsothat "how can I believe that You spoke this Bhagavad-gita millions and trillions of years ago to the sun-god?'' What was the reply by Krsna? The reply was, Krsna said, [break] "...have forgotten. I remember all of it.'' "I remember all of it.'' That is the difference between Krsna, or God, and the ordinary living entity. We have forgotten. If I ask you what you were doing last evening at this time, you will have to remember, "Yes. I was doing that. I forget.'' But Krsna will not forget. Therefore, this is described here, (Sanskrit). He knows everything. [break] "I am sitting in everyone's heart.'' Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistho mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca [Bg. 15.15]. "From Me there is remembrance; jnana, knowledge; and forgetfulness.'' Krsna... [break] That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:
ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
mama vartmanuvartante
manusyah partha sarvasah
[Bg. 4.11]
So Krsna is very kind, as I have already explained. Two spiritual identities, namely the atma and the Paramatma, are there within your heart. The Paramatma is giving you direction. Paramatma is giving you direction. What kind of direction? Because I wanted to forget Krsna, He sometimes gives me direction that "Yes, you forget like this.'' And anyone who wants to remember Krsna, to revive Krsna consciousness, He helps you also. This is Krsna. Why? Because we are parts and parcels of Krsna. Krsna is fully independent. That is also explained here-abhijnah svarat. Svarat means fully independent. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Person, is fully independent. Not only conscious, abhijnah, but He is independent. But we are part and parcel of Krsna; therefore the quality of independence of Krsna is there, but in minute quantity. Our independence and Krsna's independence is not the same. Just like here is the Arabian Sea. You take a drop of water from the Arabian Sea, you taste it, you'll find it is salty. The salt is there in a drop of the Arabian Sea water, and salt is there in the Arabian Sea. But the quantity of salt in the whole Arabian Sea and the quantity of salt in the drop of water, they are different. Similarly, because we are part and parcel of Krsna, all the qualities of Krsna, they are also present within us in minute quantity. And because it is in minute quantity, sometimes it becomes lost. Therefore our consciousness, originally, because we are part and parcel of Krsna, our original consciousness is Krsna consciousness, but somehow or other, being in contact with this matter, we have lost our Krsna consciousness. Therefore this movement is to revive Krsna consciousness. That is our original constitutional position. That I was explaining, quoting the Bengali poet
krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare
pasate maya tare japatiya dhare
Because somehow or other in material contact we have lost our Krsna consciousness, it has to be revived. It has to be revived; then we shall be happy. That is the particular point we want to stress on this Krsna consciousness movement-revival of the original consciousness. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained this as ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], cleansing the heart. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. If we cleanse our heart, that means if we come to the original Krsna consciousness, then bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. This blazing fire of material consciousness will immediately extinguish. That is the process. Every one of us trying to be happy, peaceful and blissful also, but unless we revive our original Krsna consciousness, it is not possible.
So this movement is very important movement, that we are attempting to revive one's original consciousness. The original consciousness is clean. Just like the water. Originally, when it drops from the clouds, it is distilled water, clean, but as soon as it comes in touch with the muddy earth, it becomes unclean. Similarly, originally our consciousness was Krsna consciousness. Now, in touch with the material modes of nature, we have formed different types of consciousness. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu [Bg. 13.22]. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Karanamthe cause, the cause of our tribulation. What is that tribulation? Sad-asad-janma-yonisu. We are taking repeatedly birth, one after another, sometimes very good birth and sometimes very bad, sad asad. There are 8,400,000 species of life. Sometimes I may become Brahma and sometimes I may become the insect or the germ in the stool. That is my position. Karanam guna-sango 'sya. Because we have lost the original consciousness, I am being in contact with the material modes of nature, means sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Karanam guna-sangah. We are mixing with the different types of material qualities, and as such we are developing different modes of material nature in our consciousness. This consciousness has to be cleared. This consciousness... Even our consciousness is goodness... Just like there are many people who are very charitably disposed: they want to make charity, they want to open schools, that want to open hospitals. That is goodness. That is all right. But still it is material; it is not spiritual. Similarly, there are others also who are contacting the modes of passion, just like big, big kings, they are very much anxious or very much ambitious to expand their kingdom. This is called association with the modes of passion. Similarly, there are mixture also, mixture of goodness, passion and ignorance. So according to these different types of mixture, or original quality, there are different classes of men. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. These three qualities, when one is developed in the modes of goodness, he is very intelligent or he is brahmana. When we are developed..., our consciousness is passion, that is called ksatriya, brahmana, ksatriya. And when it is mixed up, it is called vaisya. And when it is ignorance, it is called sudra. These are the divisions. So here Krsna says, "If you want to transcend these qualitative situations of material life, then you have to come to Me.'' Because these are..., all these qualities are different modes of material nature, which is called maya. So we are now compact in the association of maya, in different qualities, and Krsna says that mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. If you actually want to revive your own consciousness, original consciousness, then you have to surrender. That is being explained by Vyasadeva here, satyam param dhimahi [SB 1.1.1]. He says, satyam param dhimahi. Dhimahi is gayatri-mantra. Om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi.
So by brahminical culture, by chanting the gayatri-mantra or the Hare Krsna mantra, gradually we become purified. That is explained by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Come to the original consciousness, Krsna consciousness, then you'll become happy. Original consciousness, the beginning of original consciousness: to understand one's self as Brahma, not matter. Brahma means spirit. Aham brahmasmi: "I'm not matter, I'm spirit soul.'' This is the beginning of spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:
Unless you come to the platform of brahma bhuta [SB 4.30.20] consciousness, you cannot treat everyone on the same level. It is not possible. The so-called universal brotherhood is not possible on this material condition of life. Therefore you can see that materially there are so many attempts to find out a platform of universal brotherhood. But there is no universal brotherhood. There is simply platform of enemy. The United Nation is trying to come to the platform of universal brotherhood. When I go to New York, I see the great institution. There are hundreds and thousands of flags. Instead of being united, the flags are increasing, because this universal brotherhood, this equality, fraternity, cannot be established on this material platform. It is not possible. You have to come to the point, to the platform of Krsna consciousness, or brahma bhuta stage, then it is possible.
So everything is scientifically described in the Vedic literature. You haven't got to make any research. It is already there. You have to simply accept it and take it. Then your life will be sublime, your life will be successful. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is that, to make everyone's life successful. (Sanskrit) Everyone become happy. That is the mission of everyone. "Everyone'' means those who are devotees. How people will be happy? That is their mission. It is not that we start a mission just to make some money and to fill up our belly, hungry belly. No. It is a mission to see that everyone is happy in Krsna consciousness. This is the mission. Our acaryas, just like Srila Rupa Goswami, about him Srinivasacarya writes,
nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau
lokanam hita-karinau tri-bhuvane manyau saranyakarau
radha-krsna-padaravinda-bhajananandena-mattalikau
vande rupa-sanatana raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau
They engaged themselves. They were ministers. Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami, they were two great ministers in the government of Pathan kingdom in Bengal. And they resigned the post just for the benefit of the mass of people. They became mendicants, tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim. So this is the mission of all who is born in India. That is the statement by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
So this Krsna consciousness movement is for para-upakara, for doing good to othersthe best welfare activities in the world. And it is India's duty, it is India's prerogative to take this knowledge and broadcast all over the world for para-upakara. And actually it is happening. All these European and American boys and girls, they are trying to understand this Krsna consciousness movement very seriously. So it is very scientific, authorized and practical also. So we hope that all of you who are present here will try to cooperate with this movement, and let us meet at least so long as I am here. That will be very beneficial.
Thank you very much.
Devotee: All glories to Srila Prabhupada. (end)

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