Here is the perfect sense gratification, Krsna and Radharani. The same thing as here: young boys and girls, they try to enjoy senses. But where this propensity comes from? It is coming from Krsna. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, the quality of sense gratification is there; therefore we, being part and parcel of Krsna, the quality of sense gratification also there. But the difference is here we are trying to gratify our senses in the material world; therefore we are frustrated. Krsna consciousness means that you gratify your senses in association with Krsna. Then it is perfect. The same example: just like this finger, the finger. There is a nice sweetball or a nice foodstuff. The finger picks it up, but it cannot enjoy. It has to be..., the foodstuff has to be, given to the stomach, and then the finger also can enjoy. Similarly, we cannot gratify our senses directly, but when we join with Krsna, when Krsna enjoys, then we can enjoy. This is our position. The same example: the finger independently cannot eat anything, cannot enjoy the sweetball, nice sweetballs. The finger can pick it up and put it in the stomach, and the stomach enjoys, the finger enjoys. This is our position.

So we have to purify the propensity of sense gratification, materially. That is Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness means,

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita:

Therefore here it is said that generally persons, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram, because they cannot control their senses, adanta... Adanta means uncontrolled; go means senses. Visatam tamisram. Tamisram means this materialistic way of life, repeated birth and death in different species or forms. That is called tamisram. I do not know what is my next life, but next life is there. And before us there are so many species of life, and I can become one of them. I can become a demigod. I can become a cat. I can become a dog. I can become Brahman. There are so many forms of life. Sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayo yah [Bg. 14.4]. So next life I will have to accept one of the forms even if I do not want. Suppose if somebody says, "Next life, would you like to take the form of a dog or a hog?" I may not like it, but the law of nature, after giving up this body, when no more I am existing in this body, I have to accept another body according to my karma. That is in the hands of nature. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Daiva-netrena, "by superior supervision." You cannot order that "Give me the body of Brahma. Give me the body of Indra or a king or something exalted." That is not in your hand or in my hand. That will be judged by the superior agent of God, Krsna, and you will have a body. Therefore it is our duty to prepare a body which will help me to go back to Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness.

Therefore in this verse Prahlada Maharaja says, matir na krsne. Krsne matih means Krsna consciousness. Matih means consciousness. Matir na krsne parato svato va. Paratah means taking instruction from others or taking instruction from guru. Nobody goes to take instruction from anyone unless one accepts a guru, or spiritual master. So even one has got nice guru, he cannot also get Krsna consciousness if he has determined himself to remain in this material world. Matir na krsne parato svato va. And svato. Svatah means by mental speculation, judging, considering oneself personally. And parato means taking instruction from others. Matir na krsne parato svato va mitho 'bhipad... Mitha, meeting. Just like we are talking about Krsna consciousness in this meeting. Mitha, mitha means in assembly. So grha-vratanam. If our determination is that "I shall remain in this material world, I shall enjoy this material life," then Krsna consciousness is impossible. Matir na krsne parato svato va. Whose decision is that "I shall try to make my life in this material world," as everyone is trying... All kinds of political, philanthropical, humanitarian activities are going on. For what purpose? To make material life happy and prosperous. That's all. Which is not possible. One should understand it defintely that in the material world, however you may try to make adjustments, you cannot be happy. It is not possible.

So that we must first of all understand that we cannot be happy. The example I have given many times. Just like if you take out a fish from water, you can give it very comfortable, velvet lying down bedstead. The fish cannot be happy. It will die. Because the fish is the animal of water, it cannot be happy without water. Similarly, we are all spirit souls. Unless we are in spiritual life or in the spiritual world, we cannot be happy. That is our position. Everyone is trying for that spiritual realization, but he does not know. Therefore he is trying to be happy here in material condition. He is becoming frustrated, confused. So we have to withdraw this understanding that "We shall be very happy by making adjustment of this material world." That we have to understand first of all. Then Krsna consciousness will be effective. As I told last night, that our students, these boys and girls, they have been very much detestful in the materialistic way of life. Otherwise, they are coming of great nation. Just these American boys and girls, their fathers and their guardians, they are not poor. There is no scarcity of food or any material enjoyment. Why they are being frustrated? In India... You may say that India is poverty-stricken. They may be frustrated due to poverty, but why American boys and girls are being frustrated? That is the proof that materialistic way of life cannot make you happy. You may go on for some time to become happy, but happiness will never come from materialistic way of life. That's a fact. So those who are trying to be happy by adjustment of materialistic way of life, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness. Therefore these boys' and girls' frustration and confusion in the materialistic way of life is a qualification to come to Krsna consciousness. They have got a good qualification, that they are coming to Krsna consciousness.

There is a verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam: yasyaham anughrnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. Sometimes Krsna, to show some special favor to His devotee, He takes away his all material opulences. Dhanam sanaih. Just like the Pandavas. The Pandavas, they were bereft of their kingdom, although Krsna was present there, Krsna as their friend was present there. Still they became bereft of their kingdom, they lost their property, their wife was insulted, they were driven away to the forestalthough Krsna was there. This question was inquired by Yudhisthira Maharaja to Krsna, "How is that?" Indirectly he inquired that "You are our friend, and why we are put into such difficulty?" So Krsna replied to Yudhisthira Maharaja that "This is My special favor. This is My special favor." Sometimes we do not, we cannot understand the special favor of Krsna. So this frustration of these boys, these American boys or English boys, in the materialistic way of life is a good sign for accepting Krsna consciousness. They are searching after something nice. That is Krsna consciousness. Of course, it does not require to become poor to take to Krsna consciousness, but if anyone has the desire that "I will become spiritually advanced; at the same time I shall enjoy this material life," that is not possible. These are two contradictory things. You have to become determined to be happy in spiritual life. That is real happiness. And this human form of life is specially meant for coming to that standard of spiritual life by tapasya, by voluntarily rejecting materialistic way of life. Therefore you will find in the history of India many great kings, even at very young age they left. Just like Bharata Maharaja. Bharata Maharaja, at the age of twenty-four years only, he left his young wife, young children and the whole empire, Bharatvarsa, and went to the forest for meditation. There are many instances.

So Prahlada Maharaja, when he was inquired by his father that "Who has taught you this Krsna consciousness...?" Because he knew that "He is my son, king's son. He does not go to mix with anyone else. He simply takes his lesson from the appointed teachers. How is that this boy, five years old only, and he is so much Krsna conscious?" So he was surprised. He asked him that "How you have taken to this Krsna consciousness?" The answer is that "My dear father, this Krsna consciousness cannot be achieved by a person like you, whose vow is simply to enjoy this material world." Hiranya. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu means nice bed, very soft, cushioned bed. Hiranyakasipu.

But the human society, it is also stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, human beings, they are born of the quality of passion. There are three qualities in the material world: goodness, passion and ignorance. Therefore they love to work very hard. And that very hard working is considered as happiness. That propensity of hard working... Just like in London you will see: everyone is engaged in hard working from the morning. You will see. All the buses and trucks, they are going with great speed, and people are going to the working office or factory. From morning til late night they are hard working, and it is called advancement of civilization. So some of them are frustrated. They don't want it. They don't want it. It will be frustration. Frustration. After all, it is hard work. Just like the hogs, they are working hard day and night for finding out "Where is stool, where is stool." That is their business. Therefore in one sense, this kind of civilization is hogs' and dogs' civilization. It is not human civilization. Human civilization means he must be sober. He should be inquisitive. A human being should be inquisitive to know "Who I am? Why I am put into this condition to work very hard to get a few breads only? Why I am this uncomfortable situation? Wherefrom I have come? Where I have to go?" These are inquiries. These inquiries are called brahma-jijnasa. The Vedanta-sutra begins, athato brahma jijnasa: "A human being should be inquisitive to know these things: 'Who I am? Wherefrom I have come? Where I have to go? Why I am put into this uncomfortable position?' "

So Krsna consciousness is for them who have become detestful of this material world. They are good candidates for developing Krsna consciousness. Then the inquiry may be that "What for these men are working so hard? What is their goal of life?" That is answered in the next verse by na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. These people are working so hard because they do not know actually what is the goal of life. Na te viduh. Viduh means knowing; na means not. These people, they do not know what is actually the goal of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim. Everyone says that "I am looking after my interests," but he does not know what is his interest. That he does not know. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. He should know that his real interest is to make his progress toward Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They do not know it. Why they do not know it? Durasaya. By their hope against hope, durasaya. Duh means which is very difficult to fulfill. I may hope something which is possiblethat is goodbut if I hope something which is never possible, that is called durasaya. Asa means hope, and durasa means which will never be fulfilled. So here it is, the word is used, durasaya. Bahir-artha-maninah. Bahih. Bahih, means the external. Just we are composition of external and internal energies of God. The external energy is this gross body, and the internal energy is the mind and ego, intelligence. And behind this, both energies, external... This is external gross energy and external subtle energy. This body made of earth, water, air, and ether, this is called gross external energy. And there is subtle external energy. What is that? Mind, intelligence, and false ego. And behind that, I am. The soul is there. I am the proprietor of this body made of... Just like you are covered by the shirt and coat. The shirt and coat is external body. Real body you are. Similarly this body, this gross body made of earth, water, air, fire, that is gross external energy of God, or Krsna, and the mind, and ego, and intelligence, they are subtle. So we are covered. So one who has taken... Just like if I think that "Simply by having nice shirt and coat I will be happy," is it possible? Unless you eat nicely, unless you sleep nicely, unless you have got your sense gratification, simply by putting on costly nice shirt and coat, will you be happy? No. That is not possible.

So here we have taken this... Bahir-artha-maninah. We want to be happy by adjustment of this external energy. Durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah. That cannot be. You are spirit soul. You must have spiritual food. You must have spiritual life. Then you can be happy. Simply as you cannot be happy by having nice shirt and coat, similarly, simply by materialistic way of life, I mean a gross and fine... Gross means this high skyscraper building, machines, factories, nice road goes motorcar. These are gross. And subtle: nice song, poetry, philosophy. That is subtle, subtle matter. So people are trying to be happy with this gross and subtle material existence. That cannot be. Durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. Why they have accepted this sort of civilization? Because they are led by blind leaders. Now, suppose we are conducting this Krsna consciousness movement. Nobody is interested. Very few interested. But if we give some false hope that "If you follow this path, then within six months you will become God and you will be all-powerful, and then...," oh, so many people will come. You see?

Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. One blind leader giving, leading to other blind men. Suppose one blind man says that "All right. Come. Follow me. I shall help you crossing this street, Mulberry Street. All right." So he is blind, and the followers are also blind. The result will be that he is dashed by some motorcar or truck and they all die. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know that we are tied up very hard by the laws, stringent laws of material nature. How we can become free from this material bondage? That is not possible. You have to take instruction who is not andha, who is not blind. That means whose eyes are open, who is liberated from this material bondage. You have to take instruction from him. Then you will understand what is your self-interest. Otherwise, if you take instruction from another blind man. You are already blind. If you take instruction from another blind man, then it will be not possible to become liberated from this material bondage.

Na te viduh svartha-gatim. Actually his interest is Visnu. Just like a small child is crying. Then what is the child's interest? It is searching after the mother's breast. So anyone who knows, immediately he takes the child and brings to the mother, "Take care of your child. She is crying." And the mother takes on the breast. The child is immediately happy. The child cannot express what does he want, but he is simply crying. But one who knows what for she is crying or he is crying, he takes that, he helps with the child, and then the child is happy. Similarly, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna or the Supreme Lord, Supreme Personality of Godhead, we are actually crying for Krsna. But these false leaders, these blind leaders, they do not know. They are giving... Instead of bread, they are giving stone. How one can be happy? That is the position. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. Bahir-artha-maninah. Bahih I have already explainedexternal energy, gross external energy and subtle external energy. So those who are interested with the gross external energy and subtle external energy, their amibition of life will never be fulfilled. Durasaya. Those who are interested with Visnu, and one who is showing the path of Visnu, he is his real friend. One who is giving Krsna consciousness, he is the real friend of the world. All others, leading to the external energy, they cannot give any happiness to this human society. That is the explanation given by Prahlada Maharaja. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah, andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31].

You cannot manufacture the process of your happiness by tackling this material energy. That is not possible because the material energy is not under your control. It is controlled by the Supreme. How you can overpower the material energy? That is not possible. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita: Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. It is not possible to overcome the stringent laws of material nature. It is not possible. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya: "It is My energy. I am controlling." Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: [Bg. 7.14] "But if somebody surrenders unto Me..." The whole process, whole material activities, the cosmic manifestation, situation, is going on just to bring these rebelled souls to come back to Godhead. That is the situation. The maya, the stringent laws, are there. Just like what is the purpose of this police force or material force or military force? The purpose is to keep the citizens obedient to the state. That is the purpose. So long... At any time, if a citizen becomes disobedient to the state laws, he is immediately put into the police custody. And if he is more powerful, then under military custody. Similarly, anyone who has rebelled against the superiority of God, he is put into the stringent laws of material nature and he is suffering. That is the position. Therefore his self-interest is to seek out the Supreme Personality of Godhead and surrender unto Him. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That will make you happy. Otherwise, if you simply try to adjust material things and become happy, that is not possible. This is the explanation of Prahlada Maharaja.

Now, next verse Prahlada Maharaja gives hint how one can seek out the path of Visnu, or Krsna consciousness. That is also given hint by Prahlada Maharaja. He says, naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah [SB 7.5.32]. Anartha. We have created so many unnecessary things and become entangled. So in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated, anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje [SB 1.7.6]. If you want to get out of these anarthas, unnecessary trouble and problems which you have created, anarthopasamam, if you want to cut down these unnecessary problems... This morning I was seeing one picture of Berlin sent by one of my disciples. So I had been in Moscow also. This city I have seen, very nice city. Berlin is very nice city. London is very nice city. But why they engaged in fighting and bombed each, other's city? Why this happenned? Because they have lost their interest in Visnu, in God. Therefore I am thinking, "You are my enemy; I am your enemy," and we fight like cats and dogs. But as soon as we come to the Visnu understanding, Krsna understanding, these cities, these nice cities, this nice civilization, can be maintained very nicely. You be happy. Yajna-sistasino santah. You eat nicely, dance nicely, live nicely, and go back to home, back to Godhead. Enjoy this life and next life. The Krsna consciousness movement is so nice. Everyone should take seriously, try to understand it seriously. It is authorized on the Vedic principles. It is nothing something manufactured, unauthorized. So that is our request. So we are opening centers in different parts of the world to give opportunity to the people to understand his real interest: Visnu, his real interest. That is our mission. So kindly help us and join us.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]