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731211SB.LA
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.33

Los Angeles, December 11, 1973
Pradyumna: Translation: "Kunti, after overhearing Arjuna's telling of the end of the Yadu dynasty and disappearance of Lord Krsna, engaged in the devotional service of the transcendental Personality of Godhead with full attention and thus gained release from the course of material existence." [SB 1.15.33]
Prabhupada: So Krsna has got two kinds of existence: prakata and aprakata. Prakata means when you see Krsna personally. When Krsna is present on this planet, everyone can see Krsna. And actually, everyone saw. But only the devotees could understand that "Here is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." So that is called prakata, "physically present." And there is another phase, which is called aprakata, "not physically present." But that does not mean Krsna is dead or God is dead. That does not mean. Prakata or aprakata, physically present or not present, it doesn't matter.
So after all, He is adhoksaja. This word is used, adhah. Adhah means subdued. And Aksa, aksa means eyes or senses. Aksaja. Ja means generated. So our senses are thereeyes, ears, hands, legs, nose, so many. Ten senses are there. So we are acquiring knowledge, generated. Knowledge is generated from the senses. But so long our senses are materially contaminated, we do not get real knowledge. We have to acquire knowledge through the senses, but unless our senses are purified, we do not have real knowledge. So we cannot appreciate or understand God, His form, His name, His quality, His pastime, His entourage, nothing of them we can understand by our these present material senses. That is not possible. Therefore His name is Adhoksaja. Adhah. Adhah means cut (curbed) down. You cannot approach the Supreme by your these blunt material senses. That is not possible. Therefore His name is Adhoksaja. Adhah-krta aksaja-jnanam yatra. The adhoksaja means... Jnana means experimental knowledge. Just like these modern scientists, they believe in experimental knowledge. But they are so rascal, in their own case, they will say, "Yes, we are trying. In future it will be successful." Why not experimental knowledge now? If you say that life is generated from matter... You are writing so many books and getting Nobel Prize. Why not by experimental knowledge prove that "Here are some matters and chemicals and here is life"? That they say, "We are trying." This is their escape. But actually, science means two things: observation and experiment. If you do not experiment practically in the laboratory, simply observation is not sufficient. That is not science. That is theory.
Anyway, this experimental knowledge is not very helpful in the matter of understanding the Supreme. Experimental knowledge there is, but not by these blunt senses. When the senses are purified, then that experimental knowledge, that means spiritual experimental knowledge, that is perfect. Therefore it is said adhoksaja. And our Krsna consciousness movement is to understand that Adhoksaja. Adhoksaja means who is beyond the perception of these material senses. This is our subject matter. Our subject matter is not anything material. Material is within the purview of my material senses. But our subject matter is beyond the senses. Adhoksaja, therefore it is said. Adhoksaja. Just like Kunti and others. Krsna was not present before their eyes. Krsna has already gone to His abode. But still, it is said that ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje. Adhoksaje. The same word is used. But if you cannot see God now, how there can be ekanta-bhakti?
Ekanta-bhakti means unalloyed devotion. This is the secret of devotional life. Even God is not physically present, a devotee can be very much exalted by devotional service. That is the teaching of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because the sahajiyas... Sahajiya means persons who take things very easily, according to his sense perception, manufactured. They are called sahajiyas. But these Gaudiya Vaisnava, the devotees following the footprints of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are not sahajiyas; they are devotee of the Adhoksaja. Beyond the sense perception, still, they are devotee. This is the secret of Gaudiya Vaisnava. Beyond the sense perception. Just like Gosvamis. They were living at Vrndavana. And what sort of living? Simply in separation and search. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also taught us like that. He was searching, "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?" and feeling separation. Just like you feel sometimes with your lover separation and you search, this is our process. Always feel separation from Krsna and try to search out. This is ekanta. This is explained here, ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje. Adhoksaje, "He is beyond my perception. Still, my devotion is unalloyed." Not that "I cannot see where is God. Oh, what is devotion?" Just try to understand. It appears to be contradictory. Because foolish people say that "If you cannot see God, where is the question of devotion? You want to serve God, but if you cannot see God, then how you can serve?" Therefore, particularly this word is used, ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje nivesitatmopararama samsrteh. That is the process.
So even though we cannot see God with our present eyes, but God is so merciful that He becomes present before us in a manner by which we can see Him. That is this vigraha, arca-vigraha. God is beyond our sensual perception, adhoksaja. But those who are neophyte, they may become atheist that "We cannot see God, that... How can I serve Him?" But those who are advanced, they can see God every moment, although physically others cannot see. The example is that Hiranyakasipu and Prahlada. Prahlada is seeing God, but his father, he is asking, "Where is your God? Where is your God?" He was saying to the column, pillar: "Is your God there?" But he is seeing God there; he says, "Yes." So he became angry. He broke the column, and actually God came out.
So it is the question of advancement. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers taught us that if you feel separation... How you will feel separation unless you love? And you simply worship the Supreme in a feeling of separation, then that is perfection. Then that is perfection. Therefore the Gosvamis, their prayer, their method of worshiping the Lord at Vrndavana... They left their ministerial post and went to Vrndavana by the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So what was their process? The process was tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat. They gave up their materialistic way of life as very insignificant. They were ministers. They were ministers. Their associates were very big, big men. But tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati. Mandala-pati means leaders, leaders of the society, poli..., big, big politician, businessmen, important men. Because they were minister, everyone used to come to see, and they were associated with. But they gave up. Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim. How it was given up? Sada tuccha-vat: "Oh, it insignificant. What is this? There is no need of..." And bhutva dina-ganesakau karu... Why? Why they gave it up? Because they thought... Under the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they understood that "So many mass of people are suffering without Krsna consciousness. So we have to do something for them." Therefore they gave up. Not a fancy, "I become naked, that's all." What is the use of your becoming naked? You must do something. That is Krsna consciousness. Not that "I have become mendicant. I have given up all material things." You cannot give material things. Instead of coat, pant, you may have a shabby cloth. That's all. You cannot give up. That is not possible. You have to accept something. But they are thinking that "Because I have given up this coat, pant, and I am now a shabby dress, I have become advanced." Not that. You must some positive engagement. And that is...
We find in the life of Gosvamis,
Kaupina-kanthasritau, loincloth only, minimizing the bodily necessities of life. Bhutva. Because they were prepared, dina-ganesakau karunaya, to give mercy to the mass of people. Mass of people. If you become so much dependent on the bodily necessities of life, then you cannot become fully and wholly for the benefit of the mass of people. Our Gandhi, he imitated this. For the mass of people... But that was to extent, to a certain extent successful. But it was political purpose. It was political purpose. These things are not for any material purpose. Then it will be failure. If you imitate spiritual life for material benefit, then it will be failure. So the Gosvamis did not do so. They gave up this material opulence for spiritual advancement, positive. If you don't get something positive, simply by negative process you will never be happy. Then again you will fall down.
Just like big, big swamis in India... Sometimes they come to your country also. They say that "This world is false," jagan mithya, mithya. But we don't say that it is false. We say it is reality, but temporary. That is right philosophy. How it can be false? Because everything is produced by the truth, by the Absolute Truth. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Nothing can come out except from the Absolute Truth. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: [Bg. 10.8] "I am the origin of everything." If Krsna is truth, He is the origin of everything, so how everything can be false? Is that very logical? No. If something has come from gold... Just like we have got so many preparations of gold: gold bangles, gold earring, gold necklace. But it has come from the gold; therefore it is gold. How it can be false? Gold is never false. Gold is gold. So this philosophy that brahma satyam jagan mithya, that "Gold mine is right, but the gold earring is wrong..." No. That you cannot say. If gold mine is right, then gold earring is also right because it has come from the gold mine. Similarly, Krsna says that aham sarvasya prabhavah: [Bg. 10.8] "I am the origin of everything." And the Vedanta-sutra also says, janmady asya yatah: [SB 1.1.1] "Absolute Truth is that from whom everything emanates." So everything has emanated from Krsna. So how this material world can be false? It is true. Then what is that false? It is not false. It is temporary. But the idea that "This material world is for my enjoyment," that is false. That is false. As soon as you take things that "It is for my enjoyment," then it is false. Because you cannot enjoy. You are not the proprietor. God is the pro... Why the trouble? Why the problems of the world? Because people are taking things for their enjoyment. Why this petrol problem? Actually, that petrol, stock of petrol, in any part of the world, that is God's property. But these rascals, they are claiming that "My property." That is false. Neither the petrol is false, neither God is false. Everything is right. But this conception, that "This petrol belongs to me," this is false. And as soon as this false conception is moved, that is Krsna consciousness. Very simple thing.
So we are trying to remove these rascals' false conception. That is Krsna consciousness movement. We don't say that this world is false. Why this world is false? It is not false. It is fact. It may be temporary, but it is fact. Just like this winter season. It will not stay. It will be for three months. Again summer season will come. So we cannot say that this winter season is false. No. It is not false; it is fact. But it is temporary. So temporary things, although it is real, so if we can utilize that reality, sense of reality, for the supreme reality, then our life is successful. That is called ekanta-bhaktya. That is stated here: ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje. Ekanta-bhaktya. Ekanta means without any diversion. Everything. Isavasyam idam... Thinking that "Everything belongs to Krsna. Why shall I use it for my personal sense gratification?" This is called ekanta-bhaktya. Ekanta. Eka. Ekam evadvitiyam. Eka, Krsna is one. There cannot be any competition of Krsna. So eka anta, that one end bhakti, serving that Supreme. Ekanta-bhakti. Bhajate ananya-bhak. Bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva samantavyah. Api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak. That ananya-bhak means simply concentrated to Krsna. That is required. That devotion in any circumstances. It doesn't matter whether Krsna is personally... Krsna is present, but because we want to see with our material eyes, therefore we claim this, that "I want to see Krsna." He does not accept that he has no eyes to see Krsna. But with his blunt eyes, he wants to see Krsna. Therefore His name is Adhoksaja. Krsna is there. The sun is there in the sky, but the person who is in darkness at night, he wants to see sun. He is in darkness. Otherwise one who can fly from this country to other country, he can see immediately the sun is there. Sun is everywhere. But my eyes are, being covered by maya, I cannot see. Therefore He is called Adhoksaja, Adhoksaja.
So Krsna consciousness movement is to understand that Adhoksaja, and that is the bhagavata-dharma. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. Not to become a rascal, that "Here is the avatara of Krsna. Let us go and see." One who can see Krsna, he can see Krsna everywhere, he can see Krsna here. Why one should go to a rascal, another rascal? No, that is not. Therefore Krsna is Adhoksaja. There are so many things to be learned. Everything is there in the authoritative scripture. If we take advantage of these bookswe are taking so much labor to presentyou can understand this science of Krsna very perfectly, and your life becomes successful. It is not the question of seeing Krsna personally or not. Krsna is personally present everywhere. Simply you have to purify your eyes to see Krsna. That is wanted. That is the process of Krsna consciousness. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is the process. You have to be above the designation. Sarva upadhi-vinirmuktam. In this way you have to become purified, nirmalam. Malam means dirt, and nir means no dirt.
In this way, when your senses will be purified, then you will be eligible to serve Krsna. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam. Because Krsna is the proprietor of the sen... He is the proprietor of everything. So our senses, as we claim, "This is my hand," actually this is not my hand. It is Krsna's hand. Krsna has given me to use it. Therefore this hand. Just like my hand is utilized for my benefit. I am not using this hand for your benefit. This is natural. My hands, my legs, my eyes, are used for my purpose. So if it is actually Krsna's hand, how it can be used for your purpose? So when you learn this science, that "This hand, I am claiming... It is not my hand; it is Krsna's hand. It should be utilized for Krsna," that is Krsna consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness.
So that we have to learn by the process ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje. Then what is the benefit? Nivesita-atma-upararama samsrteh. If you can utilize your senses for the service of Adhoksaja, beyond your sense perception, if you adopt that method, then the benefit will be nivesita-atma, fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness always. That is very easy. But those who are not doing, for them it is very difficult. Krsna says... He gives the prescription that satatam cintayanto mam: [Bg. 9.14] "Always thinking of Me." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Here is the chance. You come to the temple, engage in the temple service. Naturally your mind will be absorbed in Krsna. This temple is open not for making a force; just to make this process, nivesita-atma, always absorbed in Krsna though. That is the process. Always, twenty-four hours. Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. This is the process. Twenty-four hours we shall be engaged. Not that five minutes' meditation and then twenty-three hours, forty minutes engaged in other business. No. Twenty-four hours engaged in Krsna's business. That is called nivesita-atma.
Then what will be the result? Now, upararama samsrteh. Upararama means then you become, you cease from this repetition of birth and death. This will be the result. This is the actual aim of human life. Animal life and human life, this is the difference, we repeatedly say. The animal cannot understand, neither they can perform how to check birth, death, old age. That is not possible for the animals. But human being can do that. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. What is that process? Nivesitatma: always be absorbed in Krsna thought and you are saved from the repetition of birth, death and old age.
Thank you very much. (end)

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