So this is to be practiced, that we should not be disturbed by the ethereal transformation in touch with the skin and be disturbed in our regular activities in devotional service. That is called sthita-prajna. In the... The word is used in the Bhagavad-gita, sthita-prajna. So a devotee is sthita-prajna. He should not be disturbed by this material condition, or change of ethereal activities. We should be fixed up, atma-stha, atma-stha. And then our progress in spiritual life will be unhampered. Actually, as it is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, ahaituky apratihata.

There are so many religious systemHindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religionbut they are all material conception of religion. Material conception means that we are in this material world, and through a process or system we are trying to understand what is God. That is called religion. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. The attempt to understand God and His laws, that is religion. So it doesn't matter whether it is executed through a system called Hindu religion or a system called Muslim religion or a system called Christian religion. If the objective is the same, Adhoksaja, then that process is first-class religion. If we simply stick to a system without making any progress towards the goal of understanding the Adhoksaja, then it is srama eva hi kevalam.

So adhok... We have to approach that Adhoksaja. There are different stages of knowledge: pratyaksa, paroksa, aparoksa, adhoksaja, aprakrta. So we have to approach the aprakrta, transcendental, above the material nature. Adhoksaja is almost nearer than the lower grade of knowledge, pratyaksa, paroksaparoksa. They are in the kanistha-adhikara.

The more we become advanced in spiritual consciousness, the more we become situated in atma-stha. That is called sthita-prajna. Then we shall not be disturbed. And we should practice not to be disturbed by these conditional or ethereal transformation. We should. Because we do not belong, as spirit soul, aham brahmasmi, I do not belong to this material arrangement, but I have been accustomed to this, so by practice I have to come to the spiritual status. And during practice it requires tolerance. That is called bhajana, sadhana, or tapasya, austerity, penance, tolerance. The things which we are not, but somehow or other, we have identified with such material things, and to practice again, come to the spiritual platform, that tolerance is called tapasya. This is the meaning of tapasya. Tapah means pain, to voluntarily accepting some pain. Just like sannyasa, kali-kara(?). In this age it is very difficult. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us the example that He was lying down on the floor. His devotee wanted to give Him a quilt, a soft bedding, but He refused. He did not take it.

So He is teaching us. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the teacher. Apani acari' prabhu jivere sikhaila. But still, it is very difficult to strictly follow. But we must try to follow as far as possible. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has therefore taught us, trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. We must be tolerant like the trees or more than the tree. The trees, they are standing in the open air, and there are so many disturbances, storms, scorching heat, and somebody is taking the leaf, somebody cutting. It doesn't protest. Tolerance. This is very good example of tolerance. So in order to execute our spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness, we shall learn tolerance. Tolerance, that is advised in Bhagavad-gita, that tams titiksasva bharata: "Don't be disturbed." Just like a brahmana or a sannyasi has to take three times bath. And if it is very chilly cold, it does not mean that he will give up that taking bath three times, early in the morning. He must take. That is called tolerance. This is one of the example of tolerance. There is severe cold, chilly cold, but my duty is to take bath in the morning. So we must tolerate. I must tolerate that chilly cold, and still, I take my bath. This is called tapasya, not that "It is very chilly cold. I will not take my bath." No, that is not allowed. Then you are lagging behind. You must take. Of course, if it is very serious, somebody is seriously ill, that is different thing. Generally, Krsna advises, tams titiksa... Matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah, anityah [Bg. 2.14]. Anitya. Anitya means they are not permanent. Agamapayino 'nityah. They are seasonal changes. They will come, and they will go. Simply ethereal arrangement only, we must know, external arrangement. It is, rather, illusion.

External arrangement means illusion. We have nothing to do with it. But due to this Kali-yuga especially, we are very much affected by these external disturbances. And that disturbances sometimes make us forced to forget our relationship with the Supreme, and that is called illusion. That is called maya. But if we become very strictly adherent to Krsna consciousness... That is very easily done at the Kali-yuga. Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet. Kirtanad eva krsnasya [SB 12.3.51]. If you strictly chant this Hare Krsna mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama... That... It is especially prescribed for the men in this age. Then we become mukta-sanga. Mukta-sanga means although we are in this material world, we are not in touch with it. That is called mukta-sanga. Mukta-sangah param vrajet. We remain untouched by the material contamination and gradually becoming perfect. Then we can be transferred to the spiritual world.

Our this Hare Krsna movement is pursuing, following the footstep of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So either you chant Visnu name or Lord Rama name or Lord Krsna's name, there is no difference, as you are, because different people become devotee to different forms. Sometimes they are devotee of Lord Ramacandra; they want to worship Sita-Rama. That is also good. Sometimes they want to worship Laksmi-Narayana. That is also good. And sometimes they want to worship Radha-Krsna. That is also the same. There is no difference. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu, krsnah svayam samabhavat [Bs. 5.39]. There are many manifestation of Visnu-advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs. 5.33]but the original manifestation or original Krsna... Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Really, when we speak of Bhagavan, that is Krsna. So Krsna's expansion, they are also Bhagavan. And those who are very, very powerful like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Narada, and many other devotees and sages, they are also sometimes addressed as Bhagavan in the sastra, but not ordinary men. Ordinary men cannot become Bhagavan. That is not possible. But everyone can become exalted devotee. Just like Narada Muni. In his previous birth he was a maidservant's son, not even born in the brahmana family. But by good association of devotees he became next birth Narada Muni, the spiritual master of so many exalted devotees. Narada Muni's name we hear in connection with Prahlada Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja, and many other devotees. And so everyone has the potency, just like Narada Muni. So it doesn't matter where you were born. Narada Muni was born as a maidservant's son, but by good association... Satam prasangan mama virya-samvidah. By good association, next life he became Narada.

So the sat-sanga is very important, association. Therefore we have named this, "Krsna conscious society." Anyone can join it. It doesn't matter what he is. And actually, it is... Practically we are doing. We are collecting, recruiting members, from all parts of the world without any distinction. The distinction is there in the material platform. In the spiritual platform there is no such distinction. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. Samah sarvesu bhutesu. That is the vision of the devotees. They see only the spirit soul, part and parcel of Krsna. Their sympathy is for the spirit soul, that "Here is a spirit soul, and he is part and parcel of Krsna. He is now bound up by this material bondage. Let me try to rescue him." Prahlada Maharaja said, soce tato vimukha-cetasa, maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]. They have become foolish. They are thinking that in material bondage he will be happy. That is not possible. Therefore Vaisnavas like Prahlada Maharaja and his followers, they very seriously think of these fallen conditioned souls and try to rescue them, and in this Kali-yuga it is very easy. As I have already explained, kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah: "In this Kali-yuga it is a ocean of fault. So many faults are there, one after another, one after another. But there is one benefit," dosa-nidhe asti hy eko mahan gunah, "very great quality." What is that? Now, kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet: "He hasn't got to do anything else. If he simply chants the Hare Krsna mantra," kirtanad eva krsnasya [SB 12.3.51], "then he becomes free from this material bondage and goes back to home, back to Godhead."

So our only request is to everyone present here to chant this maha-mantra, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Thank you very much. Chant. (end)