The Nectar of Devotion – November 3, 1972, Vṛndāvana

721103ND-VRNDAVAN [35:40 Minutes]

People Want Hodgepodge-Not the Simple Thng

Pradyumna: [reading] "4) Pure devotional service is rarely achieved. 5) Those in pure devotional service..."

Prabhupada: Page number? Page number?

Pradyumna: Page 2. "Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation. [microphone feedback] 6) Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krsna. Krsna is all-attractive, but pure devotional service attracts even Him. This means that pure devotional service is even transcendentally stronger than Krsna Himself, because it is Krsna's internal potency."

Prabhupada: Hmm. So six advantages. These are the immediate result of taking to Krsna consciousness. Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distress. There is a song of Bhaktivinoda Thakura: manasa deha geha yo kichu mora, arpilūn tuya pade nanda-kisora [Saranagati]. The purport of this song is when we surrender to Krsna, pranair arthair dhiya vaca [SB 10.22.35], then we get relief from all kinds of anxieties. This is very simple to understand.

Everyone is, in the material world, here, everyone is full of anxiety. That is the nature of material existence. One after another, problems. So if somebody says, assures, that "You just depend on me. I take charge of all your problems," how much relief you will feel, just imagine. So a ordinary man, if some ordinary human being says a friend that "Don't worry. I shall take charge of your all affairs. Don't worry," so we may doubt an ordinary man, because we know the capacity of an ordinary man.

But when Krsna says that "I take charge of you," then how much relief you should feel. Krsna is not ordinary man. Krsna is all-powerful, the Supreme Personalty of Godhead. He's Yogesvara. He's the Absolute Truth. So when He assures that "I take charge of you...," aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66], gives assurance that "I shall get you liberated, delivered, from the reaction of all sinful activities..."

We suffer due to our sinful activities. That is the general meaning of suffering. For pious activities we enjoy. But in this material world, either we enjoy or suffer, the common factor is suffering. Suppose if for my pious activities I get good birth, janmaisvarya-sruta-sri [SB 1.8.26]. By pious activities, we get birth in good family, janma; aisvarya, we get sufficient riches, wealthy family, wealthy parents; janmaisvarya-sruta, good education; and sri, beauty. These are the result of pious activities.

But to take birth in the family of a king or very rich man, the sufferings of taking birth is the same. As the poor man suffers within the womb of his mother, similarly the rich man also suffers within the womb of his mother. The sufferings of taking birth is equal to the poor man and rich man. There is no difference. When there is disease, fever, it is not it is less painful to the rich man and very painful to the poor man. The pain is the same.

So actually, so long there is material existence, the so-called suffering and enjoying, they're on the same level. There is no difference. But if we take to Krsna consciousness, as Krsna assures, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66], "I shall get you relieved, released from all kinds of sinful activities..." That is real auspiciousness. Means when Krsna takes charge, He gradually educates the devotee buddhi-yogam, in devotion service, so that he may go back home, back to Godhead, Krsna. That is real auspicity.

In the material world, so-called auspicity-to become very rich, to become very educated, to become very beautiful, high parentage-they are also, in material consideration, they are auspicity, undoubtedly. But they are also adulterated with so many sufferings, threefold miseries: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. So actually such position is not auspicity. Real auspicity is go back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore it is said, pure devotional service... Pure devotional service means without any material motive. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11].

So pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness. All-auspiciousness means go back to home, back to Godhead. So if we stick to pure devotional service, follow the rules and regulation, chant sixteen rounds, be engaged always in the service of the Lord, then ultimate gain is that tyaktva deham punar naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9].

[reads:] "Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure." Transcendental pleasure and material pleasure, there is difference. Material pleasure means sense gratification, and transcendental pleasure means satisfaction of Krsna. A devotee is satisfied seeing Krsna is pleased. That is their satisfaction-through Krsna. Material pleasure means direct sense perception, and spiritual pleasure means by..., through Krsna. If Krsna is satisfied, then the devotee is satisfied.

Just like a tree: the leaves and twigs become satisfied through the root of the tree. So Krsna is the root. Krsna is the origin of everything. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvam pravartate [Bg 10.8]. So transcendental pleasure means feeling of pleasure through Krsna. Just like the gopis and Krsna. Gopis, when they saw Krsna is pleased, they became happy, and Krsna, when He saw that the gopis are happy, He became happier. Again the gopis sees that Krsna is happier, they, again they become more happy. In this way, there is competition of happiness. The gopis sees Krsna happier; they feel happiness, and Krsna sees gopis happier; Krsna feels happiness. This word is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta: dui lagi huḍahuḍi. This is spiritual competition.

So, "Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure." In the material pleasure, if I see you happy, I am unhappy. If I see you unhappy, I become happy. This is nature. I may say otherwise, but material nature is, if one is put into difficulty, then I become very happy, and if I am happy, others become envious. This is material pleasure. Whereas spiritual pleasure means that when one sees Krsna is happy, a devotee's happy, the other devotee becomes happier. That is spiritual pleasure.

In the spiritual world there is competition, but when one is advanced, the competitor become happy: "Oh, he's so advanced. I could not do so." There is no enviousness. In the material world, if one is advanced, other, who is not advanced, he's envious. This is the difference between spiritual pleasure and material pleasure. It is not difficult to understand. Material pleasure means if you are happy, I become unhappy; if you are unhappy, then I become happy. This is material pleasure. And spiritual pleasure means by seeing your happiness, I become happy. By seeing... But there is no distress in the spiritual world. Simply by seeing the happiness of other devotee, another devotee becomes happier.

"Pure devotional service is rarely achieved." That is the criterion. Pure devotional service has got so many advantages, but it is very difficult. It is very difficult. Na janma-koti-sukrtibhiḥ na labhyate [Cc Madhya 8.70]. Pure devotional service, even after endeavoring for millions and millions of births, it is very difficult to achieve. Pure devotional service can be achieved only through the mercy of a pure devotee. Otherwise, it is not possible.

What is that? The purpose is that unless one takes the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to become a pure devotee. Mahiyasam pada-rajaḥ. Mahiyasam, great personality, great devotee. Pada-rajaḥ means the dust of the lotus feet; abhisekam, taking to the..., on the head. Mahiyasam pada-rajo 'bhisekam niskincananam. Mahiyasam, great personality, means niskincana. Bhagavad-bhakta is niskincana. He has no more material obligation. That is bhagavad-bhakta.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, niskin..., niskin..., bhagavad, niskincanasya bhagavad bhajanon mukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajanomukha means niskincana: no material obligation, no material duty. Nayam rni na kihkara rajan sarvatmana ye saranam saranyam gato mukundam [SB 11.5.41]. Anyone who has completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam, giving up all other duties... Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer [SB 1.5.17], if one takes shelter of Krsna's lotus feet, giving up all other duties...

There are so many duties. You have got duty towards your family, towards your kinsmen, towards your country, towards the animals, other living entities, your obligation to the demigods, great saintly persons, rsis. We are reading Vedas, but it is given by Vyasadeva, so we are indebted to him. Similarly, many other sastras we read.

So we are indebted. Devarsi, rsi, devata, the demigods. We are taking sunshine; we are obliged to sun-god. We are taking moonshine; we are obliged to moonshine, uh, moon-god, the air-god, Varuna. Everyone, they are helping us. We cannot do without this. You cannot live without water. You cannot live without light. You cannot live without heat. So who is supplying? Of course, Krsna is supplying, but we cannot see Krsna directly. They are being supplied by different demigods. Therefore deva-yajna is recommended. Deva-yajna means ultimately to satisfy Krsna.

So these are the processes. But if one takes to Krsna consciousness, he has no more obligation to all these devatas. Devarsi-bhūtapta-nrnam pitṝnam [SB 11.5.41]. We have got so many obligations, but if you take to Krsna consciousness, everyone will be pleased, and you haven't got to oblige them by your service to them. Otherwise, you are bound to give them obeisances for their beneficial contribution.

So devotional service is rarely achieved. Rarely achieved means if you achieve, then you become free from all obligation. Na janma-kotibhiḥ sukrtibhiḥ. Tatra laulyam eka-mūlyam na labhyate yad janmabhiḥ sukrtibhiḥ [Cc Madhya 8.70]. Krsna consciousness can be achieved simply by your intense desire that "This life I shall try to achieve favor of Krsna." Krsna will help you. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-pūrvakam, buddhi-yogam dadami tam [Bg 10.10]. If you are actually seriously engaged in Krsna consciousness, then Krsna gives us intelligence how to approach Him.

So pure devotional service is rarely achieved. But by chance, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc Madhya 19.151], if we somehow or other come in contact with bona fide guru and Krsna... Krsna is already there. We are already in touch. And if we are serious, then by grace of Krsna, we get niskincana, devotee, and by his grace we achieve to the platform of devotional service. Otherwise it is very difficult. Not by executing karma, jnana, yoga. No. Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55]. Simply you have to take pure devotional service.

Therefore it is very difficult. People do not wish to come to the pure devotional service. They want hodgepodge: something this, something that, something that. No. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam... [Bg 18.66]. That is the beginning of pure devotional service. No other engagement. Simply Krsna. That is pure devotional service. But that is very difficult to achieve.

People will not accept the simple thing. You give them big, big formulas, yoga system, astahga-yoga, they'll like it: "It is something." Just like in homeopathic medicine, because it has no taste, there is no trouble to drink, people do not believe in it. But if you give them some very bitter, pungent medicine, "Oh, it is something."

Similarly, if you give the simple process, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us, harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha , they'll not take it very seriously. "Oh, simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, one will be liberated, and he'll to go back...? Oh, this is exaggeration," they will say. But if you give them some difficult job, that "You press your nose in this way, you make your head downwards, and you exercise in this way, do...," they'll think, "Yes, it is something."

So things are very easy, and one can achieve very easily, but they are reluctant to take the easiest process given by Krsna, given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna is giving the easiest process, that "You surrender unto Me. I give you all possible help." We are not prepared to do that. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "You simply chant Hare Krsna. You'll achieve the highest perfection." Not we are prepared. Therefore it is said, "Pure devotional service is rarely achieved." People will not accept the simple thing. They want to make something very difficult; then it is all right.

"Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation." Yes. Muktiḥ mukulitanjali sevate asman [Krsna-karnamrta 107]. A devotee does not care for mukti. Mukti... Why they will care for mukti? As soon as he's a pure devotee, mukti is on his leg. Why he should try for mukti? Bilvamahgala Thakura says, muktiḥ mukulitanjali sevate asman. There is no need of separate endeavor for getting liberation. It is already there. Muktiḥ mukulitanjali sevate asman dharmartha-kama-moksa samaya-pratiksaḥ [SB 4.8.41].

[indistinct remark by devotee] Eh?

Devotee: It's broken.

Prabhupada: Eh? So don't try it. It is working? [taps microphone]

Syamasundara: The fixture is broken. [conversation about light or something in background: "It doesn't have anything to do with the bulb"]

Prabhupada: Yes. So "Pure devotional service is the only means to attract..." "Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation." Mukti. Prabodhananda Sarasvati... Kaivalyam. Mukti's another name is kaivalya. "Everything is one. One, knowledge." That's all. So Prabodhananda Sarasvati says, kaivalyam narakayate [Caitanya-candramrta 5]. This conception of liberation, that "I have become one with the Supreme," it is, to a devotee, just like hell. Kaivalyam narakayate. They do not give very much value to such conception, to become one with the Supreme, or liberation, mukti.

And the, this is.. Moksa-kami, those who are aspiring after... Nirbheda-brahmanu-sandhana, without any difference with the Supreme Brahman. That is called mukti, liberation. And tridasa-pūr akasa-puspayate. And the karmis, they're aspiring after heavenly planets, tri-dasa-pūr. Tri-dasa means thirty. So there are more than thirty millions of demigods in different planetary system. They are called heavenly planets. So they are akasa-puspa. Akasa-puspa means a flower does not grow in the sky; it is something imaginary, phantasmagoria. Tri-dasa-pūr akasa-puspayate. So karmis are interested in the akasa-puspa, heavenly planet. And the jnanis are interested in mukti. Karmi, jnani... And yogis are interested how to control the senses.

So tri... Prabodhananda Sarasvati Maharaja says that durdanta indriya-kala-sarpa-patali-protkhata-damstrayate. The senses are our enemies. That's all right. We also admit. The yogis try to control the senses and mind because they think of the senses just like serpent. Serpent, little touch by the lip, I mean, the tongue, immediately it causes death. So it is very dangerous. But Prabodhananda Sarasvati says that "We are not afraid of these serpents, because protkhata damstrayate, the serpent is so long dangerous as long as it has got the poison teeth." Poison teeth. Protkhata-damstrayate. So if you take away the poison teeth, then, however big serpent it may be, nobody will be afraid.

In the Bengali it is said, visnai kulapana cakra. If a serpent is known that his poison teeth has been taken away, so his big hood, phans-phans, nobody will be afraid, one who knows that he has no poison teeth. A child may be afraid, but anyone knows... So for a devotee, the senses are there, but it is not like serpent. The dangerous point of sense, for sense gratification, that is taken away. That poison teeth is taken away.

So therefore a devotee's not afraid of the senses. They can easily handle the senses, because the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, which means the poison teeth of the serpent of sense is taken away. Durdanta indriya-kala-sarpa-patali protkhata-damstrayate [Caitanya-candramrta 5].

So pure devotional service... In this way, the point is that pure devotee does not give very much value to so-called liberation. Because so-called liberation, so-called... It is in this sense, that we have seen many so-called liberated person, muk..., vimukta-maninaḥ. They considered that... Vimukta-maninaḥ [SB 10.2.32]. Now, you'll be pleased to hear that one of the Mayavadi sannyasis in India, very well known, his disciples came to me to invite me because they are now seeing that their Mayavada philosophy has not been so much effective as devotional service. Practically. So they are now taking gradually to devotional service. They are trying to read Bhagavata, although they are habituated to malinterpret. But they have no other. They have finished their job. Now they are gradually coming to bhakti-marga. That is natural. If one is actually sincere, after suffering the distress of impersonalism, gradually they'll come to surrender to the person. Bahūnam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19].

So when one becomes devotee... Jnanis, they give too much value to liberation, moksa, nirbheda-brahmanusandhana. But yogis, they give too much value for controlling the senses. Karmis, they give too much value to, to the acts of promotion to the heavenly planets. But for a devotee, these things are very teeny. They don't care for these things. Neither for the karmis or for the jnanis or for the yogis.

They... Yam labdhva caparam manyate nadhikam tataḥ [Bg 6.22]. A bhakta who has come to Krsna consciousness, pure devotional service, he has no more any desire for the resultant action of karmis, jnanis and yogis. He's so fixed up. There are many examples. Just like Dhruva Maharaja, when he was offered, "Anything you want," he wanted... Actually he wanted the kingdom of his father. But when he actually became fixed up in devotional service, he said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Cc Madhya 22.42]:

"I have no more to ask anything material benediction, varam. No, I don't want." So Krsna consciousness is so nice that automatically one feels fulfillment of all desires. Therefore what they'll desire for liberation, for mukti? It is most insignificant thing.

The next is: "Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krsna." You cannot attract Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with full opulences. So you cannot attract Krsna by your richness, by your reputation, by your education, by your beauty or by your strength or renunciation. No. You cannot attract Krsna by all these things, because He's already full. You cannot attract by anything, any opulence, Krsna, because He's atmarama. But if you offer something to Krsna, it is for your benefit.

The example is given: just like the original person is decorated, in the mirror the reflection of the person is also decorated. Similarly, if you decorate the Deity gorgeously, you will feel happy. Krsna has many devotees, or many things for being decorated. But if you, in the temple, if you offer Krsna all nice things, all nice flowers, all nice dress, all nice food, everything all nice, then you will feel happy. That is your interest.

Therefore pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krsna. Attract Krsna... Krsna will be happy in this way, that you are doing so much for Krsna. Krsna has everything, but your devotional service, that sincerity of purpose, will attract. My Guru Maharaja used to say that "Do not try to see Krsna. Render your service in such a nice way that let Krsna see you." When Krsna sees you, then your mission is perfect.

We cannot see... Ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Cc Madhya 17.136]. We cannot perceive Krsna by our senses, but when our senses are engaged in satisfying Krsna, then Krsna sees us. Svayam eva sphuraty adhaḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234]. And when Krsna sees us, then our life is successful. And how Krsna can see us? Simply by our devotional service. Otherwise, you cannot satisfy Krsna by opulence, by education, by scholarship, by beauty, by riches. No. These things Krsna has all perfectly. He's full with all these opulences. Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55].

If you want to attract Krsna, then be engaged in pure devotional service.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [end]

721104ND-VRNDAVAN [39:04 Minutes]

Relief from Material Distress.

Pradyumna: [offers obeisances]

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Pradyumna: From page number two.

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Pradyumna: " 'Relief from Material Distress.' In the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that one should surrender unto Him, giving up all other engagements. The Lord also gives His word there that He will protect such surrendered souls from the reactions of all sinful activities. Srila Rūpa Gosvami says that the distresses from sinful activities are due both to the sins themselves and to sins committed in our past lives."

Prabhupada: Hmm now, "Relief from Material Distress." There are two kinds of activities: pious activities and impious activities. Generally we understand by performing impious activities, we suffer, and by performing pious activities, we enjoy. But actually, in the material world there is no enjoyment.

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami explains that dvaite bhadrabhadra sakali samana [Cc Antya 4.176]. In the material world, in the world of duality, either we think "This is pious" or either we think "This is impious," they are practically on the same platform. We take it as pleasure. Just like several times I have explained, people here in this material world, they are working very hard all day and night. And when they gain some material profit after working so hard, they think that "This is profit. This is happiness." Actually, where is the happiness? If one is working very hard, where is the happiness?

So this is called illusion. In the sastra it is said, "Generally, people in this material world, they are in..., in the rajo-guna." Therefore hard-working activities, they take it as pleasure. If some saintly person do not work, he is engaged in devotional service or meditation or chanting, sometimes it is misunderstood that "These people are escaping," because they take it very nice to work very hard. Unless you work very hard, they take it as a process of escaping: "They..., they're escaping the social obligation and other obligation by taking to mendicant life and living at the cost of others." So many things. So they like it, to work very hard.

But our Krsna consciousness movement is transferring that hard working to the business of Krsna. That tendency for hard working may be utilized. Just like the Mayavadi philosophers, they think that lust and anger, these are our enemies. Kama-krodha-lobha-moha-matsarya. But Narottama dasa Thakura says that the kama also can be utilized for Krsna's service. Kamam krsna-karmarpane. If one is very much attached to work for Krsna, that tendency for the karmis to work very hard for sense gratification, it can be utilized. It can be...

Similarly, 'krodha' bhakta-dvesi jane [Prema-bhakti-candrika]. Krodha, anger, is not good, but anger also can be utilized for Krsna's service. Just like Hanuman, he became angry upon Ravana for the sake of Lord Ramacandra, and he set fire in the golden city of Ravana, Lanka. So that anger was utilized for Lord Ramacandra's service. He never utilized anger for his personal sense gratification.

In this way, everything can be dovetailed in the service of the Lord, and as I was explaining the other six items, how devotional service, pure devotional service, is the only means to attract Krsna. To attract Krsna you cannot utilize your spirit or jnanis or yogis. You can attract Krsna simply by devotional service. Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55]. Krsna says plainly that "Simply by devotional service, one can understand Me." Bhaktya mam abhijanati.

So the activities of the karmis, when dovetailed in the service of Krsna, even by working so hard, our tendency, we can... Actually, devotional service depends on the main principles, sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam [SB 7.5.23]. But within the category of dasyam... Just like Hanuman, Hanumanji: he was engaged in the platform of dasyam. Arjuna was engaged in the platform of sakhyam. So they were also working very hard.

The Battlefield of Kuruksetra, it was not a place of sitting down very easily and silently. When he was fighting, he was fighting just like a soldier. He took all the duties of the soldier. But it was being fought for Krsna. That is the attraction. That is pure devotional service. Krsna also gave him certificate, bhakto 'si priyo 'si [Bg 4.3]: "My dear Arjuna, you are My dear friend and devotee."

So by any action, if it is dovetailed for the satisfaction of Krsna, that is devotional service, and one can attract Krsna, attention of Krsna. Attention of Krsna can be attracted by pure devotional service, without any personal motive. If it is... And that motive, that order, is received through the disciplic succession of the spiritual master, how Krsna will be pleased.

In the present condition, we do not know how Krsna will be pleased, but we know from the sastras... We can know also from the direction of the spiritual master how Krsna will be pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadaḥ. So Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says you have to follow the direction of the spiritual master. He's guiding as a leader. And if he's pleased, that means Krsna is pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadaḥ.

The devotional service is the only way. Karmi, karmi means they are working very hard for their personal benefit, not for Krsna's benefit. Similarly, jnanis, they are also trying for personal benefit, mukti. He wants mukti, liberation, nirbheda-brahmanu-sandhana. And similarly, yogis also, they want personal benefit, some material power, asta-siddhi-yoga, anima-laghima-siddhi.

Bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami sakali asanta [Cc Madhya 19.149]. Caitanya-caritamrta-kara says except pure devotee, who only wants to satisfy Krsna, everyone is working for his personal benefit, karmi, jnani, yogi. But Krsna says, "Pure devotional service..." Not... Rūpa Gosvami says, "Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krsna." Hmm. Now... But ignorance is no excuse.

Go on reading. Next. "Generally, one commits sinful activities..."

Pradyumna: "...due to ignorance. But ignorance is no excuse for evading the reaction-sinful activities."

Prabhupada: Yes. Generally we commit sinful activities knowingly; if not knowingly, unknowingly. Just like we are walking on the street, we are killing so many ants, unknowingly. So that is also sinful activities. You do not know, you do not want to kill the ants, but still, unknowingly, you are killing. When you take water from the jug, there are so many animals encircling the water jug, and when you take water some of them die. When we make paste on the pestle and mortar, spices, so many small insects die. That is going on.

So knowingly or unknowingly, we are committing sinful activities. So how to save? That is replied in the Bhagavad-gita: yajnarthe karma anyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanaḥ [Bg 3.9]. If you do not act, or if you do not engage yourself in Krsna consciousness business, then you are becoming implicated with so many sinful activities. That is sure.

Therefore one has to take to Krsna consciousness without fail. Otherwise he'll be entangled, karma-bandhanaḥ. Even if he's doing pious activities, he's becoming entangled in karma-bandhanaḥ, in bondage. He has to take birth. Pious activities means he has to take birth in nice family, rich family. That is also bandhana. He has to enter into the womb of the mother and live there for ten months, in compact, airtight, compact bag. That is not very good living condition. But we forget all these things, neither we do not care for these things.

But actually, fact is, knowingly or unknowingly we are becoming implicated. But if we simply take to Krsna consciousness and if we engage ourself in His unalloyed devotional service, if we try to understand Krsna, His activities, His form, His name, His quality, His paraphernalia, then the result will be, as Krsna says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg 4.9].

There is no question of reaction. Because Krsna says... Even we are doing... That we are bound to do, as I have already explained, that knowingly or unknowingly, we are committing sinful activities. But Krsna gives His assurance: aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66].

So if he ... Of course, a devotee never does anything knowingly sinful, but unknowingly, he's doing. But Krsna is taking charge of him. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. So there..., there is no question of grief.

Therefore the subject matter is relief from material distress. If you take to Krsna consciousness without any motive, sincerely, then your position is secured. Krsna takes charge of you. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktaḥ pranasyati [Bg 9.31].

His devotee will never be vanquished. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was considering how he could kill his kinsmen, his family men, his nephew, his brother, his grandfather, on the other side. Actually, this killing business is not very good. It is sinful. But the same thing he committed after understanding Bhagavad-gita. He agreed, karisye vacanam tava [Bg 18.73]: "Yes, I shall fight." So does it mean...? In the beginning he was considering about the sinful effects of his activities. Why did he engage himself in the same business, although he knew this is sinful? No.

If you... Even it is acted so-called sinful activities, for Krsna, under the order of Krsna, for pleasing Krsna, then that is also devotion. It is very difficult. We should not manufacture such concoction. But the fact is that if actually one is acting for Krsna, there is no question of sinful reaction. That's a fact. "Relief from material distress." And material distress means it is due to sinful activities.

In another place, also, in the Brahma-samhita it is said, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs 5.54]. Karmani. Everyone is being caught up by the action and reaction of karma, but a devotee is protected from the action and reaction of karma. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. So a devotee, a Krsna conscious person, remains free always, provided he's fully engaged in Krsna conscious activities for pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Go on.

Pradyumna: "Sinful activities are of two kinds: those which are mature and those which are not mature. The sinful activities for which we are suffering at the present moment are called mature. The many sinful activities stored within us for which we have not yet suffered are considered immature."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is also another position. The, the reaction of our sinful activities we are suffering. As soon as we get a material body-it doesn't matter whether a rich man's body or a poor's man..., poor man's body-the material body is itself subjected to threefold miseries of this material condition. Therefore Arjuna was advised by Krsna: agama apayino anityaḥ tams titiksasva bharata [Bg 2.14]. You cannot avoid the miserable condition of this body. That is not possible. So we have to tolerate. There is no other excuse. But do not create another body. That is devotional service. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs 5.54].

Due to our past karma, we have got a certain type of body. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. By the supervision of superior order, superior vigilance, we get a certain type of body. This may be a king's body or a poor man's body, an animal body or anything, we get. That is by superior order. So, we should not create another body. That is the aim of human life. We should not create another body.

Then, another place in the Bhagavata it is said, nūnam vikarma kurute, nūnam..., prammattaḥ kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. Prammattaḥ. Prammattaḥ. Pra means prakrsta-rūpena; mattaḥ, mad. We are, living entities, we have come here in this material world for sense enjoyment, and we are therefore mad after it, prammattaḥ. So nūnam prammattaḥ kurute vikarma. Vikarma means which is against the laws. Just like karma, akarma, vikarma, these are explained. So vikarma means against the law.

The Vedic version, they give us that "You should work in this way." But if we do not act according to the Vedic injunctions, that is called vikarma. And we become subjected to sufferings, impious activities. But we do it because we are mad after sense gratification. We do not care. Just like a thief, he knows that by stealing he will be punished, but still, because he's mad after stealing, he'll do it, taking the risk of being arrested and being harassed. Nūnam prammattaḥ vikarma, nūnam prammattaḥ kurute, yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti [SB 5.5.4]. And they are mad after doing all this nonsense only for sense gratification.

So Rsabhadeva says, na sadhu manye, "This is not good." Yata atmano 'yam. "As we have got this body, material body, miserable..." Because as soon as you get a material body, you are put into the miserable condition of material nature. So we should not create another body so that we shall be put into..., under tribulation again. That is intelligence.

So if we put ourself in the activities of devotional service, we save that risk: not to create another body. If we do for indriya-priti, yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti, then we create another body. But if you act in devotional service, then, even there are something sinful activities, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs 5.54]. So for a devotee, he's saved. He's saved from creating another new material body.

In this way, the stress is given that sinful or not sinful, we should not create another body. Karma-kanḍa. In the... Narottama dasa Thakura says:

We should not take either to karma, karma-kanḍa, fruitive activities for elevating to the heavenly planets; jnana-kanḍa, for stopping birth and death and merge into the impersonal Brahman... That is jnana-kanḍa.

So karma-kanḍa jnana-kanḍa, Narottama dasa Thakura says everything is visa bhanḍa, the poison pot. Why poison pot? Karma-kanḍa amrta yeba baliya khaya. If we drink poison pot, thinking it as nectar, then the result will be that we have to accept another body and we have to be under the tribulation of material nature. And sometimes we get the body of the king of heaven, and sometimes we get the body of a hog for eating stool. This is going on. Nana yoni brahman kare. We have to wander in different species of life, and we have to eat all abominable things. Tara janma adhah-pate yaya. [Prema-bhakti-candrika]

So we should not spoil our life in that way, for creating another body. We should be very careful that we may not create another material body. And what is that safety position? Krsna says, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ [Bg 4.9].

If you simply try to understand Krsna, how Krsna takes His birth, how He becomes the son of Devaki, son of Nanda Maharaja, how He becomes the son of Yasoda, these things if we study, if we try to understand Krsna, if we don't accept Krsna as ordinary man-avajananti mam mūḍha [Bg 9.11]-then, in this way if we understand the science of Krsna, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128], if one understands the science of Krsna, he is spiritual master.

Kiba vipra kiba sūdra nyasi kene naya. It doesn't matter whether one is brahmana or one is a sūdra or one is a sannyasi or one is a grhastha. It doesn't matter. If he knows the science of Krsna, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya, if he knows the science of Krsna... Yo janati tattvataḥ. Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ [Bg 4.9].

How that tattvataḥ, the truth can be understood, that is also explained by the Lord Himself: bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvataḥ [Bg 18.55]. You cannot understand in truth, you cannot understand Krsna in truth by other process, karma, jnana, yoga. No. Bhaktya mam abhijanati. So we have to take to devotional service. Then we shall understand Krsna. Krsna will reveal. If you are engaged in Krsna's service constantly, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-pūrvakam [Bg 10.10].

If you have devoted, heart and soul, for service of Krsna, then Krsna is within your self. He'll give you intelligence. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. He'll give you intelligence. He'll purify your heart. He'll purify your position.

As you have read in the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

If you simply hear about Krsna. The process... To... Krsna-tattva-vetta means to hear about Krsna. That's all. Try to hear about Krsna. Satam prasahgan mama virya-samvidaḥ. That is very, what is called, potential. Simply if you hear from the right source of Krsna-not from the professional or from jnanis, karmis or politicians. No. Pure devotee. Satam prasahgan: in pure devotional service, in pure devotional mood. Then the potency will act and you will..., we shall become pure devotee. Khanera gita diya mora me pasile, mora me pasile [?]. It will act.

And as soon as it will act, you become Krsna conscious, then your life becomes successful, above all sinful or pious activities. What is that? Samatityaitan. Mam ca avyabhicarena bhakti-yogena yaḥ sevate, sa gunan samatityaitan [Bg 14.26]. Samatitya. Samyag atitya. You can perfectly overcome the influence of the gunas, the three modes of material nature. Because our suffering is due to association of the three gunas. Karanam guna-sahgo 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg 13.22]. We are getting different types of body, either as a king or as a dog. Sat, asat. We think, "The king's body is very nice. Dog's body is not good." But whatever body we get, material body, that is not very good.

Na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam asann api klesada asa dehaḥ [SB 5.5.4]. Any body, any type of body you get, you must suffer. It doesn't matter, European body, American body or Indian body or this body or that body. If we think, "Now we are Americans. We are very happy. You are Indians. You are poor..." No. Either poor or happy, it is all unhappiness. Karanam guna sahgo 'sya sad-asad. That is, means association with the modes of material nature. But if you engage yourself twenty-four hours in Krsna consciousness business, in devotional service, then sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhūyaya kalpate [Bg 14.26], immediately you are on the brahma-bhūtaḥ position, liberated position.

So just like one man is suffering from disease. Somehow or other if he comes in the, what is called, convalescent stage? Means freed from the diseased condition. But if he keeps that convalescent stage rightly, he do not, what is called, again...?

Devotee: Relapse.

Prabhupada: Relapse. If you do not relapse the disease, then you are nice. Similarly, to keep in Krsna consciousness means you are not diseased condition, but do not allow the disease to relapse. That means do not deviate from the devotional service. Mam ca avyabhicarena bhakti-yogena yaḥ sevate. Avyabhicarini. Don't misuse the devotional service. Then you are all right. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhūyaya kalpate [Bg 14.26].

Then you keep yourself always in the transcendental position, brahma-bhūtaḥ position. And then from brahma-bhūtaḥ position, you can elevate yourself to the para-bhakti, spontaneous. Para-bhakti means spontaneously, spontaneous devotional service. Automatically, you will be loving Krsna.

The under..., after being in the brahma-bhūtaḥ stage, that devotional service is very sound. Para-bhakti. Otherwise, if we stick to the devotional service of temple worship... Just like one is performing temple worship, regulative principles. That is also... We should go forward. This is kanistha-adhikari. Sa bhaktaḥ prakrtaḥ smrtaḥ.

So we must elevate ourself to the second-class devotee position. To become first-class devotee, that is very difficult job. We can expect after executing devotional service as a madhyama-adhikari. Then we can be promoted. But if we keep ourself simply on the lower stage of devotional service, then there is chance of falling down. Sa bhaktaḥ prakrtaḥ smrtaḥ [SB 11.2.47]. Simply... Just like, generally, they keep in the kanistha-adhikari stage. Of course, there is no loss. In any adhikara, in any position, you are benefited because you have taken to devotional service. But our attempt should be from kanistha-adhikara to madhyama-adhikara.

So uttama-adhikari, it is not to be imitated. One must keep himself in the madhyama-adhikari stage. Madhyama-adhikari stage means that one knows what is Krsna, isvara; one knows who is Krsna's devotee. Īsvare tad-adhinesu. And one knows who is innocent, neither devotee nor nondevotee, and he knows who is nondevotee. This is preaching. In kanistha-adhikari, he knows simply how to worship the Deity. Arcayam eva haraye sraddhaya pūjam sraddhayehate.

So it is the duty of the spiritual master to promote the devotees from the kanistha-adhikara to the madhyama-adhikara. Not to keep them. My Guru Maharaja, sometimes he used to lament because so many disciples he had, but nobody was coming out very nice preacher. He was lamenting, "So only kanistha-adhikaris. We are keeping simply people in the kanistha-adhikara and engaging them in the arcana-marga."

So that is not required. They should not... A kanistha-adhikari does not know who is a devotee, na tad-bhaktesu canyesu [SB 11.2.47], what is the duty to others. He is very busy in temple worship for his personal interest. That is also good. But one has to promote further to become a madhyama-adhikari and then analyze who is God, who is devotee, who is innocent, who is nondevotee, and behave in that way. So their business is to make friendship with devotee, to love Krsna, and to the innocent, preach, to enlighten them in Krsna consciousness. And those who are atheists, to avoid them. These four principles.

So in this way, we should execute our devotional service. Then our life will be visvam pūrnam sukhayate [Caitanya-candramrta 5]. It will be very happy life. That is the heading, subject matter, "Relief from Material Distress." Immediately. If we actually keep ourself in devotional service according to the description given by Srila Rūpa Gosvami, then we keep ourself fit in devotional service, and there is no question of material distress.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]

Acyutananda: ...says first-class, second-class and third-class devotees, they are pure devotees.

Prabhupada: Yes, pure devotee is anyone who has no other motive except to serve Krsna. It doesn't matter he's first class, second class or third. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. If he has got some motive, then he's not pure devotee. He may be not advanced, but if he has not motive, then he's pure devotee. If he wants to utilize Krsna for his personal benefit, then he's not pure devotee. He's impure. So first of all he has to become pure devotee. [end]