SPD06-02 Ratha-yātrā Festival, July 12, 1975 Philadelphia Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Lecture, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
SPD06-02
Ratha-yatra Festival, July 12, 1975 Philadelphia
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
Ratha-yatra Festival, July 12, 1975 Philadelphia
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
[32:47] [Prabhupada:] ...I am especially obliged to the American boys and girls who are
[32:54] helping me so much in spreading this Krsna consciousness movement in the Western countries.
[33:05] I was ordered by my spiritual master to preach this Krsna consciousness in the Western countries.
[33:18] So in 1965 I first came in New York. Then in 1966 this Society was regularly registered
[33:37] in New York, and from 1967 this Movement is regularly going on in America, Europe, Canada,
[33:50] and south of Pacific Ocean, Australia, and throughout the whole world.
[34:01] So I may inform you little about this movement, Krsna consciousness.
[34:11] Krsna, this word, means all-attractive. Krsna is attractive to every living entity,
[34:27] not only the human being, even the animals, birds, bees, trees, flowers, fruits, water.
[34:38] That is the picture of Vrndavana. This is material world.
[34:46] We have no experience of the spiritual world. But we can get an glimpse idea what is spirit and
[34:57] what is matter. Just try to understand the difference between a living man and a dead body.
[35:12] The dead body means as soon as the living force within the body is gone, then it is dead matter,
[35:24] useless. And so long the living force is there, the body is very important.
[35:35] So as we experience in this body there is something as dead matter and something as living force,
[35:47] similarly, there are two worlds: the material world and the spiritual world.
[35:57] We living entities, every one of us, we belong to the spiritual world.
[36:06] We do not belong to the material world. Some way or other, we are now in contact with this
[36:15] material world and material body, and the business is that although we are eternal living force,
[36:28] on account of our contact with this material body, we have to take four tribulations:
[36:39] birth, death, disease and old age. That we have to undergo.
[36:47] In this material world we are getting one type of body, and it is ended at a certain stage,
[37:00] just like any material thing. You take, for example, of your dress.
[37:06] You are dressed with a certain type of garment, but when it is worn out, no more usable,
[37:15] then you throw it, you get another dress. So this material body is the dress of the spirit living force.
[37:30] But because we are attached to this material world, we want to enjoy this material world,
[37:40] we get different types of body. It is explained in the Bhagavad-gita as a machine.
[37:49] Actually it is machine, this body. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said,
[37:57] isvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati, bhramayan sarva-bhūtani yantrarūḍhani mayaya [Bg. 18.61]
[38:10] So we living entity, we desire. "Man proposes; God disposes." God is very kind.
[38:21] Whatever you desire, He will fulfill. Although He says that
[38:31] "This kind of material desires will never satisfy you," but we want.
[38:39] Therefore God supplies us, Krsna, different types of body to fulfill our different desires.
[38:49] This is called material, conditional life. This body, change of body according to desire,
[38:58] is called evolutionary process. By evolution we come to the human form of body through many
[39:11] other millions bodies. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati [Padma Purana]. We pass through 900,000
[39:24] species of form in the water. Similarly, two million forms as plants, trees.
[39:35] In this way, by nature's way, nature brings us into this human form of life just to develop,
[39:47] or awaken, our consciousness. Nature gives us the chance, "Now what do you want to do?
[39:55] Now you have got developed consciousness. Now you again want to go..." [break]
[40:02] ...the philosophers, scientists.
[40:06] If you want to know the value of this movement through science, philosophy,
[40:47] we have got enough ingredients to supply you. Otherwise, it is simple, very simple.
[40:23] Simply chant this mantra,
[40:25] Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
[40:34] Then everything will be manifest to you. Ceto-darpana-marjanam .
[40:40] This chanting of Hare Krsna mantra means cleansing the core of your heart.
[40:47] Because our heart, or mind, or consciousness is now covered with so many dirty things.
[40:59] So if we chant this Hare Krsna mantra, then these dirty things will be cleansed.
[41:06] Then we shall be able to see "What I am, what is my position, what is my goal of life,
[41:14] what I have to do." This is human consideration. The dogs, cats, they cannot do that.
[41:23] But a human being, they can do it very nicely.
[41:29] So on account of this, you will find that these young men, not only from your country
[41:37] but in other countries also-in Africa, in Australia, in Canada, in Europe, in Asia, everywhere-
[41:51] as soon as they are understanding this philosophy, they are joining this movement.
[41:58] And it is not very difficult. We don't charge anything for selling Hare Krsna mantra.
[42:07] We are chanting everywhere. That you saw, this Ratha-yatra.
[42:13] Now, our only means is chanting Hare Krsna.
[42:19] And these thousands of men are following simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra.
[42:26] So you can understand what is the potency of this Hare Krsna mantra.
[42:31] We do not pay anything, you ladies and gentlemen, to follow us.
[42:36] But we simply chant Hare Krsna. So it is very potential. Narottama dasa Thakura,
[42:46] a great acarya of Vaisnava sampradaya, he has sung, golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sahkirtana.
[42:59] This Hare Krsna Movement, or chanting of Hare Krsna, it is not anything material.
[43:06] Therefore you will never feel tired chanting Hare Krsna. You see practically.
[43:14] You go on chanting twenty-four hours, you will never feel tired. Therefore it is said,
[43:22] golokera prema-dhana. This chanting vibration is coming from the spiritual world.
[43:31] Just like you receive material sound vibration in the radios or television from distant place,
[43:41] there is another machine which can receive the vibration in the spiritual world.
[43:49] So that vibration is Hare Krsna mantra.
[43:55] Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sahkirtana, rati na janmilo kene tay:
[44:01] "Oh, I am so unfortunate that I did not get any attachment for chanting this Hare Krsna mantra."
[44:09] Samsara-davanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale. The samsara, this material world, is very uncomfortable place.
[44:20] Everyone is always full of anxiety. However rich you may be, however powerful you may be,
[44:28] but the anxiety must be there. You can understand, your president Nixon,
[44:37] how much anxiety he had when all people wanted him to come down.
[44:44] So this material world means in whichever position you may be situated, it doesn't matter;
[44:51] it is full of anxiety. This is called blazing fire, always burning the heart.
[45:00] If you want to get relief from this uncomfortable position of anxiety,
[45:07] then you must take to this Hare Krsna mantra. This is our request. You can try for it,
[45:15] and you will see the practical result. It will not cost you anything; there is no loss about it.
[45:25] So our only request is, with folded hands and begging you, so many flattering,
[45:37] we simply request... Dante nidhaya trnakam padayor nipatya [Caitanya-candramrta 8.90]. This is our process.
[45:43] We are not very, what is called, violent pushing. Now, you see our procession came, so many, for three hours.
[45:53] There was no violence. And the police department of your country, they very much appreciate,
[46:00] because they have got experience whenever there is some procession, there is violence.
[46:05] "Win[dow]-breaking crowd," they say. But these people are not win-breaking crowd.
[46:12] So this Krsna consciousness movement... You have already accepted it, this movement,
[46:20] your so many young men. So we request. This is another occasion to invite you.
[46:31] So our only request is that you chant Hare Krsna mantra, and you will feel very much happy.
[46:39] There will be no anxiety. And then you can do your work. It doesn't matter what you are doing.
[46:46] But chanting of this Hare Krsna mantra will make you more and more happy,
[46:54] free from material anxieties. And if we continue this process, then everything will be clearly
[47:03] understood about spiritual life, and very easily we shall be able to go back to home, back to Godhead.
[47:13] Now, this occasion I may explain a little bit. Here you see Jagannatha and Balarama and Subhadra.
[47:28] They are Krsna and His elder brother and His sister, Subhadra.
[47:39] There is a place in India about ninety miles north of Delhi. You have heard the name of New Delhi.
[47:49] The place is named Kuruksetra. It is accepted as the holy place, pilgrimage.
[47:58] People still gather there, especially during the eclipse, solar and lunar eclipse.
[48:01] So there was once, five thousand years ago, there was a solar eclipse, and all people,
[48:15] from all parts of India, they came to Kuruksetra, and Krsna at that time was prince at Dvaraka;
[48:28] He also came with His elder brother and sister. Krsna, in His childhood,
[48:36] He was raised as the foster son of Maharaja Nanda and Mother Yasoda in Vrndavana.
[48:47] Then, when He was grown up... You will find this history in the Krsna book.
[48:54] So the incidence is that Krsna was the beloved personality in Vrndavana.
[49:03] So when He left Vrndavana, all the people there, they were very, very unhappy.
[49:11] So when Krsna came to Kuruksetra from Dvaraka with His brother and sister,
[49:19] these people in Vrndavana, they got news that Krsna is coming there.
[49:25] Vrndavana is about the same distance. Kuruksetra is greater distance.
[49:33] Anyway, they came to see Krsna out of their love. And the most beloved personality,
[49:46] Srimati Radharani, She was requesting Krsna that "You are the same Krsna.
[49:54] I am the same Radharani. But the place is not the same.
[50:00] You are here in Kuruksetra in royal opulence, and we are coming from the village.
[50:10] So if You again please come to Vrndavana." This was Radharani's request.
[50:17] And it is very ecstatic feeling. Those who are advanced devotee, they can enjoy.
[50:27] So we observe this incidence annually in as many places in the Western countries.
[50:35] At the present moment we hold this ceremony in London, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia...
[50:45] And where else? Buffalo, Melbourne. Yes. So this is a very feeling festival.
[50:57] So I thank you very much, you have come here. And try to understand our philosophy.
[51:04] You are all educated boys and girls. We have got fifty-seven books.
[51:09] Try to read, and try to understand. And take it very seriously, and you will be happy.
[51:16] Thank you very much.
[51.35] [snippet of news commentary]
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
[52.05] [Prabhupada:] [kirtana] [indistinct aside comments]
[55:23] Practiced..., we are practiced to so many bad habits life after life in this material condition.
[55:36] Sometimes, one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord may, on account of old practice, he commits some sinful activities.
[55:51] Krsna forgives him. He knows that he is sincere, but on account of his old practice, he has done something mistake.
[56:04] There is a verse, saḥ pada-mūlam bhajatam priyasya. Somehow or other, you become recognized by Krsna, priya.
[56:17] Krsna may know that "He is sincerely trying to do something for render..."
[56:25] Krsna does not require your service or my service. He is self-sufficient.
[56:31] If we render service, that is for..., that is good for us.
[56:39] Krsna, He recognizes, "Oh, now he has again begun service. That's nice."
[56:47] So to such person Krsna excuses. Saḥ pada-mūlam bhajatam priyasya. That verse. Now I forget. There is a verse like that.
[57:03] So the Ajamila... [break]
[57:06] "...no intoxication and no gambling."
[57:10] So Western people will think, "What is this nonsense?
[57:13] These are the preliminary facilities for a human being, and this man is denying."
[57:21] They do not know even. Some of our students left this institution.
[57:30] They thought that "Swamiji is denying the primary necessities of life."
[57:40] They are so dull that they cannot understand this is sinful.
[57:49] Not only an ordinary, common man; even a big man, Lord Zetland in England. [break]
[58:10] So we should understand the real position, then automatically,
[58:15] and then there will be equality.
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