That atma-tattva begins after being liberated.

Unless we become atmarama, there is no possibility of happiness. Just like these Gosvamis. They were very opulent ministers, but they were not happy. They resigned from the post. Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat. Because there was no happiness. And what they adopted? They adopted the life of a mendicant. Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kanthasritau. For doing good to the others they accepted kaupina-kanthasritau. So it is not a business of imitation, that "I am following the principles of Rupa Gosvami." That is not so easy to become a Rupa Gosvami, atmarama. They were busy, very busy in transcendental activities. Simply to give up the family life or big post and come to Vrndavana and live cheaply by begging some capati and become Rupa Gosvami, that is not ideal. You should follow Rupa Gosvami, their footprints. Tyaktva turnam-asesa-mandala. First of all, Rupa Gosvami, their giving up family life was meaningful. But if somebody, out of poverty, he comes to Vrndavana to solve the capati problem, (laughter) that is not Rupa Gosvami.

Rupa Gosvami, they were engagednana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau. They were simply thinking, "How these rascals will be benefitted by Krsna consciousness?" That is what, their business, lokanam hita-karinau. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja, soce tato vimukha-cetasa. Soce tato vimukha-cetasa maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]. Prahlada Maharaja was anxious not for himself. Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah. "My Lord, personally I have no problem. It is finished." Svamin krtartho 'smi. Dhruva Maharaja also said the same thing. A devotee, for personal... Because they are atmarama. They have no business for personal satisfaction. They are completely satisfied, atmarama. But they have got another dissatisfaction: that seeing men like us engaged in sense gratification and working whole day and night like dogs and pigs, so they are very much anxious. Tato vimukha-cetasa. "Without Krsna consciousness, they are working so hard day and night like asses and pigs and dogs." They are very much anxious for this, "How to stop this foolish person from this unnecessary trouble?" Unnecessary trouble. That Rsabhadeva has already instructed us in the beginning, that "Don't spoil your life working so hard like hogs and dogs. No, this is not good." Na sadhu manye. "This is not good." But they are thinking... Now it is advertised that "Work hard. Work hard." And the people have come to the stage of pulling thela and rickshaw, and still, they have to work hard. This is the position. Because they do not know what is..., how to become atmarama. That is the difficulty.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is to teach people how to become atmarama. When one becomes atmarama, then yoga-samirita-jnanam. Bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga, if one takes to bhakti-yoga, then automatically the atma-jnana, atma-tattva jnana, becomes developed. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah [SB 1.2.7]. Simply if you engage yourself in the devotional service of Vasudeva... Vasudeva means Krsna, the son of Vasudeva. Another meaning of Vasudeva: "who is all-pervading." Sarvatra vasate iti vasudevah. God is everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham.

So those who are atma-rama, those who have taken to the bhakti-yoga, their karma-phala is finished. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs. 5.54]. They are not... The devotee may be observed that he's also engaged in ordinary work. He's also printing books and selling them and maintaining mathas and temples. "So he is also doing business." No, that is not business. That is bhakti. Sometimes bhakti appears to be like ordinary karma, but it is not karma. It is karma in this way, that the same peas, it looks like peas, but if you sow it, it will not produce anymore. Bharjitani. Ava-bharjitani. Yajnarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. If you work for Krsna, it appears to be ordinary work, but it is not ordinary work. It is not the cause of bandhanah. But if you work for Krsna, there is no more karma-bandhanah. Karmani nirdahati ca kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. All others... Yas tv indragopam maha indra... There is a germ, it is called indragopa. From indragopa to that Indra the King of heaven, everyone is bound up by the laws of karma. Everyone is bound up. But a bhakta is not bound up. How he can be bound up? Because as soon as he surrenders to Krsna, Krsna gives him assurance, aham tvam sarvapapebhyo moksayisyami; immediately finish...

So we can become immediately liberated. Liberated means who has no karma-bandhana, no resultant action. Ava-bharjitani. That is liberation. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. Devotee, he may seem, it may appear, that he is also dying, but his death and ordinary death is different. Heretyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]; and othersthey are dying tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. There is a difference. Karmi... It appears that karmis... People may say, "A karmi is dying, and bhakta is dying. What is benefit?" No. He's not dying, but he is dying or giving up this body for living forever. And the nondevotees, he is dying to accept another body. That is the difference. Tatha dehantara-praptih. So if you remain a minister, a president or some very big man, but if you are not a devotee, then you have to accept another body. Karmana daiva netrena [SB 3.31.1]. You have to... Daiva-netrena, by superior management, superior administration, you'll be judged what kind of karma you have done. Although you are minister, but you have done, acted like a hog, like a dog, then you have to accept the body. Karmana daiva-netrena jantor dehopapatti. But that we do not know. They do not believe. At the modern days they do not believe that there is next life and it is conducted by the laws of nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih sarvasah... [Bg. 3.27]. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad janma yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Why there are difference of birth? One is king, another is dog; one is tree, another is worm. They are all living entities, part and parcel of Krsna. Sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayoyah [Bg. 14.4]. They are all part and parcel. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah: [Bg. 15.7] "They are all My part and parcel." Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati. They're struggling in this material nature because conducted by this mind and indriyas.

So we have to give up this. Atmarama means we have to give up for good the dictation of the mind. Then you are liberated. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. This is Ambarisa Maharaja's example. All devotees, they have no other desires. Vaikuntha. Prahlada Maharaja also says, tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah: [SB 7.9.43] "I am simply engaged in describing the powerful activities of Your Lordship." That should be our life. If you stick to this point, then we shall not speak anything except glorifying the Supreme Lord. If we make that point fixed up, we shall not talk foolishly. Simply vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane. We shall use our legs to go to the temples. We shall use our eyes to see the Deity, how nicely He is decorated, and appreciate. We shall use our hand in cleansing the temple, in playing the instruments, khol, karatala, for chanting. So, ear for hearing Krsna's pastimes, nose for smelling the flower offered to Krsna... In this way, hrsikena hrsikesa sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When you engage your senses, hrsikesa sevanam... The senses are not yours, because this body is given by Krsna through the agency of maya. You wanted this thing. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. He knows what you are wanting because He is constantly seeing you. He is sitting within your heart, the same tree, two birds. One bird is I am, the individual soul; another bird is Krsna. So He knows, and He is giving us, giving me the facility.

So in this way, if we remain entrapped in the laws of material nature, then it is not good. Na sadhu manye yata atmano yam asann api klesada asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]. This practice we should give up. Mano-dharma. Mental concoction. We should immediately accept Krsna's instruction and be situated in atma-dharma. That is atmarama. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66].

Thank you very much. (end)