Actually, religion does not mean to improve your material condition. That is not religion. Srimad-Bhagavata therefore says that sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje: [SB 1.2.6] "That type of religion is first class which elevates one to the platform of pure devotional service to the Absolute Truth." That is religion. People are not attracted to the bhagavata-dharma, or the religion. Bhagavata-dharma is actually sanatana-dharma. Sanatana-dharma does not mean that one must have a certain type of religious life. Sanatana-dharma means the eternal religion. Sanatana-dharma is applicable for all living entities. A living entity is eternal, God is eternal, and there is an eternal abode also. Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20]. So the religious principles which promote a follower to the highest platform of serving the eternal, supreme God, that is called sanatana-dharma. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). That is first-class religion.

Therefore here it is said, naikantikam. Naikantikam tad dhi krte 'pi niskrte [SB 6.2.12]. Even one becomes free from all contamination of sinful life by prosecuting the particular type of religious principles, that is not sufficient, because ultimately it cannot give any good result. Naikantikam tad dhi krte 'pi niskrte manah punar dhavati ced asat-pathe. Because the mind is so disturbing that even after being free from all contamination of sinful life, the mind again goes to that sinful activity. It is very difficult to control the mind. Arjuna, when he was advised to perform the hatha-yoga system to control the mind, he flatly refused, that "I am unable to control my mind in this way." He stated that cancalam hi manah krsna: [Bg. 6.34] "Krsna, the mind is so agitating and moving," cancalam hi manah krsna pramathi, "it is just like a madman." Just like you cannot control a madman. Sometimes you have to chain a madman for doing mischievous activities. Sometimes you have to send to some hospital for special care. So Arjuna said, cancalam hi manah krsna pramathi, balavat. And not only balavat, "is very strong," and drdham, "and very strong and determined" Tasyaham nigraham manye: "If you ask me to control my mind, it is very difficult for me." Tasyaham nigraham manye vayor api suduskaram: "If there is some wind, strong wind, and if one thinks that 'I shall control this wind, stop this strong blowing of wind,' as it is impossible, similarly, the movement of my mind is so strong that I cannot promise that I can control this mind." And after the statement of Arjuna, Krsna said... Krsna saw that His friend was becoming disappointed. Because he cannot prosecute the yoga system, so he's becoming disappointed. But He knew that Arjuna was always thinking of Krsna. That was certain. Although his mind was very agitated because he was politician, he was warrior, still, his mind was fixed up in Krsna. That He knew. Therefore He said that yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47].

The Krsna consciousness movement, the technique, is that you may be engaged in various types of work, but the mind must be always fixed up in Krsna. That art you have to learn. How it is possible? It is possible. Perhaps you have not seenin India the women, they go to draw water from the well and they keep on the head. They are going, but the head is so balanced that the waterpot will never fall down. There are many instances that if you learn how to keep the balance, in spite of your movement the waterpot on the head will not fall. Similarly, if you mold your life in such a way that Krsna should always be remembered, then, in spite of your mind being very agitated, your mind will be fixed up in Krsna. That is required. Therefore in the devotional service we have got so many engagements.

Tat karma-nirharam abhipsatam harer gunanuvadah khalu sattva-bhavanah. Therefore tat karma-nirharam abhipsatam. Karma. Because if you are engaged in ordinary karma... Karma I have already explained. Karma means doing something for your personal benefit. That is called karma. Or, in plain words, doing something for sense gratification, that is called karma. And as soon as you engage your activities for such sense gratification or for your personal benefit, then you have to commit sins. That's a fact. Therefore we are entangled in this birth and death problem. So here the Visnuduta advises that "If you want..." Tat karma-nirharam abhipsatam. "If you desire at all that 'I shall be freed from the resultant action of karma,' then your duty should be harer gunanuvadah khalu sattva-bhavanah. You simply try to glorify the Supreme Lord always, twenty-four hours. That will purify you." Khalu sattva-bhavanah. Sattva-bhavanah. Sridhara Svami says, sattva-bhavanah citta-sodhakah. Sattva-bhavana means citta-sodhaka. Citta means the heart, and sodhaka, the purifying process. So instead of taking yourself to these prescribed ritualistic ceremonies, if you simply engage your mind in describing or glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead... That is our process. Our only objective is how to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We are writing books, we are publishing magazines, we are preaching, we are going everywherejust to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. That is our only business. This process is recommended here, citta-sodhaka. If you sit down and write some article on Krsna, that means you have to concentrate on Krsna's activities or Krsna's devotees' activities, and that very process will purify your heart. Therefore we always recommend to our students that you write articles, read our magazine, read our book. In this way if we keep ourself... Work for Krsna. This... We have come here in this pandal or in this Kumbha-mela not for any other purpose than to glorify the Supreme Lord so that people may understand the importance of this movement. So citta-sodhaka, here recommended by the Visnuduta. Visnuduta means the direct associates of Lord Visnu. Tat karma-nirharam abhipsatam harer gunanuvadah khalu sattva-bhavanah. Be always engaged in glorifying the transcendental qualities of Hari. Again it is said hareh, not any other person, Hari, Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So if there is one sadhu, he can make many other sadhus. Sadhu. Sadhu does not mean that he is alone enjoying the fruits of his spiritual life. Sadhu means who is trying to make others sadhu. He is sadhu. Krsna likes such sadhu, as He has described in the last portion of Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. The sadhu... And sadhu means he should preach according to the scriptures, not outside the scriptures. Sadhu does not mean he malinterprets the sastra. He should present the sastra as it is. He should understand the sastra as it is. And guru means who is following sadhu and sastra. He is guru. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says that sadhu, sastra, these things should be confirmed by the spiritual master, and if we should follow these principles, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya aikya... We should confirmed one thing by the other, the other by another. In this way we have to make our conclusion.

So yad asau bhagavan-nama mriyamanah samagrahit. Because the Yamaduta..., yes, Visnuduta says that "We know that this person was addicted to sinful activities throughout his whole life, but at the time of his death he has remembered. He has uttered offenselessly once the name of Narayana." But one should not think that "All right. Let us go on committing all sinful activities, and at the time of my death I shall think of Narayana or Krsna." That is not possible. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. If you practice when you are alive, when you are strong for chanting the holy name of Krsna or Narayana, then there may be chance. Otherwise it is not possible. Not that a layman will all of a sudden will chant "Narayana." He must have previous practice. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended, kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah. In the Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna says, sada tad-bhava-bhavitah [Bg. 8.6]. If you practice in your life chanting the holy name of Krsna... I remember one of our teachers in our school life. He instructed that "If you always think that 'I shall pass my examination with distinction,' then you can pass in first division. If you think that 'I shall pass my examination in the first division,' then you may pass in the third division. And if you think that 'I shall some way pass my examination in the third division,' then you will fail." That means if you expect more than your capacity, then it may be possible that at the time of examination you get the right number and pass your examination.

So the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, sada, kirtaniyah sada harih, not that two hours or one hours, but one should practice. And that is the recommendation as it was followed by Haridasa Thakura. But because we cannot do that, therefore we have to engage always in the service of Krsna. That will make me remembering Krsna. Real fact is how to remember Krsna. So this remembering of Krsna by Ajamila was not accidental. He chanted. He served Narayana in his previous life when he was young man, but by bad association he fell down. But the effect was there at the time of his death, so much effective that the Visnuduta recommends that "Because he has chanted at the time of his death the holy name of Lord, he is now free from all sinful reaction."

Now,

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)