Lecture in Hindi – February 7, 1971, Gorakhpur

Prabhupada:

Sriman Bhaiji, ladies and gentlemen, millions of years ago when the land of Bharata was not even named so, at that time King Rsabhadeva, who was the king of the entire world was instructing his sons. I wished to speak something to you all in that regard. Rsabhadeva says,

Before retiring from his kingly duties Lord Rsabhadeva was instructing his sons, that this body ayam deha which is obtained within the human society. There are in total eighty four lakh species, jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati [Visnu Purana], the creatures within the water are of nine lakh types, then those with non-movable bodies they are twenty lakhs in types, in this way there are eighty four lakh species among which four lakh species are humans and not all of them are civilized.

There are outcastes like mlecchas, yavanas, savaras etc which only have a trace of humanity within them. then there are those who believe in worship of demigods. This is the concept of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, within those who are followers of the Vedas there are those who do all those things which are forbidden in the Vedas and then there are those who follow the Vedas properly. Among those who actually follow the Vedas most of them are fruitive workers, they simply wish to enjoy the material world in this life and wish to go to heaven in the next life, such are the fruitive workers, the karma kandis. So, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, within millions and millions of karmis there is a jnani and is superior and among millions and millions of jnanis there is a mukta, liberated soul which is distinctively superior. Then again amongst millions and millions of such liberated personalities it is still rare to find a pure devotee of Krsna, this is the explanation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. To find a devotee of Krsna is very, very rare because Lord Krsna Himself says;

So, muktanam api siddhanam narayana-parayanaḥ [SB 6.14.5] these are the verdicts of the scriptures, but this is the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that He has given this rare gift of Krsna-bhakti in such easy way, int his Kali yuga. This is the great mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

That is why when Caitanya Mahaprabhu met Rupa Goswami in Prayaga tirtha then he began his prayers to Mahaprabhu by saying:

Rupa Goswami was a big man in his time, he was the minister of Nawab Hussain Shah, but he gave up everything to take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They were two brothers and both were in politics so could understand how great Caitanya Mahaprabhu was, else why would they address Him as maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te? Because love for Krsna is so rare that it is hard to find it amongst millions an millions of people but Caitanya Mahaprabhu handed it over to everyone for free. Such king of charity cannot be given by any common man, that is why Rupa Goswami says krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namine, He is Krsna Himself and has appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu that is why you are the most munificent maha-vadanyaya. There is no incarnation as munificent as Yourself, it is not just words but a fact.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam you all know that Sukadeva Goswami has described the features of Kali yuga to Maharaja Pariksit, saying that there are so many faults in the age of Kali, as if it is an ocean of faults kalau dosa-nidhe rajan asti hy eko mahan-gunaḥ [SB 12.3.51], still there is a special quality within Kali yuga, which is that the human beings are extremely fallen that is why Krsna has given a very easy method to attain the Supreme Godhead. What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sahgaḥ param vrajet [SB 12.3.51], simply by engaging in Krsna kirtan they can become liberated from this material world functioning in its three modes. They can become free from this and can go back to Godhead, the ultimate destination. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says param vijayate sri-krsna-sahkirtanam ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally performed Krsna kirtana and explained the same to everyone, that simply by performing Krsna kirtan, the first this upon which ceto-darpana-marjanam the mirror of the heart is cleaned because liberation means muktir hitvanyatha-rūpam svarūpena vyavasthitiḥ [SB 2.10.6], our current form and position are all perverted due to our contact with this material world.

I wish to become the enjoyer everyone in this material world wish to become enjoyers starting from Lord Brahma down to a worm in the stool, they simply wish to enjoy. Krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare pasate maya tare japatiya dhare [Prema-vivarta 6.2]. Maya is nothing else, when we forget Krsna that is called maya and when we surrender unto Krsna that is when we are free of maya-mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. So, for Krsna's devotee there is no difficulty with maya. As soon as one surrenders unto the Lord feet of the Supreme Lord maya goes far away from a devotee. That is why there is no difficulty with maya, bahūnam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19] that is why in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita Krsna says, what is the culmination of knowledge? Surrender unto Krsna.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that amongst millions of jnanis there is a person who is actually liberated, muktanam api siddhanam [SB 6.14.5], those who are liberated among millions of such people one person surrenders unto Krsna;

So, these are the symptoms of a great soul. Single minded devotion only unto Krsna, that is the greatest yogi. As Krsna says,

So, if you may call it a yogi, a karmi or a jnani, all of them have the sole aim of becoming a devotee. All of them have to attain the service of the Lord, Supreme Lord Krsna, this itself is the definition of their liberation-svarūpena avasthiti [SB 2.10.6], our original identity svarūpa as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said jivera 'svarūpa' haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa' [Cc. Madhya 20.108], this is our eternal position. Given up this servitorship if we mistake ourselves as something else, that is simply illusion nothing else. It is nothing more than maya, that is why everyone should be instructed according to the words of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All these people from the western countries such especially America when they are told krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28] they accept it, they don't present several competitors right at that time, challenging-why should we consider Krsna to be God? Just like it happens in India.

This is nothing new but is a very old principle, to reestablish it Krsna had to reappear as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna said sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66] but people questioned why should they surrender unto Krsna? There are many big-big scholars and philosophers who object, oh Krsna has demanded too much. He should not demand in such a way. In this way people have become misdirected. Which is why Krsna appeared as Krsna Caitanya to explain teach everyone why and how to perform Krsna bhakti apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. So, we mean to say, that this tendency which is going on all over the world simply work hard to enjoy one's senses. People in general work hard all day long, and Krsna has said in this regard na mam duskrtino mūḍhaḥ prapadyante naradhamaḥ [Bg. 7.15], according to Visvanath Cakravarthi Thakura, mūdhas are these karmis, they work hard all day long and simply earn nothing more than a little sense gratification. So, millions of years ago Lord Rsabhadeva gave the same knowledge to his sons, the human form of life should not be lived same as that of pigs.

He says, particularly, kastan kaman arhate viḍ-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1], they take up so many troubles simply to gratify the senses, and they work hard all day and night just like dogs and hogs. It is recommended by him, my dear sons don't do this. Here there is not so much like this but in the western countries they work hard all day long for sense gratification, all they wish for is women, wine and money and they don't know anything else at all, nor they are taught about it.

That is why all these boys and girls were fed up, that my father earned so much simply to run after wine and women, but here is no happiness in that, even to sleep at night he has to take a pill. That is why the young generation in America especially got disheartened and frustrated taking up the hippy lifestyle. There are many boys from the homes of millionaires who have given up everything. For there is nothing to gain from materialistic lifestyle. But now that they have got this instruction form Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

They understood hearing this instruction and accepted this upon being explained and thus they are making advancement. We just came back from America and from there we get such lively correspondence we have also opened three four new centers for them. so, we have a request to all of you in India, that this great culture of India of Krsna consciousness that we have given up, we simply go to the foreign countries begging for wheat, rice and soldiers, simply begging. Instead, if you give this gift of Krsna consciousness to them then they will be grateful, many people say this to us that such a wonderful thing they received from nowhere. Not a few men but thousands of Indians should go there., thousands of preachers, it is a great field and many people are ready to accept. We have travelled only in America and a little bit of Europe, South American and Canada.

So, along we have tried as much as we could by the mercy of the Lord the same which we are here to share with you, there is a great demand for this all over the world. In our country of India there are many sadhus and sannyasis who sometimes go there simply to make a show of yoga and gymnastics, they get some money and come back. The real thing that can come from India is the fact krsnastu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. They say that God is dead and god is wandering in the streets, or daridra-narayana, or they may say that God is impersonal, the simply wish to get rid of God. This can never make them happy. The formula form becoming happy has been given by Krsna Himself:

There are big, big leaders, politicians who wish to become the well-wishers of people in general but the actually well-wisher is the Lord Himself one should establish contact with Him. Only this can make them happy, but they don't believe it. But we have only this thing to say, to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, surrender unto Him, engage in Krsna's devotional service, that is also very easy- simply by chanting Hare Krsna.. full mantra. There is no difficulty everyone can do this, many are still doing it.

Still, these boys and girls are doing it without making any offence which is why they are advancing very fast. So, today you all are present and so is Bhaiji, you have a big society, I wish that you all may train preachers here who will be send all over the world and in this way the people of India will be highlighted, everyone will say that they have gotten something from the world. Still anywhere we go they say that India is such a poverty-stricken country, such is the advertisement of the country of India. Still factually we have a great wealth and all the saintly people are the wealthy men, so we all should distribute this wealth of India, such is our request to you. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Person: I wanted to say…

Prabhupada: This is called transcendental.

Person: That is why I can downstairs because I thought that this is a great thing. The whole world is struggling with a quarrelsome situation. We are hoping for a peaceful situation that is why when Maharaja ji [Prabhupada] was speaking from the verse in the Gita, suhrdam sarva-bhūtanam jnatva mam santim rcchati [Bg. 5.29]. If one wishes to become peaceful then he should take shelter of Krsna, otherwise, there is no peace to be find, in having a great kingdom, never was it found is such a situation or power, money or fame, nor it will be. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says in the gita,

All the happiness attained by the contact of senses and sense objects it the cause of all miseries, and hoping to achieve happiness from them is foolishness. So, the world today followed by our country is progressing towards this foolishness. For they all desire to attain happiness through sense enjoyment, which is why their efforts are frustrated. Now a days, science is considered to be very advanced but that also is aimed towards sense gratification. If one wishes to become peaceful one should consider surrendering unto Krsna. Krsna is your own. And the most important point is that Maharaja ji is distributing Krsna there in the foreign countries.

One of the devotees were saying that everything is present there in abundance except for Krsna consciousness if they can get Krsna then they will have everything. Krsna is actually everyone's. Not of anyone particular.

Krsna belongs to everyone and there is no need to change anyone's religion this is the real religion of the soul, to surrender unto Krsna. Actually, the distribution of Krsna that is being done by Maharaja ji, by the propagation of the chanting of the holy name was till now bereft of two rules, firstly, the love for God wasn't given much importance and not enough stress was put on remaining free from offences.

First of all, I was impressed by seeing your rules and regulation of worship. Something which was considered some Indian ritual, to use it for the welfare of people from all over the world, this is what Maharaja ji is going and that too by the great mercy of the Lord. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wished to execute this great task by his hands, the chanting of the holy names about which he spoke five hundred years ago. So, it is possible that the preaching started from that time, but now I see these devotees, just like I was witnessing the chanting oof the holy names. I have studied their daily routine and I was very much impressed, actually I should say that the Indians should learn from them. This is what I say, actually those who say are not so ideal but ideal are those who show by their action. This sankirtana yajna is the need for the entire world. So, many saintly persons are here lying about while the world starves for spiritual life.

I am in contact with many people who are yearning simply to get something spiritual which would make them peaceful, they are running away from this materialistic civilization, they are fed up of their affluence and their fame, they are simply now seeing how to become liberated. They have no guidance, thousands of young boys and girls. I have seen that the disciples of Maharaja ji are going to many places and the feedback is promising for they are not making a show but practicing everything very sincerely, so this is a wonderful thing that they are going. They should do it as much as they can, this is the service of Sri Krsna and for the benefit of the whole world. Related to this subject matter a book will be published from here.

The compilation is done, only some illustrations need to be added after which it will be published for the service of Lord Sri Krsna. Actually, Krsna will carry out what He wants done we can simply be instruments. He will get gone what He wants. So, I am very grateful that you came here, you gave your darshan and chanted the holy name and if you bless us we will have our minds fixed upon Krsna, krsne matir astu'. That's all I wanted to say.

Prabhupada: This is the biggest blessing, krsne matir astu'.

Person: Yes, that it is. Krsne matir astu', I cannot speak much more due to health reasons. Have spoken after many days, here we usually hold chanting of the holy names the devotees who do are from Navadvipa, the Gaudiyas and they continuously perform kirtan for eight praharas, 12 hours a day. We have also published Caitanya Caritavali in Hindi, in six volumes. So this is what we are doing by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Person: I have said a lot, but there are also the books of Swamiji.

Prabhupada: Narottam Das Thakur has sung,

The relationship between Radha and Krsna is described by the goswamis, and only by their mercy can it be understood.

Person: This can only be understood by the mercy of the vaisnavas, can one attain this yoga vidya… [End]