Lecture in Hindi – January 19, 1972, Jaipur

720119LE-JAIPUR [28:38 Minutes]

Devotee: January 19th, Jaipur.

Prabhupada: Sav ai pumsam paro dharmahyato bhaktir adhokshaje ahaituki apratihata yayatma samprasidati. So Suta Goswami is explaining this in a conference of big big rsis and brahmanas about the paro dharma the Supreme religion. This material nature is addressed as para by the Supreme Lord. There are two kinds of natures of the Lord one is para and another apara. Just this morning we were discussing upon the verse:

Then the Lord continues to aparaeyam, this material nature constituting of earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego this is inferior energy of the Lord. Just like when you go to buy something from the market. There, there is always the consideration of inferior and superior products. Similarly, the Supreme Lord Himself says that this material world which is made of earth water fire air and ether, tejo vari mrd vinimayam, as it has been said in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

This material world it is just a mixture of earth, water and fire, tejo vari mrd vinimayam, but one thing is for sure, the Lord says that it is aparaeyam this is inferior, itas tu viddhi me prakrti para: apart from form these there is one nature of Mine, which is apara or superior. So, here Suta Goswami says that sa vai pumsam paro dharma yato bhaktir adhoksaje, just like there is para and apara prakrtis, but what is para prakrti? Krishna says jiva bhuta maha baho yayedam dharyate jagat, these living entities, who are trying to Lord over the material world. Just like I am lording over this material body apara prakrti and this spiritual entity, is the superior para prakrti, the living entity is this spiritual entity. He however, is not the enjoyer those who consider themselves as the purusha or the enjoyer, thinks himself to be Narayana, the Supreme Lord himself. This is all illusion because the prakriti can never become purusha, the energy can never become the energetic. Just like if a woman is made to dress like a man that won't empower her to work like a man.

In this way, the prakrti regardless of it is para or apara cannot become the Supreme Lord Himself, govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami, the song we all just sang, it is from the Brahma Samhita and also in the Bhagavad gita when Arjuna understood Krishna as the Supreme Lord then he spoke as: purusam adyam param brahma param dham pavitram paramam bhavan purusam sasvatam adyam, the only purusa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Purusha means bhokta or the enjoyer and prakrti means that which is enjoyed. That is why Bhakti or devotional service is called para dharma, it is nothing material or prakrta dharma. Those who say that jnana or pursuance of knowledge is very difficult and bhakti is very easy, they don't know the fact that devotional service is extremely challenging. Just like the Lord is saying in the Bhagavad gita, jnanam te ham sa vijnanam without proper jnana or knowledge there is no possibility of devotional service. The jnanis those who are true jnanis they can understand, tesam jnani visisyate, the Lord says Himself,

Is someone become the best of all jnanis, yatatam api siddhanam, all those who have attained siddhi, just one may be able to understand Krishna in essence. That is why Suta Goswami says sa vai pumsam paro dharmah yato bhaktir adhoksaje, the dharma following which Lord Adhoksaja is worshiped, adhoksaja means the One who is beyond all knowledge, all material knowledge aksaja jnana, means that knowledge that which is perceived through the senses, the knowledge we attain by attempts of the senses, this is what is commonly known as knowledge. This is mental speculation. In English it is called empirical knowledge, and this itself is what people understand to be knowledge.

Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate, not just one but after many, many lifetimes of mental speculation. Where people just present their opinions, someone says that his opinion is this and another one says that his opinion is that and then someone comes along to say that all the opinions are current. This is not proper, the real knowledge is the knowledge of devotional service. That is why the Lord says, bahunam janmanam ante, after discussing about knowledge for many, many lifetimes when one actually attains the platform of knowledge, then is known as jnanavan for he has attained the real knowledge. And, what is the result of that attainment? Mam prapadyate, Krishna says that then he surrenders unto My feet. This, is called jnana as long as a person is not surrender unto the Lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead he remains in ignorance, for his knowledge is still incomplete. They consider themselves as liberated, but they are not at all liberated. So, this is how the scriptures explain: ye 'nye ravindaksa vimukta maninah, they just start to think that they main have become such and such, I have become Narayana, I have become God or I have become this or that. However, in reality his knowledge is immature, because he has not surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[break] So, one should go and inquire from his spiritual master adau gurvasrayam, then upon taking shelter of the spiritual master one should offer him his respects and then serve him. The master has to be served. Just by inquiry will not do, the spiritual benefit is achieved only when sevonmukjhe hi jihvadau, only by service. Sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, first one should engage in His service, then he will come in contact with the Supreme Godhead. Yes, it is not like that we can just read a book, a little Vedanta and that's it, we have attained God, no. That is why Krishna, the Supreme Lord says yatatam api siddhanam kascid mam vetti tattvatah:

To understand things in essence one should approach a learned person who knows God in essence. One should accept him them as spiritual master and then one will have the opportunity to understand the Godhead and the path will be wide open.

Vedesu durlabha adurlabha atma bhaktau, this is the principle. One may study the Vedanta for the eternity but still won't be able to know God. But if one approaches a devotee and bow down to him then he will grab your hand and take you to God and show you, "here is God, go get Him." So, the devotee can do that. Yes, this is the special mercy of the Lord, in the Bhagavata it has been said yad upasraya asrayat, if one surrenders unto the Supreme Lord's devotee then he may be kirata hunanda purata pulkasah abhira rambhah yavanah khasadayah, ye anye ca papah all of these and all other sinful classes, sudhyanti, they all become purified, this is the concept.

An ordinary man may say that, Oh these are Americans and mllecchas and yavanas how can you give them sannyasa? Why not, I say? There is a purification process, after going through which anyone can be given sannyasa, kirata hunanada pulinda pulkasa abhira rambhah yavana khasadayah, the path to God is open for everyone. The Lord Himself says mam hi partha vyapasrityah ye pi syuh papa yonayah, one may be born in a low, sinful class but as soon as he takes shelter of the Supreme Lord te'pi yanti param gatim, he will attain the Supreme goal, this is the verdict of the scriptures.

This notion that we have created that is anyone can attain God, he has to be Indian, no one else has the right. This is completely incorrect. Krishna says that anyone can attain Him. He has opened the path for us and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says prthivi te ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama: in all the towns and villages, in every home the holy name of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is being preached. This is should be understood in essence, mere speculation from the home with a limited mental prowess will not do.

Manusyanam sahasressu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam, we wish to attain knowledge of the Supreme but currently the knowledge that we have is all about wood, stones and earth. We either see some article of wood, something earthen because our eyes are not strong enough right now to be able to see God. That is why out of his mercy because all we can see is stones, the Lord appears in a stone form, before us. This is the mercy of the Lord, because all we can see has to be made out of material elements such as wood or stones, still to have mercy over us He appears in a form made out of stone and such.

This is the special mercy of the Lord, nothing is just stone, God is within everything and this is what He explains: bhumirapo analo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca ahamkara itiyam me bhinnah prakrti astadha: all that you see around you, Krishna says is but my energy. But where is the difference? Everything belongs to the powerful, saktih saktimana abhedah, potency and the powerful are non-different. Can anyone separate the sun from the sun rays? No, it is not possible. So, in this way the Lord says bhumi apo analo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca, these are the constituents of our bodies all over the material creation. Bhumi, bhumi means earth, apomeans water, bhuir apo, then anala, anala means fire, bhumira apo analo vayuh and kham, kham means ether; then mind and intelligence, all of these are nothing but manifestations of the Lord's energy and therefore, how can it be called ours? How can it be yours? This tendency to think something as mine, is called illusion, aham mameti, janasya mohoyam, everything belongs to the Supreme Lord but out of illusion we think that it belongs to us.

For example, let's say there is a carpenter and you give him some wood, you give him money for this work and he works to create something nice and sturdy such as a bungalow, but if then he says, "my dear sir, I have created this, so it is my property." How is that possible? The final thing belongs to the person who paid for the carpentry and the material. So, all that we use for our manufacturing wood, stone and earth, whom does it all belong to? It all belongs to God. So, if we just construct a house with a little hard work then how can we claim it to be our property? Just consider this, the Supreme Lord has declared that everything is His property, all that we use. So, how possibly can we claim it to be our property? This intelligence is knowledge in essence. Those who live with this remembrance, they attain great benefit in terms of knowledge of the Supreme, in essence.

This is the instruction of the Vedas and the Lord Himself states, that everything belongs to Him. Now, if everything belongs to Him then who are we to interfere? This is the reason behind all chaos. The day we will realize that nothing belongs to us but everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. Even our body belongs to Him, and myself the living entity is am His part and parcel, then what remains for us to do? Just like this finger of mine. It will do as I please. So, in this way everything belongs to the Supreme Lord-hence, should be used in His service, this is called knowledge is essence, tattva. Kascid mam vetti tattvatah, if only one accepts things in this spirit then he will see God at every step. It is not at all difficult to see God. One should have essential knowledge like this. With regards to who I am? Who God is and what this world is? What is the relation between God and I. if we try to understand this perfectly then we will be able to see God, in essence.

Thank you very much, Hare Krishna. [end]