Conversation and Lecture at the House of Kṣīrodakaśāyī dāsa – July 25, 1976, London

I challenged that 'Any question? Please come'

[kirtana in background]

Jayatirtha: ...was sitting previously, which was being worshiped, So now being worshiped at this place. So he sat down because he was thinking that he was good as standing up, same as standing up. So one Vaisnava priest who was taking care of the place, he threw him out. So in the book they complained that the Vaisnavas are considered to be very narrow-minded. [laughter] Now I can understand...

Prabhupada: Here. He was kicked out.

Jayatirtha: Yes, the boy threw him out. So they were complaining about this.

Prabhupada: Just see. How bogus he was. No, when I go to met in Hollywood that, in the beginning that Prabhavananda, the rascal said that "Ramakrishna was formerly Caitanya Mahaprabhu." He began like that. Then I could understand, "What a rascal he is, and I have to waste my time." So I did not answer anything. I said, "Thank you very much for your meeting," and I went out. This rascal's first proposal was that Ramakrishna... Thakur Ramakrishna was formerly Caitanya. This is the beginning. He was so rascal.

[pause]

This is framework house. Hare Krsna. If some of the svamis may have said, they say that "Why you call us rascal and so many things?" So you say that "We are not calling you; Krsna says. So we are pushing on Krsna consciousness. So we have to repeat what Krsna has said. That's it. We cannot help it. Krsna says, na mam duskrtino mūḍhaḥ [Bg 7.15]. So you are not Krsna conscious; therefore you must be mūḍha."

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. Exactly Prabhupada. Therefore kicking out.]

Jayatirtha: The best thing Krsna has to say about them is that they are abuddhayaḥ. The best thing Krsna says about them is they are unintelligent. Avyaktam vyaktim apannam manyante mam abuddhayaḥ [Bg 7.24].

Prabhupada: Abuddhayaḥ, no intelligence. And similarly, those who are demigod-worshipers, they have been described nasta-buddhayaḥ, "lost of intelligence." These are statements in the Bhagavad-gita. We are preaching Krsna consciousness; we have to say. How we can avoid this? It may be displeasing to you, but we are not sorry. [laughter]

Ksirodakasayi: We are not sorry.

Prabhupada: No, I mean to say the other party. But we have to say it.

Ksirodakasayi: No, they all very pleased. They are all very pleased there. I say, when you can get off and Prabhupada again comes, take prasadam, you can get off on that. They are waiting, but they will not take prasada unless Prabhupada's... They are about..., over about two hundred people now. This temple here, all garden full.

Prabhupada: Yes. So they liked.

Ksirodakasayi: Yes, they liked very much.

Prabhupada: But I spoke very strong thing against Ramakrishna.

Ksirodakasayi: Because you spoke the truth, facts.

Prabhupada: And I challenged that "Any question? Please come."

Indian man: Prabhupada is always forward to speak the truth. People couldn't say anything.

Prabhupada: Dr. Kapoor says that...

Indian man: O.B.L. Kapoor? Vrndavana?

Prabhupada: Vrndavana, yes. That "Bhaktivedanta Swami speaks as strongly as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was speaking." You know that?

Ksirodakasayi: Oh, yes. I met so many times. I understand also.

Prabhupada: He said that.

Jayatirtha: Very nice compliment.

Ksirodakasayi: He also said that "Srila Prabhupada is only one who has really taken the..., his mission seriously."

Prabhupada: That is a fact. Of course, I don't say myself. That will not look good. But there is other...

[devotees having indistinct conversation in background about recording]

They, all my Godbrothers, realize it. "But he is the only representative." Somebody, they frankly admit, and somebody do not.

Ksirodakasayi: I met... Some, they are starting coming here to see how the things are. [laughs] They all came. Still they are coming. I think... Somebody said that Bon Maharaja came.

Prabhupada: He came here?

Ksirodakasayi: Pardon? Not here. I mean in London. Not here. I never invite anybody, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: No, no. London he came?

Ksirodakasayi: Yes, I heard. I don't know. Somebody was telling. And so many svamis, so many, from Vrndavana they are coming. Because many, many guests come, Prabhupada, in the week or during the day. They tell me that "Would you like to go? Some svami has come, some..." "Our svami is already here." [laughs]

Prabhupada: That's it.

Ksirodakasayi: They invite some invitation. They have had a big international religious conference in Milford three weeks back, and all the professors, universities and big, big shark[?]... I have got not got the English...

Prabhupada: Mūḍhas.

Ksirodakasayi: [laughs] Mūḍhas, yes. So I understand... Some of the friends said it was a big feast and all that, but there was nothing Krsna consciousness. They never talk about the Lord. They were simply arguing each other, "I think so." [laughs]

Prabhupada: This is their disease.

Ksirodakasayi: Big, big professor from London university, from Glasgow, so many professors. Big pamphlet came to me. They all send it... At least, they send it to this place here. I don't know from where they get the address or the name all that, and they send, many, many of these new societies.

Jayatirtha: You're becoming famous.

Ksirodakasayi: [laughs] No, no. Guru Maharaja becomes.

Prabhupada: Keep our standard. Then everyone will give assistance.

Ksirodakasayi: We got many times, many very distinguished... One time that church vicar has come here to see how things are. Chinese people came, Englishmen. One of the lady, not very far from here, she came one morning, said, "My brother is in the hospital, and he is very sick. I know you are a pious people. Can you pray for him?" And I said," You never... You pray the Lord. You come here. Lord is here." And...

Prabhupada: Chant Hare Krsna.

Ksirodakasayi: Chant Hare Krsna. Not very far from here. Said, "We hear the noise in the morning, and we have got these feelings that these are very good thing." An English lady.

Jayatirtha: Oh, this was an English person who came.

Ksirodakasayi: English, yes. She is feeling in the heart.

Prabhupada: [Transl. So what about that laundry business?]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. That is going on Prabhupada.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. I see. Is there anyone in that house?]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. The person who takes care of the laundry lives there. He looks after the laundry.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Laundry business must be going on nicely?]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. Guru Maharaja, if the Supreme Lord is served then everything is good, otherwise nothing is good.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. That's all.]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. That's my motive.] I... We can. By your grace, Krsna is here, and we have no intention to come from there. I had intention that let the children go back home. And we fight, all this stuff. I say, "All right, we must start to fully educate him." Full education is that he become advanced in the Krsna consciousness. And Guru Maharaja's instruction is also…

Prabhupada: That's all right.

Ksirodakasayi: So I said, "We haven't got any education." Under the law of this country, if they have to remain here, they have to go up to sixteen years to the school. And if they're qualified, then they...

Prabhupada: No, education is good, but the association is...

Ksirodakasayi: No, they don't have any asso... They don't go anywhere. They don't eat anywhere. Even so many invitation comes, either they go to the library or they go to the temple or this place. They have no friends, nothing else. No friends. They don't even take the water anywhere, even to my brother's house. They don't take anywhere.

Prabhupada: Your brother is also here?

Ksirodakasayi: Yes, he's here now. And he was not very good terms last eight years with me. But when I established this temple, by your grace, Prabhupada, he has also realized it now that this is good. And my difference with him was that "You should give up this nonsense of drinking this, all these things." That was only..., nothing else, about money or anything. I say, "I cannot eat at your place unless you give up these things." I go there, don't eat anything.

Prabhupada: Still, he drinks.

Ksirodakasayi: Still he drinks. That is the fact. He doesn't eat meat, of course, but he says... He has got business, good business, plenty of money. I am poor materially, but Prabhupada, my father, spiritual father, is so rich that I am getting money every day. Materially, I am poor, but I am so richer, you are giving so treasure... You see in our library there, we have so many nice library of each and every of your book downstairs, and more we read, we say, well plenty money is coming. [break] ...from the temple. Life Member comes there. We sell the Gujarati magazine. I bought all magazines from Gujarati. Now second issue has not come. The same problem. I wrote to...

Prabhupada: This is..., have printed.

Ksirodakasayi: But whatever I brought, it went within two, three weeks.

Prabhupada: So Yasomatinandana?

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. Yes, I received his letter] ...that "The next issue is in the press, and I'll soon send." And Gopala dasa I also written. Because there are many Gujaratis here, and they are becoming Life Members. They are helping very much in the temple. Anybody comes here, we send direct to the Manor. I say, "Here Krsna is... Here we are. Here we have got everything by Krsna's grace, and all the help should go to this center."

Prabhupada: You are preparing something of bitter melon?

Ksirodakasayi: Bitter? You mean the...

Prabhupada: Karelas.

Ksirodakasayi: Karelas. Brinjal also. Brinjal. Brinjal I have got. [Transl. Srila Prabhupada, Gopala Dasa has asked me to translate Bhagavad-gita. I have finished two chapters. There is some problem with money though. But he said, "Continue the work." It's good, I have three, four people sit together and do it. All are devotees, not professional, educated.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. All right. If they approve then it's okay.]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. If you give permission I can read a portion of it to you.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Now?]

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. Not now, but before you leave. Now you take rest. There is arrangement for your rest. Bhagavad-gita must be printed in Hindi very quickly.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes.] [break]

Harikesa: How much is left?

Ksirodakasayi: No, no, we just starting it. Prabhupada approved that, starting, starting with two chapters three chapters.

Prabhupada: No, you can do one thing. Part by part, you publish in the Bhagavata-darsana: Hindi edition of Back to Godhead magazine so that he can..., everyone can see how it is. Then it will be good.

Ksirodakasayi: Oh, yes. No, I showed to Gopala Krsna Prabhu when he came here. He also came here when he came to London. He came one day here, so I showed all these and I read little bit, still he said that...

Prabhupada: Gopala Krsna himself is not very expert.

Ksirodakasayi: No. So he said that "Srila Prabhupada is coming now," so if you get a chance...

Prabhupada: No, I mean to say that whatever you have written, let it be published in the...

Ksirodakasayi: Yes, I understand

Prabhupada: ...so that everyone can see. Then we can understand.

Ksirodakasayi: I see. So I will send to India chapter by chapter, and they can publish...

Prabhupada: With a letter that "Prabhupada says like this, that you print in the Hindi edition of Bhagavata-darsana so that everyone will see, and they will judge how it is done nicely."

Harikesa: Should I make this?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Ksirodakasayi: I'll send the first chapter complete.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Ksirodakasayi: Duplicate it and keep one copy with me here and one copy send off, and they can publish in the Back to Godhead here.

Prabhupada: The difficulty is that in India, in different parts of India different standard. Somebody says, "This standard is good"; somebody says, "This standard is good."

Ksirodakasayi: Prabhupada, we are not worried about the criticism.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Ksirodakasayi: We are not worried about the criticism, anybody say. What you say, we'll take that one line, the guide line.

Prabhupada: No, I am not authority in Hindi, but this Hindi, different parts of India, a different standard.

Ksirodakasayi: Yes, that's true. That is why I had not depend on myself. It going there from the four people different, one after another, and they are qualified Sanskrit and Hindi scholars.

Prabhupada: That's all right. Let it be published.

Ksirodakasayi: Completed corrections also. It's not going by...

Prabhupada: So you can show me some samples which you have completed. Yes, you can show me some.

Ksirodakasayi: [Indian man enters and speaks with Ksirodakasayi] Srila Prabhupada, devotees are asking can you take prasada and go to Manor? There's some press coming, but without you they're... Is it all right?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. All right. I will take some time.

Ksirodakasayi: Is it all right?

Prabhupada: I ordered...

Harikesa: Others, they are also waiting. The Indians, they are...

Prabhupada: So let them all take. You can also go down. [break] [Prabhupada moves outside]

Hari-sauri: If you like, Srila Prabhupada.

Harikesa: Now it's recording. [break]

Prabhupada: ...word by word.

Kirtima[?]: And translate into English.

Prabhupada: Yes, you have to do it. You do it. Give him the book. Simply book. Why you are taking this? Yes.

Niranjana: [Transl. This is the thirteenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita. It is entitled] "Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness." [The first two slokas of this chapter are],

And the second sloka is,

Should I read the translation in Hindi?

Prabhupada: Yes, so that...

Ksirodakasayi: [Transl. Arjuna said, "My dear Krsna, I wish to know from You about the prakrti-nature, purusa-the enjoyer, ksetra-the body, ksetra-jna-the knower of the body and jnana-the knowledge and the goal of knowledge." The Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the abode of bliss, said "This body, o son of Kunti, is called ksetra and one who knows this body is called ksetra-jna or knower of the field.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Explain it little bit.]

Niranjana: [Transl. Arjuna is inquiring from Lord Krsna about prakrti. We all know what is prakrti. If you ask anybody he would say that there is some supreme nature. But he does not that supreme nature belongs to Whom? You know that your nature is different from my nature. As for prakrti people simply say it the supreme nature. That's the highest object. So we should inquire Whose nature? Whose prakrti? The Supreme Lord says in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtiḥ sūyate sa-caracaram [Bg 9.10] "The material nature is working under My direction." So wherever there is prakrti there is also purusa.

[Transl. The Supreme Lord Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way, one who knows the body, the body has been addressed as ksetra and the soul within the body has been addressed as ksetra-jna. Arjuna is asking the Supreme Lord about this subject matter that what is prakrti, who is purusa, what is ksetra and ksetra-jna?

[Transl. Actually the main conclusion of our Krsna Consciousness movement is that we are not these bodies. Just like you are wearing coat and shirt but we are talking to you and not to the coat and shirt, similarly, our this Krsna Consciousness movement, we say that all living entities, not only the human beings but all living entities are parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are spirit souls living within the body. Another name for the Supreme Lord is Paramatma, param-atma: the Supersoul.

[Transl. He is the Supersoul of all living entities. And we are His minute particles. In this way, we preach to the Americans, Africans, Indians, Germans or whosoever that you are not this body. You are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. You are servant of the Supreme Lord. And it is your duty to render service to the Supreme Lord. Just like the hand is a part of your body. If it wants to become happy it should pick up the food and put it in the mouth and when the food reaches the stomach then the hand will automatically become happy, simply because the hand is a part of the body.

[Transl. Similarly, we are also parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if we engage in the Lord's service we will automatically become happy. Otherwise if the hand wants to become happy without supplying food to the stomach it cannot become. No matter how many rasagullas and gulabjamuns are kept in front of it and it touches them, until the hand puts them in the mouth it cannot become happy.

[Transl. In the same way, until every living entity renders service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead they cannot be happy. Just like a fish, if you keep the fish in a big house or big apartment, keep it before a television or place it in a sofa set, it will die without water. Our condition is like that only. We are suffering because we have forgotten the Supreme Lord. Similarly, if we again go back to the water of the Lord's service then we will become happy.]

Prabhupada: You can explain this. Yes.

Niranjana: [Transl. purport?]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes.]

Niranjana: [Transl. When Arjuna asked Lord Sri Krsna about these subject matters then the Supreme Lord replied that the body is called ksetra, and one who knows the body is called ksetra-jna or knower of the field. This body, for the conditioned soul, is a field of activity. The spirit soul is certainly present within the body, but it acts through the medium of the body.

[Transl. For example, when the soul leaves the body then the same body, the eyes can no longer see, the nose can no longer smell, and the body is burned to ashes. But if you burn a living body you cannot even imagine what would happen. The soul has left the body. Because of the presence of the soul within the body we are seeing, we are talking, we are hearing. In this way, Srila Prabhupada is explaining here that this body is a field of action. Though the soul is important, it acts through the body. Just like we are conditioned souls…]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Just like this spectacle, the spectacle does not see but the eyes see through the spectacle. If somebody says that the spectacle sees then it is foolishness. The spectacle doesn't see. Similarly the soul is called ksetra-jna. That ksetra-jna is the real object. This ksetra or the body is not the real thing. It is a medium. Just like the example was given that through the spects one sees, but the spects does not see. This should be understood.]

Niranjana: [Transl. In this way, we, the conditioned souls, are entangled by the network of maya or illusion. And we are trying to become lord and master of the material nature. "There is no God, we are everything, we become happy, that's all." But according to our capacity, our ability we try to dominate and exploit the material nature. Whether a big man or an insignificant animal everyone thinks he is the proprietor of everything. According to one's capacity…Even a mouse will steal something from somewhere as per it's ability. The human being is big so he steals big. Everyone is stealing from the Supreme Lord without acknowledging that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the sole proprietor of everything. We find a sloka in Īsopanisada…]

Prabhupada: Īsavasyam idam sarvam.

[Transl. "Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."]

Niranjana: [Transl. That everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. So you take whatever you need and the rest you leave for other's use. Just like Srila Prabhupada gives an example that if a bag of rice or wheat is lying in the street, a bird will come eat a few grains and go away. But if a human being comes he will eat and also take away the whole bag to his house.

[Transl. This is the very reason why people from all over the world are starving for want of food, there is scarcity of food. There is plenty of foodgrains but people are stealing thinking it is their property without acknowledging God. So, our this body is the field of action. What is this body? It is a combination of different senses. It consists of five knowledge acquiring senses, five working senses, the mind and the false ego. Therefore as we are now conditioned by maya, we can begin our devotional service to the Supreme Lord with the help of this body.

[Transl. At present we just want to work for our own sense gratification, sense pleasure. The body is the same. The senses are the same. Just like the eyes, the Supreme Lord has given you. You can watch cinema with these eyes or you can have darsana of the beautiful Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Radha-Gokulanandaji present right here with the same eyes. The senses are same but if you engage them in the service of the Supreme Lord then it becomes devotional service, otherwise it is sense gratification. And this results in further implications in the bondage of karma. Almost everyone nowadays, instead of realising himself as a spirit soul, thinks himself to be this body.

[Transl. If you ask anybody, "Who are you?" He would reply, "I am Indian. I am twenty-five or thirty years old." That is this body. But who am I? You know before your body was very small. "I was small and now I have grown up. And I will become old. But I am the same person. Where has that small body gone which I once had?" That body has grown up to become a young body. Similarly, when you will become old then the same spirit soul will leave that body and enter into another body.

[Transl. When your sweater becomes old, your shirt becomes old, you simply give it up and put on a new shirt. In the same way, the soul is never annihilated. So, that person who, rather than accepting the body as self, realises himself as a spirit soul he is called ksetra-jna or knower of the field. It is not at all difficult to understand the distinction between the body and the soul. Just like Srila Prabhupada gave the same example here that I had cited earlier.

[Transl. We change body from childhood to youth to old age. The body is changing twenty-four hours a day. According to science also constant actions and reactions are taking place in your body. Your body is changing twenty-four hours, every minute, every second. But your soul remains the same. The spirit soul residing within the body is same, but the body is constantly changing. This is the difference that one who knows the field of activity and actually realises the position of the spirit soul, he is called ksetra-jna.

[Transl. In this way, we, the conditioned sous, can understand that we are different from the body. We can give another small example. You say, "My hand, my ear." You don't say "I hand, I nose, I mouth." This means you are different from your hand, nose or ear. So the conclusion is your body is separate from your soul. We don't say "I hand, I eyes," rather we say "My eyes, my ear, my mouth." So this further proves that your body and soul are separate from one another. The 13th sloka of the 2nd chapter of Bhagavad-gita is;

[Transl. Just as the dehi or the spirit soul sitting in the body passes through the body from boyhood to youthhood to old, similarly, at the time of death the soul gives up the old body and enters into another body. Knowing this fact well the sober person, the wise, does not lament or feels sad about it. People cry and lament "Oh, he has died." Who has died?

[Transl. The person whom you were thinking as your own is lying before you. And the living force that has left the body is never destroyed. In the beginning of Bhagavad-gita chapter two which is considered as the essesnce of Bhagavad-gita, this subject matter has been described. In this way, one who knows that his body is constantly changing, he understands that he is ksetra-jna.

[Transl. Sometimes we think, I am happy, I am mad, I am woman, I am dog, I am cat and so on. So this "I" is the ksetra-jna. Dog, cat, woman are bodily designations. The "I", the soul who is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, is known as ksetra-jna.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Okay. All right.]

Krsna has spoken about the ksetrajna. Ksetrajna means the knower of the body, as He has already explained, that "I know that this is my finger." I never say, "I finger." So this body is ksetrajna, the field of activities, and the soul is the proprietor or worker within the body. That is called ksetrajna. This is already explained. He tried to explain... Because there are many ladies, so he tried to explain in Hindi. So here in the next verse Krsna says, ksetra-jnam capi mam viddhi: "I am also ksetrajna. I am also one of the knower of the body." So what is the difference between the one ksetrajna already explained, the soul, and this ksetrajna, Krsna? What is the difference between the two? That is explained here. Krsna says that "I am also ksetrajna." Ksetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata: "But the distinction is that the individual soul is situated in that particular body, but I am situated in every body, all-pervading." Sometimes they commit mistake that atma and Paramatma, they are the same, but that is not the fact. Here Krsna explains very distinctly that "I am also atma, but I am Paramatma." That is the distinction between God and us.

When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, he addressed Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg 10.12]. Para brahma. They are anxious to realize Brahman, that I..., aham brahmasmi. Aham brahmasmi does not mean that "I am Para Brahman." I am individual part and parcel of Brahman. Similarly, atma, Paramatma; isvara, Paramesvara. We should understand this distinction between atma, Paramatma; Brahman, Para-brahman; isvara, Paramesvara. So in the Vedic literature it is said, isvaraḥ paramaḥ krsnaḥ [Bs 5.1].

Īsvara. Īsvara means controller. Every one of us, we are controller, either I control over my family or in my office or in my country. In this way everyone is a controller. I may be a controller. Not may be; in my limited jurisdiction I am also controller. You are also controller. So I may be a little greater controller, you may be a smaller controller and somebody may be greater than me. So in this way, if you study controllers, different types of controller, you'll find there is junior and senior. The same person is senior controller in the family, but in the office he's a junior controller. The same person is junior and senior at the same time. Somewhere he is junior, somewhere he is senior. In this way, if you study all different types of controller, you'll see there is duality of controls. But when you approach somebody that He's simply controller-He's not controlled by others-that is Krsna. This is analytical study of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So they have studied, all these Vedic scholars, especially Lord Brahma. This is the statement of Lord Brahma. Not only Lord Brahma-Vyasadeva, Narada and recently big, big acaryas, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Visnu Svami, even Sahkaracarya, and latest, five hundred years ago, Lord Caitanya-everyone has accepted Krsna as the supreme controller. And in the dictionary you'll find what is religion. Religion means to accept a supreme controller. That is religion. So in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also it is said, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the controlling laws given by God. That is called dharma. So real dharma... From all Vedic scriptures, from the version of all authorities, it is confirmed that isvaraḥ paramaḥ krsnaḥ [Bs 5.1]: "Krsna is the supreme controller. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

So this Krsna consciousness movement means that we are presenting Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Every religion has conception of God, but no religious system in this world has got any clear conception of God. But in this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not actually a so-called religious movement, but it is an educational movement to give information to the human society about God, that "Here is God." You are searching after God, and somebody, in disappointment, saying that "God is dead." God is neither dead, nor it is fictitious, but it is factual, and here is this God, Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].

This is the verdict of the Vedic literature. There may be many other gods. They are expansions of the original Personality of Godhead. If anyone is interested to study the science of God, you'll find it in the Vedic literature, how Krsna expands by His plenary portion in different names of God. It is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita, advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rūpam [Bs 5.33]. That Absolute Truth is advaita, without any duality; acyuta, infallible. Advaita, acyuta, anadi. Everything has got its beginning, anything you... That is our material conception, because we have got the experience-anything we take, it has got a beginning. But Krsna, He is described, advaita, acyuta, anadi: "He has no beginning." And in another place it is also said,

Karanam is the beginning. So just like my father is the cause of my personality; father, his father is the cause of his personality; in this way you try to find out the cause of the cause. You'll find Krsna as the cause of all causes. Sarva-karana-karanam. Everything must be caused by something. Cause and effect. So the sastra gives the verdict that Krsna is the cause of all causes.

So this institution, Krsna consciousness movement, we have started. Now we have opened this center. I am very glad that you are coming here, but study the science of Krsna. Don't remain blind. The science of Krsna means science of God. The human life is meant for understanding the science of God. Athato brahma-jijnasa. This is the Vedanta-sūtra. "This human form of life is meant for inquiring about the Absolute Truth-Brahman." That Brahman, Para-brahman, is Krsna. Therefore, when Arjuna studied Bhagavad-gita, his conclusion was... He addressed immediately, Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg 10.12].

Bhavan: "Yourself..." So don't waste your time even by a minute. Try to understand the science of Krsna. That is the only business. Other business, they are subsidiary. They are not very important business. Why Krsna understanding is important business? Because it will give you liberation from this material conditional life. We are foolishly thinking we are very independent, we can do whatever we like. But that is not the fact. The fact is we are completely dependent on the laws of material nature. Even if you defy a little bit, immediately you'll be punished. That is the strict laws of nature. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg 7.14].

So we do not understand. There is no education throughout the whole world how we are being controlled by the material nature and why we are being controlled. Why we are put into this position of being controlled? These questions should be raised. That is human life. Otherwise it is animal life. The cats and dogs, they cannot inquire, "Why I am being controlled?" But they agree to be controlled. But human life there is struggle. They are called struggle for existence. They are trying to overcome the control of material nature by so-called scientific method, but that is not the way. You cannot do that. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya. Just like their so-called scientific way they are trying to go to the moon planet or Mars planet. Why they are trying to go? Because they are controlled. They have got their flying machine. They can to go any planet, but they cannot, because they are being controlled. So we should come to our senses that we cannot bring the laws of material nature under our control. We are already under the control of the laws of material nature, and that is our conditional life. Actually, we require freedom from conditional life, but that freedom can be achieved when we surrender to Krsna.

If you actually want to be not to be controlled by the laws of material nature, that you can do. That is possible. And that is possible simply by understanding Krsna. So we are presenting this philosophy of Krsna consciousness. It is not a manufactured thing. We are quoting from Bhagavad-gita the same thing. We are not presenting something manufactured. There is no need, because things in perfection is already there in the Bhagavad-gita. There is no need of manufacturing by fools and rascals. There is no need. Everything is there in perfection. Simply we have to accept it and apply it in practical life. Then our life will be successful. Simply we have to understand it. Krsna says that janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ [Bg 4.9].

Simply to understand Krsna as He is... Then yo janati tattvataḥ, anyone who is able to understand Krsna in truth, then what is the result? The result is tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9]: "Such person, after giving up this body, he does not accept another material body." At the present moment we are giving up one material body and accepting another material body. Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg 2.13].

This is our conditional life, but we are kept in such dense darkness of knowledge that we are thinking that "We are free. We can do whatever we like." This is very dangerous civilization-no knowledge of the spiritual life, no knowledge how the soul is transmigrating from one body to another, no knowledge what is the future, no knowledge what is the goal of life. Simply like cats and dogs you dance, eat, drink, be merry and die, that's all. This is not good life. You must be very serious, especially those who are Indians. They should take it very seriously. Because this Krsna culture, Bhagavad-gita, was spoken in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra in India, and if we Indians, we do not take full advantage of this great transcendental knowledge, then you are committing suicide.

So my request is, all the Indians who are here in this foreign country, keep your own original culture. Don't forget. Don't be bewildered. Be in your position. Try to under... It is very easy. Bhagavad-gita is not at all difficult to understand, and we have tried to explain as easy as possible, not that we have deviated from the original verse, just like others do it. We do not do that; there is no need. That is another blunder. We keep Bhagavad-gita as it is, and we still try to explain it. So I am very glad that you are all coming regularly, but take it. At least one day, this Sunday, you devote, seriously studying Bhagavad-gita, and discuss amongst you whenever there is any doubt. There cannot be any doubt. The Bhagavad-gita verses are so plainly explained, and... Just like here is one verse we are trying to read, ksetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata: "My dear Arjuna..." Arjuna is addressed as Bharata. Because he belongs to the dynasty of Bharata, sometimes he's addressed as Bharata. So, very easy, that "I am also one of the souls. There are two souls. One, you are, and another, I am. So what is the difference between you and Me? That you know simply everything-not everything, but to some extent-about your body, but I know everything of everyone's body." That is the difference. I know the pleasure and pains of my body, you know the pleasure and pains of your body, but Krsna knows the pleasure and pains of your body and pleasure and pains of my body. That is the difference between Krsna and ourself. Īsvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg 18.61].

Krsna is situated... Krsna is not stereotyped in one place. Krsna, He is in Goloka Vrndavana: goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhūtaḥ [Bs 5.37]. That is Krsna. I am sitting here; you are sitting here. I am not in my apartment, but Krsna, although He is sitting in this temple, He is present everywhere: anḍantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham [Bs 5.35]. In this way we have to study Krsna very scientifically, and the books are there, and we have tried to explain as far as possible. Take advantage of this institution. Don't waste a moment of your life. Take it very seriously. Ayusaḥ ksana eko 'pi na labhyaḥ svarna-kotibhiḥ [Canakya Panḍita].

This seriousness... Especially those who are educated, they should take serious consideration of this Krsna consciousness movement. Try to understand each and every verse of Bhagavad-gita, especially, and if possible Bhagavatam. There are so many books. We have got program to publish at least eighty-four books like this, four hundred pages each. So we have already published fifty-four books. So if you want to understand Krsna through science and philosophy, read these books. Otherwise-very easy method-come here, chant Hare Krsna. That's all. There is no difficulty.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! [end]