So anyway, our controlling business is also interruptable. I want to control. Just like this janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9]. I want to control death, disease, but I cannot. Everyone is trying. As soon as one is diseased, he tries to control it. He goes to take help from other, the physician, but he cannot. Therefore he is not supreme controller. And at the same time, I want something, but it is not happening. Just like I want to eat something palatable, but due to my diseased condition, I cannot eat. Forbidden apple. But I have the desire to eat it. So because I am not supreme controller, because I am in diseased condition, therefore my business is to cure the disease. Cure the diseasethat is sane man's business. If you are infected with some disease, you should try to cure it. That is your business. If you don't care of it, then you are nonsense. You are not very intelligent man. If you keep yourself always in diseased condition, that is... You are not very intelligent man. Similarly, we are part and parcel of God, a small God, but under material conditions we are subjected to birth, death, old age and disease. We should understand this. This foolish brain cannot understand, that... This question must rise: "Why I am put into this tribulation? Why I am in distressed condition? I do not want it. Why I am diseased? I do not want it. Why I become old? I do not want it. Why I am subject to death? I do not want it." These questions do not arise. Arise, but they cannot make any solution. That is less intelligent.

But there is solution. And that solution is possible in this life, in this human form of life, intelligent life, advanced consciousness, not in the animal life. By nature's evolutionary process, we come, gradually, through the 8,400,000 forms of life, we come to human life. And this human life is meant for curing this material disease. What is that? Birth, death, old age and disease. But people are so unintelligent that they do not care for it. They are simply busy in producing some material, temporary comfortable situation of this body. That's all. They are wasting time. Dina gelo, ratri gelo... That we are sleeping at night. Diva carthehaya rajan, nidraya naktam. At night we sleep or indulge in sex life, and in daytime we earn money. And as soon as we get money, we spend it for the comforts of the world. This is our business. Nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va vayah [SB 2.1.3]. Vyavayena ca va vayah, diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va. This is the position. At night we are wasting time. The so long we sleep, that is wasting time. The less we sleep... And even a very, very big businessmen, they sleep very less. Very, very big politician, they also sleep less. So because sleeping, the part of our life spended sleeping that means wasted. So we should control our sleeping, not to sleep more. That is one of the business. Because our life is very short, and if we spend our time sleeping... Suppose half sleeping and half working. Then half our life is spoiled simply by sleeping. Then other business are there. In old age we cannot do anything. In childhood we cannot do anything substantial. So childhood means up to twenty years we spoil. And then, when we get old, we spend another twenty years-forty years. And suppose we live eighty years. So eighty years, out of eighty years, another twenty years by sleeping, then we get twenty years. (laughter) But our business is very responsible, that we have to solve all the problems of life. This is human life. This is human life: to solve the problem, not to increase the problem.

But at the present moment people are being taught to increase the problem. Increase the problem... Just like I was discussing, they have increased the problems so much so that even in the womb of mother they are being killed. Just imagine how much we have increased the problem. Even there is no security... In India they say, security position, that one is sleeping on the lap of his mother. That is best security. Because the child, when he is sleeping on the lap of his mother, if there is some danger, mother will first of all come forward to save the child. That is natural. But the problems of life has so become complicated that even mother is killing child. Just imagine. The present position of the civilization, that there is no question of security, even on the lap of the mother, and what to speak of otherwise. But the business of human life is to solve the problems of life, but we have increased the problems of life. This is the civilization. Why? Because we are not taking to the process of human life. The process of human life is mentioned here: tapasya, austerity. Tapasa brahmacaryena samena damena ca [SB 6.1.13]. This is the process to make solution of the problems of life. And if we do not do that, then we implicate ourself in more problems. But they do not know. They are so foolish that they do not know the problems of life, how to solve it. And here in the Srimad-Bhagavat, Srimat Sukadeva Gosvami has given you that "You do this." Tapasa brahmacaryena: [SB 6.1.13] "Accept austerities, penance. Observe brahmacarya, celibacy. Control your mind. Control your senses, God consciousness." Dharma-jna: "Become dhira, sober." These are the things to be learned in human life. And if we simply, like animals, jump like dog, then what is that civilization?

So two alternatives. One alternative, this step by step; another alternative is, as it is suggested here, kecit kevalaya bhaktya [SB 6.1.15]. There is one step, one side, that you observe austerities, penance, and control your mind, senses, and become religiously minded, sober, so many things. Another: kevalaya bhaktya, simply by engaging yourself in devotional activities. Devotional activities. Devotional activities mean the first beginning of devotional activities is to hear, sravanam. Sravanam. Just like you are kindly hearing. This is the beginning of devotional life. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23]. Sravanam about whom? Sravanam not of politics. If there is political meeting, thousands of men will go to hear. That is also sravanam. Therefore in the sastras it is recommended, sravanam kirtanam visnoh, to hear about Visnu, Krsna, not other thing. If you say, "Yes, I am sravanam. I am hearing a politicial meeting," not that hearing. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Everything pertaining to Visnu.

These are nine items: sravanam kirtanam smaranam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam arcanam vandanam, like that. There are nine items. Sravanam, hearing, chanting. Hearing and chanting, kirtanam. Smaranam, thinking of Krsna. Anyone can think of Krsna. Here is Krsna's form. You see and get the form within your heart and think of Krsna, meditate. Where is the difficulty? There is no difficulty. Sravanam kirtanam. You hear about Krsna, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam. You haven't got to do anything. And kirtanam also. Hearing means somebody is speaking and others are hearing. There must be somebody chanting. Just like I am chanting, I am speakingyou are hearing. So sravanam kirtanam. And as soon as we hear and chant, we remember also, smaranam. The vandanam, offering prayers. Everyone goes to the temple, to the church, offers prayer. That is also bhakti. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. Then arcanam. Just like these boys and girls are engaged in worshiping the Deity. That is called arcanam. Vandanam dasyam: to become servant of God, to cleanse the temple, to work for God, for Krsna, dasyam. Sakhyam, to accept Krsna as friend. Atma-nivedanam, and offering everything to Krsna. These are nine items. You can accept nine, eight, seven, as you like, as you can conveniently, either the whole nine items or one, two, three, fourany. Even if you accept one, your life will be perfect. If you simply take this sravanam, if you simply come to this temple and hear about Krsna, your life will be successful. It is so nice. Even if you don't do anything, simply if you kindly take the trouble of coming here and just try to hear about Krsna sincerely, then your life will be successful. This is called bhakti. Kevalaya bhaktya. Simply by executing devotional service And there are nine different types of devotional services, out of which, even if you accept one, your life is successful. This is called kevalaya bhaktya. Just like Pariksit Maharaja. At the last stage of his life he was cursed by a brahmana boy to die within seven days. So within seven days he had to prepare himself for the next birth. So he was little perplexed, and all the great saintly persons, sagesbecause he was emperor of the worldso they came. They consulted. It was decided that "You hear Srimad-Bhagavatam the seven days." That is The Sukadeva Gosvami spoke, and he, listened from Sukadeva, and he became perfect within seven days. Therefore in India they observe this Bhagavat-saptaha. That is simply official. Actually, nobody hears very seriously.

So sravanam is so perfect also. Pariksit Maharaja attained perfection simply by hearing seven days. Similarly, Sukadeva Gosvami, he also attained perfection by speaking seven days to Pariksit Maharaja. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23]. Prahlada Maharaja, he was put into so many difficulties by his atheist father, Hiranyakasipu, but he was simply remembering Narayana, Krsna. Because he was a child, five years old, how he can fight with his father? His father was the greatest demon, powerful, and he was against the child. So he used to simply think of Krsna, smaranam. Pada-sevanam: Laksmi, goddess of fortune, she simply engaged herself in massaging the lotus feet of Visnu. Pada-sevanam. Arcanam: Prthu Maharaja, he engaged himself in the arcana. Vandanam. Dasyam: Hanuman. Akrura, Akrura, he simply offered prayers to Krsna. Akrura came to Krsna Balarama to take Them to Mathura. So he got salvation simply by offering prayers. Vandanam dasyam. Hanuman, he simply offered his bodily service to Lord Ramacandra. He got perfection. So sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam... Arjuna. Arjuna simply kept friendship with Krsna. He got perfection. Sakhyam.

Therefore it is recommended here, kecit kevalaya bhaktya [SB 6.1.15]. Somebody, without undergoing so much austerities, penances and practice in yoga for controlling mind, the senses... It is not possible for the time being, in this age. People are so fallen that they cannot take to these processes. But they can take to this bhakti process. That is the easiest. Kecit kevalaya bhaktya vasudeva-parayanah [SB 6.1.15]. Bhaktya means to become devotee of Vasudeva, Krsna. Vasudeva-parayanah, agham dhunvanti. Agham means all sinful reaction of life. Not only one life. Life after life, we have done. So that can be solved in this human form of life simply by taking to this Krsna consciousness. Agham dhunvanti kartsnyena. In toto, wholesale, kartsnyena, wholesale. How? Niharam ivam bhaskarah. Just like the whole atmosphere is surcharged with fog; nobody can see. The other day we were going from Calcutta to Mayapur, and so many accidents took place. Yes, actually we could not see even five feet away what is there. And two sides motors are running. Nobody could see. There were so many accidents. Even for few hours' fog, there were hundreds of accidents. Just see. So this is fog. In the sea also... I have got experience when I was coming from India to New York. When there was fog in the sea, then immediately ship would stop and horn, "Onh, onh, onh," Because nobody can see where is another ship. There may be collision there. Similarly, it is dangerous to fly also. The fog is so dangerous. Nowadays people are engaged in the sky, in the water, in the land. Everywhere they have got engagement. But as soon as there is fog, everything is calamity, everything is dangerous. So here this same example is that. When there is fog, it is very difficult to move. But the fog can be immediately moved if there is sunrise. Sunrise is there. If this temperature of the sun becomes little more, then immediately fog is dissipated. Niharam iva bhaskarah.

Then he further explains,

But you cannot surrender to Krsna without serving the representative of Krsna. Narottama dasa Thakura said, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara paveche keba: "Without serving the representative of Krsna, nobody can approach Krsna." It is not possible. It is not possible. There are many instances. Mahat-pada-rajo 'bhisekam. Niskincananm, niskincananam... There is one versejust now I forget. The thing is that without being blessed by the representative of Krsna, nobody can take interest into Krsna. That is another secret. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. The Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that "By the mercy of the spiritual master, one can get the mercy of Krsna." Yasya prasadat, "by whose mercy, Krsna is merciful." Niskincananam pada-rajo 'bhisekam. So this is also stated here, that surrender to Krsna means surrender to Krsna's representative. If you surrender to Krsna, then also Krsna's first mercy is that He will send His representative. If anyone is serious to surrender to Krsna, then Krsna will help him from within and without. Within, as Supersoul, He will help, and He will dictate that "You go to this person." Guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. When there is combined mercy, both Krsna and Krsna's representative, then you are successful. Guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. Two things. Here also it is stated that one may practice, as the austerities, penances, brahmacarya, celibacy, but better position is to take to devotional service and surrender to Krsna through His representative. This bhakti.

So Krsna is the supreme powerful. He is giving assurance. Therefore, instead of accepting the other way, to practice penance and becoming, observing brahmacarya and so many other thingsby one stroke, simply by surrendering to Krsna, you will achieve all the benefits, all other benefits. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate [SB 5.18.12]. By becoming a devotee, automatically he is practicing penances. Just like here in these devotees, our society. This is penance. They are observing brahmacarya, no illicit sex. That is brahmacarya. Or there is no sex at all. The sannyasi, brahmacari, they observe completely celibacy life. And those who are grhastha, they have regulated sex life. That is brahmacarya. And as soon as you become brahmacari, your mind becomes controlled. As soon as your senses are engaged in Krsna's service, your senses are controlled. The automatic yogic process you attain. If you simply try to control the senses, it is very difficult. But if you give the senses engagement, then it is automatic. Because senses must work something. Just like a child. A child at home without engagement, he will simply spoil things, so many. But if you send him to school, give him some engagement, he will be peaceful. Similarly, our senses, we cannot stop the activities of the senses. That is not possible. Just like some foolish people say that "Become desireless." How you can be desireless? I am a living man, living being. I must desire. I cannot be desireless. But if the desire is transformed to Krsna... Suppose instead of desiring that "I shall have a very big skyscraper building," if I desire that "I shall have a very big, big temple for Krsna." The same desire. But as soon as you desire to have a big skyscraper building, that is material. And as soon as you desire to construct a big temple for Krsna, that is spiritual. Just like as you get a nice rose flower: as soon as you desire that you shall enjoy it, this is material. And as soon as you desire, "Oh, this is nice flower. I shall go and offer it to Krsna," that is spiritual. Simply change the desire. There is no question of desirelessness. Why? We cannot be desireless... That is not possible. Change the... Purify the desire. Purify the desire.

Therefore bhakti means sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Nirmalam. We have to cleanse the desire. We have to cleanse our seeing. Now our eyes want to see some beautiful thing. Now, if we become accustomed to see Krsna beautifully decorated, nicely decorated, nicely dressed, then we forget other, so-called material beauty. So the activities of the eyes, to see beautiful thing, is not changed, but it is purified. That is bhakti. Nothing has to be changed or nothing has to be stopped, but the process has to be changed. Nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe yukta vairagyam ucyate. We cannot be desireless. We cannot be inactive. That is also not possible. We must be activebut active for working for Krsna. Then it is devotional life. That is being taught in Krsna consciousness movement, that it is not simply negation. Simply negation will not help you. There must be some positive occupation. So we say, "Do not do this, but do this." We say, "Do not eat meat," but we say, "Eat Krsna's nice prasadam, halava." So he forgets meat-eating. This is our process. We give immediately alternative. You dance. You don't dance in the naked club; dance in the Krsna's temple. The dancing is there, but is purified. In the club there are also girls are dancing and boys are dancing. Here also, girls are dancing and boys are..., but they are dancing for Krsna ecstasy. So nothing is stopped. This is bhakti. Krsna consciousness means you have to simply change your consciousness. Consciousness is there. At the present moment our consciousness is polluted. Just like water. Water is always pure. But when it is... Just like rain falls from the sky. You catch. Before touching the earth, you catch the water, it is distilled water. It is distilled water. Sometimes they catch, they hold the water. It is distilled water. You take so much time to distill water. Rain is distilled water, purified, without any contamination. But as soon as it touches this surface of the earth, it becomes muddy. Similarly, we are also... When we come from Krsna, we come pure, but as soon as we touch these material modes of nature, we become muddy, impure, the consciousness. Therefore, as muddy water can be filtered, settled up and filtered and again it becomes clear, similarly, this Krsna consciousness movement is that however muddy you may be, by Krsna consciousness you will be picked up and you will come again clear, crystal like water. This is the process.

So there is nothing to change, nothing to give up. Simply it is clearing process. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This clearing process is we should we free from the designations. Just like these boys, American and European or Australian, Japanese, so many... We have got all kinds of students, but they are now devoid of all designations. They are not thinking that "I am American." They are not thinking, "I am Indian." They are thinking always, "I am Krsna's servant." This is purification. This is purification. Sarva upadhi. Upadhi. This is designation. I am not American, nor Indian. This is body. This is circumstantial. I am, aham brahmasmi, and Krsna is Supreme Brahman, and I am Brahman, His eternal servant. This is self-realization. This is called mukti. Muktih hitvanyatha rupam sva-rupena avasthitih. This is mukti. Now we are anyatha rupam. I am thinking Even there are so many human beings here, suppose in Auckland Somebody is thinking, "I am Indian." Somebody is thinking, "I am American." Somebody is thinking, "I am Englishman." So upadhi, that is upadhi. But if we give up this upadhi, designation, that "I am not this..." Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught that "I am not a brahmana. I am not a ksatriya. I am not a vaisya. I am not a sudra. I am not a sannyasi. I am not a brahmacari." These are all upadhi. Then what You are, Sir? Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah: [Cc. Madhya 13.80] "I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna." This is called upadhi-less, or free from all designation. When we become free from all designation, then, in that purified state, if we engage ourself in Krsna activities, that is our success of life.

Thank you very much. [break]