Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 5 – May 7, 1970, Los Angeles

700507IP-Los Angeles [11:43 Minutes]

Oh, father, why the moon is coming with us?

Prabhupada: Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami.

Where is Hayagriva Prabhu?

Hayagriva: Here, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Oh, that's all right. So you have to construct a temple there like this.

Hayagriva: By August, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hayagriva: By August, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Thank you. [chuckles] So you like this? This chandelier? Hare Krsna. Jiv goura [Bengali]. This is a song by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He says that one who has dedicated his life for Lord Caitanya, he sees everything belongs to Lord Caitanya. Hare Krsna.

Now mantra.

[break]

Thank you.

Devotees: Jaya.

Prabhupada: "The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is very near as well. He is within everything, and again He is outside of everything."

This is the process of understanding Krsna consciousness. He walks and does not walk. Just like crude example I give you, that the sun and, at noontime, it is on your head, and somebody walking eastern side or western side, he also sees the sun is also walking with him. Long ago, about forty years ago, when I was householder, my second son, he was four years old. He was walking with me, and he said, "Oh, father, why the moon is coming with us?" [chuckles] This is very intelligent. Yes.

So similarly, if a material object can walk so swift... You have seen. You are going on aeroplane or train, you'll see the moon or sun is going with you. So how it is not possible that Krsna cannot walk? Although He's situated... But you ask your friend, "Where is the sun? Where is the moon?" He'll say, "Oh, it is on my head." Similarly, goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs 5.37]. Krsna, although He is in Vrndavana, Goloka Vrndavana, enjoying pastimes with the associates, He is everywhere, according to the position, shape, form, activities. Everywhere.

Therefore it is said here that Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He does not go from His abode. He is fully enjoying. But at the same time, everywhere He is. Everywhere He's walking. Just like we offer foodstuff. So do not think that Krsna is not accepting. Krsna is accepting, because He can spread His hand immediately if you offer something with devotion. Tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami [Bg 9.26].

Krsna says, "Anyone offering Me..., offering Me something with faith and love, I eat." People may ask, "Oh, Krsna is far away, in Goloka Vrndavana. How He eats? How He takes?" Oh, that is God. Yes, He can take. Therefore it is said, "He walks; He does not walk." Immediately comes.

But you must have the qualification to call Him. If you are actually a devotee, immediately Krsna is present. Just like Hiranyakasipu challenged devotee Prahlada, "Where is your God? Do you think...?" The Prahlada was looking to the column. "Oh, do you think your God is here? All right." He immediately broke. "Ahh!" Krsna came. Yes. That is Krsna. Yes.

So this is explained here. This is Vedic mantra. This is the proof, Veda mantra. Why we are attached to Veda mantra? Veda mantra is the proof of everything. Whatever is said in the Vedas, that is fact. Unless you take some axiomatic truth in that way, you cannot make progress. Just like in geometry there are so many axiomatic truth, we have to accept it. "A point has no length, no breadth." "Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another." These are axiomatic truths. Similarly the Vedas, they are truth. We have to accept.

Just like I've given example in my book: The conchshell is the bone of an animal. So Vedic injunction is if you touch the bone of an animal, immediately you become impure and you have to take your bath. But here is a bone which is used in the Deity room. But you cannot argue, "Oh, you said that bone is impure. As soon as you touch it, you become impure. And you are putting into the Deity room?" No argument. You have to accept it. This is Veda. You cannot argue.

Similarly, spiritual master's order, you have to accept. There is no argument. In this way you can make progress. Sadhu sastra guru vakya tinete kariya aikya [Narottama dasa Thakura]. If we argue... Na tams tarkena yojayet. Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet [Mahabharata, Bhisma parva 5.22].

Things which are inconceivable by you, you cannot argue. Then it will be a failure. You have to accept that axiomatic truth. It is not dogmatic. It is not dogmatic in this sense: because our predecessor acaryas, they accepted. What you are that you are arguing?

So that is the proof. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc Madhya 17.186]. Tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna. If you argue, there is no conclusion. The argument will go on. You put some argument; I put some argument. That is not the process. Srutayo vibhinna. Scriptures, in different countries, different circumstances, different scriptures, they're also different. Then tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam [Cc Madhya 25.57]:

And so far philosophical speculation is concerned, one philosopher is putting some theory, another philosopher putting some theory-there is contradiction. And unless you defy another philosopher, you cannot be a famous philosopher. That is the way of philosophical...

Then where, how to get real information? That is stated, that dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam. The secret of religious process is lying in the cave, or within the heart. So how to realize it? Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc Madhya 17.186].

You have to follow great personalities. Therefore we are trying to follow Lord Krsna or Lord Caitanya. That is perfection. You have to take evidences from the Vedas. You have to follow the instruction. The success is sure. That's all.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Chant Hare Krsna.

[10:46] [kirtana] [Prabhupada plays gong] [end]