Departure – June 20, 1975, Honolulu

Prabhupada: ...these few days we passed together were very pleasing, and our only aim is how to preach Krsna consciousness. The Vaisnava's business is para-duḥkha-duḥkhi. Para means others, and duhkha means unhappy. So Vaisnava personally has no unhappiness, because Vaisnava is under the protection of Krsna. So there is no question of unhappiness for a Vaisnava. But Vaisnava is unhappy by seeing others unhappiness. Para-duḥkha-duḥkhi. That is the definition of Vaisnava.

So Vaisnava is para-duḥkha-duḥkhi. Practically every person, 99.9%, they are under the impression that "I am this body." This conception of life is animal consciousness. The dog is thinking, "I am this body." The cat is thinking, "I am this body." But actually we are not these bodies. That is the first instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So, especially in the modern age, people are thinking like that, and they are unhappy. They don't believe in the next life, although practically we see, every moment you are changing bodies.

So on the whole, lokasya ajanataḥ, they do not know what is the value of life. This is the position.

This is Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva compiled the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The purpose was that anartha, anartha. This body is anartha. Anartha means unnecessary. But we are put into such condition that this..., we are busy with... [break] ...we don't require, just like to remain without any dress, that is the original condition. Now you can dress with so many outward coverings. But we spirit soul, we do not require this material dress, but somehow or other we have got it. This is anartha. Anartha means unwanted. So anarthopasamam, how to get out of this anartha, unwanted thing. That means is bhakti-yoga. Anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje lokasya ajanatah. People, though, do not know it. They are in the darkness of ignorance. Therefore this Srimad-Bhagavatam.

So read Srimad-Bhagavatam, assimilate it and preach in your own language. Or repeat whatever there is in the purport. Yesterday I was very much pleased to read the essays by our Bali-mardana dasa. So similarly, you also write. Writing means if you have digested the idea, you can produce in your own words. Sravanam kirtanam. One who has actually heard attentively, his next business will be how to describe it, kirtanam. Sravanam kirtanam. One who has heard nicely from the spiritual master, the next business will be how to chant it, repeat it. That is natural. Sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam pada-sevanam... [SB 7.5.23]. These are the nine different processes.

So we have published so many books, not that simply for selling to others. We must read also, and digest, and write articles in our Back to Godhead. That is thoughtfulness. Vaisnava, that another qualification is that he is a poet. Poet does not mean to write only big, big poetry; he is also without any... Poet means one who can write. That is, out of the twenty-six qualifications, one of the qualification is every Vaisnava should be expert in writing an article. That is required. These are the qualifications. And daksa. Daksa means very expert. Any..., any business you give to Vaisnava, he will be able to do it very nicely. There are twenty-six qualifications. So we have to develop these qualification. Vaisnava does not means idle fools. No. Vaisnava means expert in everything. Whatever Krsna orders, there is. Very good.

So, you are very good combination. You have got nice place. So improve, improve your devotional activities, and this Hawaii, this place is also very nice. You can work very nicely, and there are many people who are hankering after something spiritual. So these are the good opportunities, so be yourself a pure Vaisnava. Pure Vaisnava means anyabhilasita-sūnyam [Cc Madhya 19.167].

No more desires, ara na kariha mane asa. [Sri Prema-bhakti-candrika 1.2] This is devotee. Except service of Krsna, there is no other business. That is Vaisnava. So that service is given by the spiritual master, and the spiritual master will approve, "Yes your service is all right," then Krsna is also pleased. So in this way execute devotional service. Try to do some good to others, because they are suffering on account of ignorance. Lokasya ajanatah, they do not know what is the aim of life, living like animals. So the Vedic mantra is, uttisthata jagrata prapya varan nibhodata. [Katha Upanisad 1.3.14].

The same Vedic mantra is sung by Bhaktivinode Thakura, jiva jaga, jiva jaga. So we have to awaken them. They are sleeping under the spell of maya, and forgotten his real identity, and suffering-not only this life, life after lifetime. So, ei rūpe brahmanḍa brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc Madhya 19.151].

So our..., it is our duty to awaken. If he does not awake, that is his misfortune, but our duty is, "Please, get up, get up, get up." This is our duty. So do it very nicely here. You have got very nice place, and I thank you very much for your kindly receiving me. So I hope I shall again come back soon.

Devotees: Jaya.

Prabhupada: Jaya. Come on... [break] [end]