Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya – March 17, 1971, Bombay

Bhagavata says, 'No, you are not advancing'

Prabhupada: There are many sat-saṅga society, but in Europe and America, Western countries, this is the only, and they have very kindly joined us. So to serve them is our first business.

So, we are talking of teachings of Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami. Sanatana Gosvami, he was one of the very responsible minister in the [indistinct] government of Bengal. And as minister, he was a learned scholar both in Sanskrit and Arabic. So he resigned his post as minister and wanted to join Lord Caitanya in His saṅkirtana movement.

He had some difficulties to get out of the responsible position. The Nawab, Hussain Shah, was very much counting upon his assistance. Generally, the Muhammadan kings, they were dependent on Hindu ministers. I have heard that in your this Bombay city, Aga Khan[?], his establishment for management were all Hindu officers. I do not know whether it is a fact. Is it a fact?

Guest: It's a fact.

Prabhupada: Yes. They know that the Hindus can manage very intelligently. They're not extravagant.

So Sanatana Gosvami was favored by Lord Caitanya by instructing him for two months. He created two, three lieutenants for preaching His cult. One of them was Rupa Gosvami, one of them was Sanatana Gosvami, the chief of the Gosvamis. And He talked with also Ramananda Raya, another stalwart.

He was also statesman; he was governor of Madras on behalf of the then King of Orissa, Maharaja Prataparudra. He was very powerful king. The Muhammadans, the Pathans, they practically conquered all over India, but they could not enter Orissa. He was very strong king, and in those days Madras was under the Orissa government. So another responsible officer...

[doors bang] [aside:] Stop this. How it is happening? You can close these doors.

So he was another big officer, governor, he also joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And these two brothers, Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, they were ministers in the government of Hussain Shah, they also joined. And Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, he was also a big zamindar, landlord, so he also joined. And a big scholar, he also from Madras side, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. And Jiva Gosvami, he was also a very big scholar. He happened to be from Bengal.

In this way six Gosvamis, they were immediate disciples of Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya's instruction to them..., directly gave instruction to Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami and Ramananda Raya. So one of the Gosvamis, Sanatana Gosvami, the Caitanya Mahaprabhu is instructing at Benares. So his proposition was that "Some people, my neighborhood people or my dependents, government officers, they call me as a learned scholar, pandita."

Of course, it is a system in India that a brahmana is addressed as a pandita, because he is supposed to become a learned scholar. Brahmana's business is to study Vedic literatures and teach others also: pathan pathan. He must be scholar and he must make others also scholar. Not that he is simply remains a scholar. No. That is bad. Brahmana is so liberal that he wants to make others also scholar.

Pathana pathana, yajana yajana. Yajan means worshiping the Lord, and yajan means helping others. Priest, you know, priestly business. Priest means he helps the householders how to become Krsna conscious. Purohita. Purohita means one who does welfare activities for the householders. Purohita.

Yajana yajana, pathana pathana, and dana pratigraha. Brahmana business is to take charity from his disciples, followers, and again spend it for Krsna's service. So these six kinds of business is for the brahmanas, and they are suppose to be very learned, panditaji. Brahmana's position is pandita.

So he was called pandita, and he was actually pandita, but he presented himself as a fool, although he was learned. He presented himself, "My dear Lord, people say that I am very learned, but actually I do not know what I am, wherefrom I have come, why I am suffering."

First of all, we do not know that we are suffering in every step. Why we are using this fan? Because we are suffering. Because the excessive heat we cannot tolerate-suffering. Similarly, in the winter season this wind will be another suffering. We have closed the doors tightly so that air may not come. Now the air is counteracting suffering, and in another season the same air will be suffering itself. So the air is the cause of suffering and it is the so-called cause of happiness also. Actually we are simply suffering. That we do not know.

But we get information from Lord Krsna that this place is duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg 8.15]. It is a place for miseries. You cannot expect any happiness. That is our foolishness. That is our foolishness. We are trying to adjust things to become happy, but we are so foolish that we do not know there cannot be any happiness. This is called ignorance. This is called ignorance.

Therefore Bhagavata says, parabhavas tavad abodha-jata So this ignorance is dissipated by the knowledge of the Vedas. Lord Caitanya therefore has said-that Krsna, He will say-that because we are so foolish we have forgotten how to become happy; therefore Krsna has made so many Vedic literatures. Ataeva krsna veda purana karila [Cc Madhya 20.117].

So we should take advantage of these Vedas. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says-we have already talked now-He says, sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya [Cc Madhya 20.120]. This is Bengali-I think you will understand-I will explain in English also.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's proposal is: by the mercy of sadhu, holy man, or saintly person, or devotee... Who is a sadhu? We know this term sadhu. Sadhu means saintly person. But actually there are different kinds of sadhus. Generally people accept a sadhu when he is dressed with the saffron garment, but there are different types of sadhus, mahatma. Some of them may be jnanis who wants to merge into the Brahman effulgence.

And another sadhu may be yogis, those who are trying to-the same ambition-to merge into the Supreme by finding out in the heart. Yoginah, pasyanti yam yoginah. Dhyanavasthita-manasa, by meditation, meditative mind, dhyanavasthita-manasa dhiyam pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yoginah, they are trying to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by meditative mind. That is yogi, and he is also sadhu.

And bhaktas. Just like we have taken the path of devotional service to serve Krsna at any cost. We don't think anything greater than the service of the Lord. That is the bhakta's position. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc Madhya 19.167], that is bhakti: simply to serve Krsna favorably, Krsna conscious, always thinking of Krsna, how He will be satisfied. Not thinking of Krsna how I shall kill Him. That is Kamsa's Krsna consciousness. Kamsa was always thinking of Krsna, but his business was to make plan how to kill Krsna. Not that sort of Krsna consciousness.

Our Krsna consciousness is anukulyena, favorable, how Krsna will be satisfied. Although Kamsa's Krsna consciousness helped him-he got liberation... Krsna consciousness is so nice that if you become Krsna conscious unfavorably, still you get the immediate profit, being liberated, for which the jnanis and yogis, they are trying hundreds of years. Krsna is so nice that if you simply think that "I shall kill Krsna, I shall kill Krsna..."

There is a story in the Bhaktamarg grantha that one pandita was reciting Bhagavata, and he was describing Syamasundara. Mother Yasoda was decorating with all jewels very nicely to go with His cowherd boy friends, with the calves and cows, Syamasundara, and in the forest of Vrndavana. So, one thief was also hearing that Srimad-Bhagavatam. So he thought it wise, "Why not go to Vrndavana and get all these ornaments from these boys? [laughter] They are all boys, so either I can kill them or somehow or other cheat them, get these ornaments." So that's a long story; I am short, I'll show it.

So with that spirit he went to Vrndavana to find out Syamasundara to exploit Him, to take all the ornaments from Him. When he actually went to Vrndavana, he was finding out, "Where is Syamasundara? Where is Syamasundara?" Syamasundara came and "Here I am." So, first of all he was [indistinct], "My dear boy, You give me all these ornaments I will give You nice thing." He said, "No, I cannot give you. My mother will be angry. No." [laughter] In this way then he decided that "I shall take forcibly." In this way simply by association of Syamasundara he became a devotee. That is the fact.

Dhruva Maharaja also went to worship Syamasundara, Krsna, to get the kingdom of his father. He was insulted by his stepmother, that "You cannot sit down on the throne, or on the lap of your father, because you are not born from my womb." So he took it very seriously. He went to his mother, "My stepmother insulted me like this." So his mother said, "My dear boy, yes, it is a fact because you are not born from my..." What it is called co-wives?

Devotee: Co-wife.

Prabhupada: "...in the womb. I'm unfortunate; you are born of my womb. So, so you cannot." Then, "I must have." The boy was very insistent, ksatriya boy. "Then Krsna helps you, then you can. Otherwise how, you cannot." Then he went to search out Krsna in the jungle, and he searched out. When he saw Krsna he said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Cc Madhya 22.42], "No more I want it. No more I want it." This is the process.

So pure bhakti is without any desire, but even if you are filled up with desires, you go to Krsna. Don't go to other demigods.

Even if you have desires, not that anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11], without any material desires... Generally we go to temple, to God, for some..., for fulfilling some material desires. So sastra says even if you have got material desires, even if you are not suddha bhakta... What to speak of suddha bhakta, even if you are an enemy of Krsna, some way or other go to Krsna. Go to the fire and you'll get warm. That is our propaganda. The Gosvamis recommend, therefore, yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet: somehow or other you just try to become Krsna conscious, then everything will be successful. That is our propaganda.

Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sadhu sastra krpaya. A sadhu means devotee. That I was going to explain. A sadhu, there are different kinds of sadhus, but only the devotee, he is sadhu. It is explained by Krsna Himself: api cet suduracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg 9.30].

He is sadhu.

Even if you find some defects in him due to his former habits, but he is simply engaged in Krsna's service, unflinching devotion, he is sadhu. He is sadhu-in spite of some defects. We must admit, even in fire there are some defects. Fire is so pure that anything impure you put into the fire, it becomes pure. Perhaps you know in our Hindu system if a one utensil becomes impure some time, you put it in the fire and it becomes pure. Is it not? Is it not?

Lady guest: Yes.

Prabhupada: In Bengal this is the system.

Lady guest: Yes.

Prabhupada: So fire is considered to be pure. Therefore any ceremony is done before fire god. So Krsna says that even fire is so pure, still there are some defect, there is smoke. So if you want to find out defect, you'll find out in fire also. But that doesn't matter; fire is fire. Similarly, a devotee, an unflinching devotee, without any other desires, who is dedicated to the service of the Lord, he is sadhu. So we have to take shelter of such sadhu. Adau gurv-asrayam.

And sadhu will instruct you-not by whims, but through sastra. He is sadhu. Sadhu will never speak to you anything which is not in the sastra. Sadhu, sastra and guru. And guru is bona fide spiritual master who follows sadhu and sastra. Who follows his bona fide spiritual master and who follows the instructions of sastra, he is guru. Sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, tinete kariya aikya.

Narottama dasa Thakura says that you have to act by accommodating the instruction of sadhu, instruction of sastra. And you have to distribute. Because Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that these ignorant people who are being defeated repeatedly, such persons, they are being entangled in this materialistic way of life, in this material world. Krsna bhuliya jiva. He said, krsna bhuli' sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha [Cc Madhya 20.117]. Anyone who has forgotten Krsna, he is anadi bahir mukha: he is enamored by this external energy, material world.

Just like in Bombay city everyone is working hard, very hard. Their mission is, "How I shall be able to construct a skyscraper building?" That's all. Why they are working so hard? Their mission is that "I must have a skyscraper house and good apartment and nice wife, nice children and bank balance, then happy." [chuckles] But he does not know how long these things will continue. Ten years, twenty years, fifty years, hundred years, then finished. Your skyscraper building, your nice wife, your apartment, your friends, everything that you have made, you do not know where you are going. That you do not know. There is risk.

Yam yam vapi smaran loke tyajaty [Bg 8.6]. At the time of death everything will be examined. What are you going to be next? You have to accept another body. So that body will be created in this life, yam yam vapi, and that bodily structure will be formed at the time of your death. Just like if you leave this apartment, you'll have to go another apartment. So you have to select another apartment, good or bad.

That will depend on your capacity, how much rent you are able to pay. Then you leave this apartment. Similarly, at the time of death, by the superior arrangement, another apartment will be given to you, and immediately that is settled up, you leave this body and enter into that body. Daiva-netrena, karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. That will be considered by your work. If your works are nice... That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita,

So if you have prepared your life for going to the higher planetary system, in the moon planet or sun planet or..., there are so many hundreds and thousands and millions of planets up, and similarly down, and similarly in the middle. Catur [indistinct], fourteen worlds. So, urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha [Bg 14.18]: if you have developed sattva-guna, then you will be allowed to go to the upper planets.

So we have to see from the sastras; therefore sastras. So this is the position. Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains that sometimes you are elevated to the svarga-loka, sometimes you are going to the naraka-loka. In this way it is going on. But this is not our good business.

Now, suppose I am in this good apartment, say for six months, and next if I cannot pay the rent, I have no means, then I go, what is called? Jhopri [slum]? Eh? There are jhopris also in Bombay. So, not that because one is in Bombay, he is always in the skyscraper. He may be in jhopri also. So everyone wants. So this is going on, [indistinct] narake: sometimes in the heavenly planet, sometimes in the hellish planet, this is going on. But this business is not good. Na sadhu manye. Even if you get the body of the heavenly planet, what you get? There is also janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg 13.9]. You have to die there. Even Brahma dies. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg 8.16].

So this is the process going on. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha. Our only business is how to become Krsna conscious. How to become Krsna conscious. That can be done simply by the mercy of sadhu. Therefore sadhus' business is go from door to door and enlighten them. Mahad-vicalanam nrnam grhinam dina-cetasam [SB 10.8.4]. The sadhu's business is that he goes from door to door and tries to invoke Krsna consciousness, dormant Krsna consciousness.

In everyone's heart there is Krsna consciousness. It is in a sleeping state. Just like these European and American boys, unless there was Krsna consciousness dormant, how it could be invoked? It is not sentiment. It was there. Our business was to..., just to arouse. Sravanadi-suddha-citta koro ei udaya.

This is the statement of Caitanya-caritamrta. The Krsna consciousness is already there, but by hearing and purifying yourself, that consciousness comes. Just like water. Water is very clean. When it drops from the clouds it is very clean, but as soon as it drops on the ground it becomes muddy. So that that muddiness has to be cleansed, then water will come out again clean. Similarly, our consciousness is clean, Krsna conscious, actually, originally, but because it is contaminated with the muddy things of the material nature, it is cloudy.

So this process-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare-is the cleaning, clarifying process of the consciousness. Clarifying process. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc Antya 20.12].

If you take to this clarifying process, then it will be just like as clear as mirror, and you will be able to see your face nicely, what I am. Then you'll understand that "I do not belong to this material world; I belong to the spiritual world, aham brahmasmi." And when you realize that, then if you can act yourself as Brahman, then your life is successful.

That is beginning of devotional service. So Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya sei jiva nistare [Cc Madhya 20.120]. Nistare means he becomes delivered. If somehow or other he becomes Krsna conscious by the mercy of a sadhu, and by understanding the sastra, if somehow or other he becomes lean to Krsna consciousness, then he is eligible for being delivered from this miserable condition of material life. Maya tahare chadaya. Then this illusion, maya, releases our light here now.

That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

This simple process: that you surrender to Krsna and maya immediately gives you release, "Oh, no more. That's all right."

Yes, any question?

[pause] So this Krsna consciousness movement is very scientific, authorized and practical, and very simple. You all take to this and be happy. That is our program. If you have got any question, you can ask.

[pause] We shall hold class here in the morning at about half past five, six, and in the evening at seven, half past seven.

[pause] Any questions? Then have kirtana. [end]