These things are current very much. "It may be there is no guru." Not at all. You cannot say that. Just like there are imitation coin. You have met with some imitation coins. That does not mean there is no real coin. You are unfortunate. You met with imitation coins. So don't make that calculation that "There is no real coin, all imitation coin." That is nonsense. There is imitation coin, and there is real coin. It is up to you to find out which is the real and which is the imitation.

So Bhagavata gives you direction that "If you are actually serious about finding out a guru..." Who requires a guru? Who requires? Tasmad gurum prapadyeta [SB 11.3.21]. One should surrender unto guru. Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. One who is inquisitive to understand the transcendental knowledge... The ordinary man does not require to search out the guru to find out astrology: "Guruji, kindly tell me what will be the price next...?" Not that guru. Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. One who is serious to understand about the transcendental knowledge. Uttamam. Udgata-tamam. Beyond this material world. This material world is tama, darkness. So if one is very serious to inquire about the world of light, for him there is need of guru, not for ordinary person. Guru, we should not make a guru as a fashion. Everyone makes a guru, "Let me have a guru also, any kind of..." No. That is not required. Guru is required by somebody who is serious to know about the transcendental world, the world of light. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. The world of jyoti. Na tad bhasayate suryo na candra [Bg. 15.6]. That world, where there is no need of sun, moon, electricity.

There is another world. That we get information from Bhagavad-gita. Paras tasmat tu bhavah anyah [Bg. 8.20]. There is another nature, which is sanatana, eternal. This world this material world, is not eternal. Just like we have got this body. This is not eternal. It is temporary. It has got some particular date of his birth and it has got some particular date of his annihilation. Similarly, this gigantic body, universe, it is created at a certain date and it will be annihilated at a certain date. This is material world. But there is another world. That information we get from Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literature. Spiritual world. This material world is only one-fourth of the whole creation. Ekamsena sthito jagat.

Therefore Vedic knowledge is called sruti. It has to be acquired by hearing. Sruti. Not by seeing, not by experimental knowledge. That is not possible. Because it is beyond, beyond our sense perception. Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet. Don't try to understand by false argument, dry argument, which is beyond your conception, beyond your reach. Simply waste of time. Then how to know? Now, srotavya. You have to hear. That is the only means. The example I have given several times. Just like if you want to know who is your father, it is to be this srotavya. From where? From the authority, my mother. You cannot manufacture your knowledge who is your father. No. You cannot speculate. That is not pos ... Because it beyond your reach. The father was existing before your birth. So how you can understand father by experimental knowledge? That is not possible. You have to accept the statement of your mother. That's all. Finished. Similarly, Vedasour mother of knowledge. Puranas-our sisters of knowledge. So we have to consult from the Vedas and from the right person. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12], from the guru. Not that you purchase one book, Vedas, from the market, and you become a Vedantist. No. That is not possible. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. Must go to understand. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34].

These are the injunctions. Srotavya. This is the process of srotavya. Tad viddhi pranipatena. You have to hear by surrendering. First of all you have to find out where you can surrender. Because everyone is big man. Why he shall surrender? So unless he finds out somebody who he can surrender to, then that is the beginning of transcendental knowledge. Srotavya. So who can be a bigger personality than Krsna? So hear from Krsna, hear from Vyasadeva, hear from Narada, hear from their representative, Narada's representative, Vyasadeva; Vyasadeva's representative, Madhva Muni. Similarly, in that parampara system... Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayah [Bg. 4.2]. So we have to catch up the parampara, disciplic chain, bona fide spiritual master, and from him we have to hear. Srotavya.

Now, in the next verse it is said that yad-anudhyasina. Dhyeya. Simply by thinking of Krsna, hearing about Krsna, speaking about Krsna, meditating upon Krsna, worshiping Krsna, you become perfect. That is assured in the Bhagavad-gita: man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. So the Krsna consciousness movement is very simple. We are teaching people that "Here is God, Krsna. We can give you the name, address, form, and everything." Yes. Krsna says, tad dhama paramam mama. He is giving His address. Yad gatva na nivartante [Bg. 15.6]. "Where you go, you don't require to come back." Tad dhama paramam mama. So Krsna is giving information about His abode. So simply you have to qualify yourself to go there. That's all. That qualification is simply man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. "Simply think of Me." And if you simply think of Krsna, you become the greatest yogi.

So we are teaching our people to become the first-class yogi. People are very much attached to the yoga system, mystic yoga system. But the goal of yoga system is Krsna. Therefore Krsna's name is Yogesvara. By practicing yoga, if you don't find Krsna, then srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8], then simply you have wasted your time for nothing. For nothing. Yes. That is the version. Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim. Tapasya, austerity, means to understand Krsna. So if we understand Krsna, then there is no need of any more tapasya. Tapasya business is finished. But if you do not understand Krsna, simply undergoing tapasya, it is simply waste of time.

Just like one man is given the chance of become some minister or magistrate. If he does very nice, he is promoted; otherwise degraded. Similarly, this human form of life is meant for understanding God. That is the only business. If we don't understand what is God, what is Krsna and our relationship with Him, then we are missing the point. Then we become entangled, entangled. This entanglement is karma-granthi-nibandhanam, by our karma. By different kind of karma, we are becoming entangled. So to unknot this, I mean to say, binding of entanglement, (it) is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yajnarthe karma, "You work simply for Yajna, for satisfaction of Yajna." Yajna-pati, Visnu, or God, or Krsna. Yajnarthe karma, anyatra karma-bandhanah. "If you do not act for Krsna, do not act for Visnu, for Yajna, then karma-bandhana." Yajnarthe karmanah anyatra karma-bandhanah.

So this is karma-bandhana. This karma-bandhana begins from our attachment to this material world. How our material attachment increases? That is also explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam [SB 5.5.8]. Mithuni-bhavam. There is sex impulse between man and woman. There are two classes of living entities, man and woman, or male or female. So the male is attracted by the female, and the female is attracted by the male. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam. But what is that attraction, central point? Sex life. So this mentality, this propensity, is there not only in human body, but in the animal body also, that same propensity, sex life. So... But everyone is searching after, "Where is a male? Where is a female?" And when they are united, the karma-granthi becomes tighter. That's all. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam tayor mitho hrdaya-granthim ahuh [SB 5.5.8]. They are searching after, and as soon as they are united, they become tightly knot. Hrdaya-granthi.

So this is called samsara, this is called material existence. One life after another, one life after another, one life after another. This is called karma-granthi-nibandhanam. So if we want to unknot this tight fitting of our heart... Now, again it is said that as soon as the male-female is united, then further tightening begins. What is that? Atah ksetra. Atah ksetra, grha, apta, vitta. In this way, first of all, we are united, husband and wife. Then we want a nice apartment or house, grha. Then, to maintain the house, we require a field, field of activity. Generally, formerly, they were agricultural. So you must have income. Atah grha-ksetra-suta. Then children, then apta, friends. Atah grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittaih then again, money. In this way, our attachment increasing. Janasya moho 'yam aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. In this way, our illusory position, moha, increases, one after another, one after another. This is called karma-granthi-nibandhanam. Karma-granthi-nibandhanam.

Therefore the Vedic civilization is to educate from the very beginning a child to become a brahmacari. That is the basic principle of education. Prahlada Maharaja said, kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha [SB 7.6.1]. Not that "In old age, when I shall retire, I shall see what is Krsna consciousness." That will be very difficult. From the very beginning of life, kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan... Especially... There are many kinds of religious principles, but dharman bhagavatan. Prahlada Maharaja says, "Real dharma is Bhagavatam," means our understanding our relationship with God, Bhagavan. That is real dharma. Dharman bhagavatan. So here the same thing is explained, that yad-anudhyasina yuktah. Simply by chanting or hearing or meditating upon Krsna, yad-anudhyasina yuktah karma-granthi-nibandhanam. This asina... Just like we require a knife to cut the knot, similarly, if we want to cut the knot of this material existence...

Unfortunately, people do not understand that what is the wrong in the material existence. They haven't got even the simple knowledge. They think it is all right. They are ignorant so much ignorant that dehatma-buddhi, they consider... The bodily concept of life: the body is finished and everything is finished. This is the philosophy going on, all over the world. Big, big professors, philosophers, scientists, they are on this platform of thinking. I met one big professor in Moscow. He is Professor Kotovsky. He said, "Swamiji, after finishing this body, everything is finished." Just see. He is a professor. He has no knowledge that there is life after death. So world is going like that. They do not know what is karma-granthi, what is transmigration, nothing. Simply superficial. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. Blind men, they are leading other blind men. Therefore they are kept in ignorance, and the world is suffering therefore. They do not know what is the goal of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are trying to adjust things by illusory energy. That's all. Therefore, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. It is exactly like the, a blind man is trying to lead other blind men. This is going on.

Therefore this is the process, yad-anudhyasina, you have to take one knife. This is knife. What is that? Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. This is knife. If you want to get rid of this entanglement of material existence, one body after another, then this is the only instrument by which you can unknot the knot and come out of the entanglement. Chindanti. This very word is used, chindanti: "It cuts." Chindanti kovidas tasya. Kovida means very intelligent person. Unless one is very intelligent, he cannot take to Krsna consciousness. It is not our manufactured words. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. So our test is if anyone is not Krsna conscious, he is either of these: duskrtinah, mudhah, naradhamah, mayaya apahrta-jnanah. This is our conclusion. You may say it is very sectarian, but Krsna says. What can I do? (laughter) Krsna says.

So therefore, as soon as we find out a person, he has no knowledge of Krsna, we put him either of these categories: mudhah, duskrtinah, naradhamah, mayaya apahrta-jnanah. These are their qualifications. Therefore it is said here, chindanti kovidah, he is neither of these rascals: miscreants, mudhah, naradhamah, and mayaya apahrta-jnanah. Kovida, very intelligent. Kovidas tasya ko na kuryat katha-ratim. Anyone who has understand that simply by hearing about Krsna, talking about Krsna, working for Krsna, one can become released from this entanglement, who will not accept it? For example, just see in the Western countries; all the younger generation, they are so much addicted to intoxication. And the government is spending millions of dollars, how to stop it. But they have become animals. But just see how wonderful is this Krsna consciousness movement. Anyone who is coming to us, immediately, by our restriction... Because as soon as he is initiated, he is made to promise no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling. From that very date he gives up everything. And here are so many samples attending.(?)

So chindanti karma-granthi-nibandhanam. Immediately. It is not story. It is practical. Karma-granthi-nibandhanam kovidas tasya chindanti. They are trying so much. That, we have got very practical experience, that even one cannot give up drinking tea. It is very difficult. Nobody can give up drinking tea. Nobody can give up smoking. And what to speak of meat-eating and gambling and illicit sex. But Krsna consciousness is so nice that even children, boys, young boys and girls, they give up very easily, simply coming to Krsna consciousness. So this is a fact: chindanti kovidas tasya, simply by hearing about Krsna, simply chanting about Krsna... There is no other medicine. There is no other magic or mystic power. So they are giving up. If we take sincerely Krsna consciousness, all these things, entanglements, will immediately be vanquished. That's a fact. Kovidas tasya. Chindanti kovidas tasya ko na kuryat katha-ratim.

So this is the easiest process. If one is very, very intelligent, then he takes to Krsna consciousness, surrenders to Krsna, and his life becomes successful, he becomes free from so many addictions... This is the result of Krsna consciousness. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah [SB 5.18.12]. Simply by becoming a devotee of Krsna, all the good qualities of the demigods... Demigods... Just like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Narada. There are many, many demigods. They are good qualified. Otherwise, how they are posted in such exalted position? They are very qualified. So simply by becoming Krsna conscious, all the good qualities of the demigods, or all godly qualities, will manifest. There is no doubt about it. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra... [SB 11.2.42]. They will be reluctant. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. They will find something so nice that they will give up all this nonsense. This is the process. Unless you give something better, how one can give up his bad habits?

Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He delivered Jagai-Madhai. They were all this: addicted to illicit sex, meat-eating, drinking and intoxication, gambling. That was their business. So Nityananda Prabhu went to deliver them, that "First of all, these rascals should be delivered." Therefore He went there. They were very angry. They hurt Him by throwing one stone on His forehead, and blood came out. Still, Nityananda Prabhu said, "All right, I don't mind. Please chant Hare Krsna." This is preaching, Nityananda. But when Lord Caitanya heard it, He became very angry. He wanted to kill them immediately. So Nityananda Prabhu requested that "In this incarnation You have promised not to accept any weapons. Please become," I mean to say, "kind upon them." This is the person... This is the business of guru. Guru introduces with God and prays to God, "Please excuse him." This is guru's business. And by the request of guru, God agrees to excuse him. This is the process.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu simply asked them that "I can accept you simply if you agree not to commit any more sinful activities." This is the condition. Not that you go on with your sinful activities and go on chanting also. This is called namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. There are many persons, they think, "Oh, we are expert in chanting. So in the morning let us commit all kinds of sinful activities, and in the evening I shall chant. It will be counteracted." Not that kind of chanting required. That is offense, greatest offense. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. One must give up for good all the propensities for sinful activities. Then take to Krsna consciousness and it will act. Otherwise, if you go on keeping both the lines, that "Whole day I shall commit all sinful activities, and at night I shall chant..." Just like in Christian church, there is a system, confession at the end of the week. They go to the church and they confess before the priest, "I have done so many sinful activities." So pray something and he says, "All right, excused." Again, from Monday, he begins sinful activities. Yes. Not like that. Once you stop sinful activities, you cannot commit again. Then Krsna will save you. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Krsna is not so fool that you simply once surrender to Him and then commit sinful activities and again surrender to Him. No. That will not be allowed. Krsna can excuse you once or twice, but if you commit... [break] ...offense, then it will act and people will be benefited. Chindanti kovidas tasya ko na kuryat katha-ratim.

So katha-rati, attraction for krsna-katha. Simply let us hear, let us chant, let us think of Krsna. That will make us very much rapidly progressive on the spiritual path.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break] Five rasas are primary and seven rasas are secondary. This... (end)