Lecture in [Hindi-final proofreading pending] – December 24, 1975, Sanand

Prabhupada: Raja Sahib, Gentlemen, there is one difficulty for me, I cannot speak Gujarati at all and Hindi also I cannot speak very correctly. Anyways, all of you excuse me. This Krsna consciousness movement that we have created, International Society for Krsna Consciousness, the aim of this is that all over the world the people are mistaken, what are they mistaken about? They think that by generating lots of money and indulging in sense gratification, I will be very happy in that. This is going on all over the world. Get money somehow and enjoy. In the western world this is called hedonism. Eat drink be merry and enjoy. [Interruption] You sit down!

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, about 500 years ago, this sankirtan movement, the preaching of the holy names of the Lord, there is no difference between the Lord and His name. Nama-cintamani krsna, the scriptures say that name of the Lord Krsna and the name of the Lord Rama, these are God Himself.

Just like the Lord, in the deity form is fully spiritual, similarly the name of the Lord that is also completely spiritual.

To understand this better the scriptures say,

We should not think that God is bigger than His name or the name is smaller, no! Just like name, just like God is all powerful, His name is also all powerful.

The name of the Lord has all the potencies of the Lord himself, if we are able to chant them offenselessly. There are three stages of chanting the holy names of the Lord--nama-aparadha, Namabhasa, suddha-nama. nama-aparadha, at first we commit a lot of offenses that, a lot of people think that chanting Hare Krsna or chanting the names of Durga or Kali, or the names of any demigod, it is the same thing. This is nama-aparadha. The scriptures say, Harer nama, Harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, not any other name. Harer nama! People think mistakenly that one can chant any name and they say that you can chant these names. But it is not according to the guidelines of the scriptures. Harer nama,

In kaliyuga all the people are very fallen, sinful. The symptoms of kaliyuga are described in the Twelfth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it matches now. There is one word mentioned there, lavanyam kesa-dharanam. In kaliyuga men will think that having long hair makes them more beautiful. You can all see that nowadays the youth keep long hair. They think that, 'I am very beautiful now. Lavanyam kesa-dharanam. But this is a symptom of kaliyuga. There are many more like this. dam-patye ratim eva hi, that the relationship between man and woman, husband and wife will be all right till they are satisfied sexually. dam-patye ratim eva hi, the proof of this can be seen widely in the western countries. If they are a bit unsatisfied in their sense gratification (sex), then they divorce. So the scriptures say, dam-patye ratim eva hi. Vipratve sūtram eva hi, what kind of brahmana's remain now? They buy a two-paisa worth thread and wear it, that's all. And all the brahmanical qualities like sama dama titiksaarjava.

This is all said in Gita, you all know this. All this sama dama goes into the fire, just wearing a two-paisa worth thread and become a brahmana. These are all the symptoms of kaliyuga, it is written. And ayuḥ, medha, Daya and dharma--all these will completely vanish. There are elaborate explanations of the kaliyuga, if you read Bhagavatam, twelfth Canto, third chapter, it is all mentioned. That is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu, says according to the scriptures, that,

In kaliyuga this is the only path that can take you from this material world to the spiritual world of the Lord. Man does not know what is the aim of human life, he is that sinful now!

He was like that before also but to a lesser extent. Just like before also there was Ravana who went in the garb of a sanyasi to kidnap Sita. So nowadays this has become more. At that time there was only one sanyasi like Ravana whom we could meet, who went in the garb of a sanyas to kidnap another man's wife. Nowadays you can find many such Ravana's. So this is kaliyuga. One more symptom of kaliyuga is mentioned in the scriptures that,

What are the inconveniences has also been stated. Durbhiksa, karopi[?] On one hand there will be scarcity of food and on the other hand the government will impose heavy taxes. Durbhiksa, karopi[?] Men will be fed up, acchinna-dara-dravina yasyanti giri-kananam, the scriptures have given descriptions of the miserable conditions that will prevail in the kaliyuga and the solution is also given. In kaliyuga there is only solution to make life successful, this has been said by Sukadeva Gosvami,

There are a lot of narrations are given in the scriptures and according to that this Hare Krishna movement is being spread all over the world by me and we are getting some results also. You can see that these European, American boys, girls and even children, you can see in front of your eyes. Even one-year-old children are dancing. This is such a thing. This is not artificial, it is natural.

Devotional service for Lord Krsna is not something that needs to be taught. It is already within the heart of everyone. nitya-siddha, perpetually. Because we are very closely related to the Lord. Just like father and son, the relation of the son with his father is very close. Even if for a very long time the father or son are separated and living abroad even then when they meet after a long time, the love between the father and son is unbreakable. Similarly, our relationship with the Lord is unbreakable but in kaliyuga due to sinful activities it is covered over.

We need to awaken this, nothing else. ceto-darpana-marjanam, to awaken that, darpana means mirror in which all of you see yourselves. That has become covered with dirt. That has to be cleaned, the heart has to be cleaned. That is why we are Krishna consciousness, krsna-bhavanamrta. We have a lot of thoughts, we think about a lot of things, we think and work. We cannot be without thinking for even a second. We need to purify that thinking, by thinking only about Krsna, that's all, life will be successful. This is called krsna-bhavanamrta.

Srila Rūpa Goswami has said,

Srila Rūpa Goswami has said that if you can buy this Krishna consciousness anywhere then you purchase it without any delay.

To buy this do we need to pay a price? Yes!! That is also said,

If you become a bit greedy for Krsna, that you want to attain Krsna in this very lifetime, just like, we are greedy for money, we are greedy for a beautiful woman, in the same way if we are greedy for Krsna then our life will be successful. This is the procedure, this is what we are teaching. The Lord has also said in the Bhagavad-gita,

To be greedy about the Lord, attachment, just like we are attached to this material world, to wealth, to woman, to designations, this we want, this is attachment. In the same way if we become attached to the Lord then our life will be successful. This is what is Krishna consciousness movement, as to how to have attachment for Krsna instead of the world, that is our preaching, nothing else. So the Lord has himself said, mayy asakta-manaḥ partha yogam, this is a yoga.

How to become attached to the lotus feet of Krsna, this is devotional service. How to execute this devotional service has been recommended by Prahlada Maharaja long ago,

Where is water? Now you shall go for water!

This hearing is of primary importance, hearing the names of the Lord, ataḥsri-krsna-namadi. This hearing of the name hare krsna. We start with the hearing of this name. If we concentrate only on hearing, just like Pariksit Maharaja. Pariksit Maharaja had seven day left before he would die. So he only heard Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri-visnoḥsravane pariksid, Pariksit Maharaja sat down and only heard Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sukadeva Gosvami simply glorified the Lord. These are items one by one, sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ.

Even if you hear the names of the Lord, this is the effect of kaliyuga that there are hindrances to even hearing the names of the Lord. Just sit down and listen peacefully to the names of the Lord and his glories, we can't set our mind to that even. That is why through hearing only we can rein in our mind. Scriptures say, ceto-darpana-marjanam. At first it does not feel all right. Just like if a person is suffering from jaundice, if you give him sugar candy he will say it is distasteful, bitter but because of jaundice, everyone know sugar candy is sweet but it is bitter to his tongue. But sugar candy is the only solution for curing jaundice. So by eating this sugar candy over a period of time, one will find that same sugar candy to be sweet. Similarly this chanting of the holy name of the Lord, this disease of the material world, because of this disease we don't have a taste for the holy names. But this is the only cure for this disease, nothing else.

So by force, we have to fix our mind. This is sadhana, practice.

For one whose mind is impetuous, he should engage in practicing this yoga. This is called austerity. Human life is meant for performing austerities. It should not be like that of dogs and hogs. Just like the dogs and hogs they work hard all day long for some food. This is the situation now in kaliyuga that for two pieces of bread, man is working hard like an ass, pulls carts, both man and woman. Is this the job of a human being? But this is happening in kaliyuga and there's more to come. For two-paisa your son will stab you in your heart. All this time is coming. Just for two-paisa, all this is written in the Bhagavatam. The times are going to be very bad. And there is only for solution for this,

These are scriptural injunctions. So it is our request be in any situation but chant the holy names of the Lord. There is no loss for you in doing this. And if you think there is no benefit, there is lot of benefit but you don't know. Anyways, there is no loss. If you are walking in the road and if you

If you chant these names then what will you lose? You will know the benefits later on but there is no loss now and to chant the Lord's name and glories there is not much effort required. So this is our request. Stay anywhere, in any situation, stay anywhere in this material world. See these Americans and Europeans they are neither Hindu nor are they from India. They have taken birth in so many different places. Why do they chant? Is it difficult to chant the names? No! It is not difficult nor is there any loss. But if you chant the names all the dirt that has accumulated in your heart, will be cleansed. ceto-darpana-marjanam. And our difficulty in this material world, we do not understand the real difficulty at all.

The Lord… So, ceto-darpana-marjanam, when the heart is cleansed, just like we have the mirror, if there is dirt on it you clean it, so that you can see your beautiful face in it. Similarly the more you chant hare krsna, hare krsna, your heart will be cleansed, ceto-darpana-marjanam. And you will yourself come to know as to why we are working so hard in this material world. I do not want to die, why do I have to? I do not want to become old, why do I become old? I do not want to be diseased, why is being diseased force upon me? You will get the answers to all these questions. ceto-darpana-marjanam. And when you get the answers to all these questions then, bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam. This fire which is burning in the material world is for everyone, for all those senior government ministers this fire is burning and for the common man on the road who earns his livelihood by labor, for bread, this fire is burning for him also.

It is not that if you get a good post or wealth then this fire will be extinguished. No! This is not the case. We have seen this happening virtually, but I do not wish to take names. That fire is going on, bhava-mahadavagni. Why has it been called a fire? Davagni means, the fire that engulfs the forest that is called davagni. Nobody goes into the forest to set it on fire, for the sake of enmity but it is the law of nature that the forest catches fire. Similarly if you situated in the material world, even if you don't want to it to catch fire, it will still catch fire. Just like there are wars sometimes, a number of wars have taken place, who wants wars? But there is war.

There is use of weapons, diseases and many other things. Your friend becomes your enemy, even your son becomes your enemy. This is the law of nature, this is called bhava-mahadavagni. You don't want to set it on fire but it will still catch fire. So when the heart is cleanses and we understand that, "I am not matter." That is called cleansing the heart. "I am not this material body." Nowadays this material civilization is all based on the bodily concept of life. I think I am Indian, I am brahmana, I am Bengali, Gujarati and so many other things. Others think I am American, I am this, I am that. All this, we are none of these. These are all entanglements. That is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ceto-darpana-marjanam. We are mistakenly thinking ourselves to be this or that, this is the dirt accumulation. That has to be cleansed. All these entanglements will be cleansed. At that time you are on the brahma-bhūta stage.

When you are selfrealized you will understand, "Aham brahmasmi", "I am spirit.", "I am not matter, I am not this body." This is explained by the Lord at the beginning,

These are all viewpoints. Because our hearts are not cleansed, there are lot of entanglements, a lot of mistakes we make in leading our lives. This human life that we have got is to get rid of all these entanglements. But if we keep these entanglements as it is and become rich men, what is the gain in that? Clear up the entanglements if life has to be successful and if you keep these entanglements and become a rich man say for twenty or fifty years, or you become poor, it is the same thing.

Some think that I am very poor, how do I become rich? And another person thinks that I have become so rich and yet my desires are not fulfilled. So it is the same thing. All the time anxiety. This was told by Prahlada Maharaj to his father when asked, "Son, what is it that you have learned, tell me!" Then, Prahlada Maharaj replied, he did not say "father". Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam, "Father you are the best of the demons." 'sura-varya means the best, very powerful demon. Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam, this material body that we have accepted, for that this is appropriate. What is?

This material body, we are constantly worried for it.

This not permanent material body that I have accepted, I have to be constantly full of anxiety for it. And if you want to get rid of this anxiety then,

That is why in our vedic civilization, vanaprastha, going to the forest, pancasordhvam vanam vrajet. This is a scriptural injunction. As soon as you turn fifty years of age go to the forest. Nowadays it is not possible to go to the forest, no practice, so at least come to Vrindavana. We have built a big temple in Vrindavana and there is place to stay. Those who are more than fifty years old, all of you come, stay there, discuss pastimes of the Lord and make life successful. vanam gato yad dharim, it is not enough to go to the forest, that even a monkey stays in the forest. They stay naked and eat fruits also, very sattvic life but each monkey needs one or two dozen female monkeys. Going to the forest in this way is of no use. Go to the forest, harim asrayeta and take shelter of the Lord. This is prescribed in the scriptures. As far as possible I am trying to give all facilities. I am building an ashrama and a temple also and place to stay. So at least when you turn fifty, this principle that we will never leave our homes, this is not correct. Then

This is not vedic civilization. Vedic civilization prescribes varnasrama-dharma. This is the real dharma. Four castes and four orders of human life. Four castes- brahmana, ksatriyas, the vaisyas and the sūdras- this must be implemented, otherwise the society is. The brahmanas after acquiring knowledge, will teach control of senses, equanimity, tolerance to others. The ksatriyas will rule and vaisyas will grow grains and the sūdras who don't know anything will provide labor, that's all. Similarly brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa, we should follow these rules and regulations., then only we can be happy. But just by working hard like dogs and hogs, bring in the money, bring in the bread, this is no civilization. The whole world is spoilt because of this. So therefore we are requesting all of you, please understand this Krishna consciousness movement, it is not manufactured, it is not that we applied our brain and this came out, no! This is not jugglery, it is scientific, supported by scriptures. All of you understand this nicely, accept it and work in such a way that your life can be successful, that is my only request. And all this work can be done very beautifully if only you, harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, then your heart will be cleansed.

If you come into this line, then you want bliss, ananda-mayo 'bhyasat. The living entities want bliss, the Lord is blissful. And the living entities who are part and parcel of Krishna also want to be blissful. So,

Real bliss is transcendental and not material.

This is said in the scriptures in relation to Lord Rama that, Rama means Parabrahma, Krsna means Parabrahma.

So Lord Rama and Lord Krsna, hare krsna hare rama, there is no difference between them. When you chant the holy names purely, then understand that Lord Ramachandra, Balarama, any Rama, Lord, Lord came as Parasurama, Balarama and as Lord Ramachandra, they are all same. so, Nama-cintamani krsna, by chanting the names, whether you are a devotee of Krsna or a devotee of Rama, just know that Lord Ramachandra and Lord Krsna are dancing in your tongue. If you chant the holy names of the Lord with this feeling then your life will be successful.

This is the blessing of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and he has said. All of you remain in whatever situation you are in, there is no need to spend any money for this, just see once what are the benefits of chanting the holy names all the time, kirtaniyaḥ sada hariḥ. This has also been said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu that if you chant the holy names of the Lord, someone might say that you are mad. Just see he is doing business and he is chanting the holy names. Someone else will say, You have to tolerate all this. To become a devotee of the Lord you have to tolerate a lot. Just like Prahlada Maharaj, his own father became his enemy. "Kill this son, he chants the name of the Lord. He doesn't listen to me." So you make these enemies. But despite having such enemies,

Tolerate all this and chant the holy names of the Lord, your life will be successful.

Thank you very much! Hare Krishna!

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!