Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.25–29 – March 20, 1971, Bombay

Prabhupada:

Buddher-intelligence. By exercise, by proper use of intelligence one who can understand the different status or different positions. Just like awakening and dreaming or sleeping and almost unconscious. In all these stages the person who is living, that is soul, or that is God. Not the soul is God, but God and soul is of the same quality. God is managing the gigantic body, the universal body and a soul is managing a small body. The function and the qualities are the same. The Mayavada philosophy, the Mayavadi philosophers they, they understand. Any intelligent man can understand, but they persist on this point, that God and the individual living being, there is no difference. In maya he is thinking that he is different but when he is liberated he becomes one.

Actually the position of the Mayavadi philosopher is [coughs] they want sayujya-mukti. Sayujya-mukti, to merge into the existence of the Supreme. Sayujya-mukti is there, according to sastra. Sayujya, sarūpya, salokya, samipya, sarsti. But Vaisnavas they do not prefer such liberation, to merge into the existence. Merging into the existence of the Supreme means merging into the impersonal Brahma effulgence as a, as a particle of spirit. He remains a particle, it is not homogeneous, he remains. Just like the sunshine, they are all combination of molecular particles of shining elements, but you can not distinguish. Just like any matter is combination of small atoms. They are different in constitution.

Similarly Brahma effulgence means combination of innumerable living entities appearing to be homogeneous, impersonal. But that sayujya-mukti is not very safe. Safe means not at all safe. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tataḥ patanty adho [SB 10.2.32]

That is the version we get from Srimad-Bhagavatam. That these persons, after severe penance and austerities, they rise up to the impersonal param padam. Param padam means the ultimate goal. Ultimate goal: Brahma, Paramatmaand Bhagavan. So that is also param padam, to merge into the Brahma, impersonal Brahma, that is also param padam. To realize Paramatma, that is also param padam and to realize the Supreme Person, that is also param padam but each one of these status is more clear than the other. If one approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead automatically he realizes all other param padam.

So the Mayavadi philosophers, being unaware of the, or they may be aware. Aware, they are aware but they don't like. They were aware that Personality of Godhead, there is, but they don't want to fight. The same mentality, material mentality. Just like in this material world nobody wants to be subservient of another person. Even sometimes accepting the spiritual master, he does not want to be subservient, he wants to pose himself. That is the nature. Nature means [banging noise] This, this, this can not be remedied? Always gaus! gaus! There is no remedy for this? What is that?

Devotee: We can put a door stop on the bottom.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: A door stop we can put on the bottom of the door [indistinct]

Prabhupada: It is going on always.

Devotee 2: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Where is this going on? In our... close or down?

Devotee: No, in our rooms [indistinct] devotees they don't [indistinct]

Prabhupada: That devotees are all, all irresponsible, they have no brains. What is the difficulty if the, the door is closed? And then they will not do it. What can be done? Twenty-four hours it is going on.

[pause]

So description of atma is already given, what is that? Atma nityo 'vyayaḥsuddha ekaḥ ksetra-jna [SB 7.7.19]. There is twelve, characteristics of atma. Suddha, as Krsna is always suddha, pavitram. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg 10.12].

Pavitram means suddha-pure. Similarly atma is also pure. That pure consciousness, when atma is pure, consciousness is always there, pure or impure, because living force, there is consciousness. So originally every atma or soul is pure and therefore his consciousness is also pure and that pure consciousness is Krsna consciousness. That pure consciousness is Krsna consciousness. So one has to illuminate that pure consciousness, buddhi, by exercising intelligence.

[Aside:] Subala Maharaja.

Subala: Yes.

Prabhupada: You did not sleep much?

Subala: Oh I'm not sleeping.

Prabhupada: Meditating? Don't meditate. Meditation also not closing the eyes completely. Meditation means half. Closing, Meditation means sleeping. If you don't like to sleep, sleep will come by closing the eyes. Therefore it is recommended that those who are meditators they should close eyes half, not full. I have seen many meditators in that Dr. Misra's asrama, snoring.

Devotees: [laugh]

Prabhupada: Regularly snoring.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: So you have to use our intelligence. Krsna consciousness, to analyze things nicely and come to Krsna consciousness. It is not very easy job but it is possible by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He has given us such a nice thing:

Because this prescription is delivered by Krsna Himself, Lord Caitanya. Which we follow the process then it is possible to liberate the atma from this material entanglement. That is being advocated by Prahlada Maharaja.

So one should understand that atma is pure. The different positions. When atma is pure the consciousness is also pure. So that pure consciousness is Krsna consciousness. Now that Krsna consciousness has become [indistinct] or polluted, contaminated. How? Tri-varnaiḥ. Varna means color, varna means color. The caste system is called also varna. Catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg 4.13].

The caste system: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra, they are also called varna. Varna means color. Actually the soul by being contaminated with this material world under the influence of three material modes. Some of them are sukla-varna, sukla-varna-white. This varna; brahmanas are called sukla-white and ksatriyas are called rakta, rakta-varna. Rakta-varna means the ksatriyas and the vaisyas are called pita-varna, yellow and the sūdras are called krsna-varna or black. As we are seeing within this material world there are divisions of varnas, colors: white, reddish and yellowish and blackish. Jivana, especially there are three colors, means three qualities. Three qualities: sattva guna, rajo guna, tamo guna.

Ebhis tri-varnaiḥ paryastair, when the soul becomes overcome by these three modes of material nature at that time buddhi-bhedaiḥ kriyodbhavaiḥ, buddhi-bhedaiḥ. Immediately his consciousness also becomes polluted. Therefore you find people are engaged in different activities, not in Krsna consciousness. On account of being polluted by the three modes of material nature the consciousness is also polluted. So this our Krsna consciousness movement means purifying, [mic feedback] purifying material state. Purifying the colorful ingredients, color. So even one is in black color, even one is in yellow color or even one is any color. The white color, it does not mean that the white European color. Sukla means clean. So this Krsna consciousness movement is a purifying process.

Paryastair buddhi-bhedaiḥ kriyodbhavaiḥ svarūpam atmano budhyed. Atma is pure, in the original state, Krsna conscious. But on account of being contaminated by different colors or different material qualities, their intelligence are also different. Their mode of activities are also different. Therefore they contradict. A sūdra do not agree with the brahmana, brahmana do not agree with the ksatriya, ksatriya do not agree. Like that, buddhi-bhedaiḥ and kriya-vat [?], kriyodbhavaiḥ. And they create their activities also according to their different colors. Therefore we find so many activities, so many like me. So many tastes. All these are due to this colors.

And samsara, material existence is due to this contamination, this colorful process. Etad dvaro hi samsaraḥ. So if you give up these colorful activities, bandha activities. Krsna activities, then naturally you become liberated. Because our bondage, conditional life, is due to our contamination which this colorful existence of material world. Just try to understand. So instead of trying to become purified by, there are so many processes. Brahmacarya, veda-dhyana, so many processes recommended, but in this age, Kali-yuga, none of the processes are practical. None of the processes are practical. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu-patita-pavana, because He is the liberator of the fallen souls of this age, He has given us very nice easy process: krsnas, ceto-darpana-marjanam, param vijayate sri-krsna-sahkirtanam.

Simply by sahkirtana method, chanting Hare Krsna mantra, avoiding the offenses, little endeavor. He's made all people liberated. Little endeavor. That we are practically experiencing. All of our students, they have never gone to the jungle or undergone severe austerities and penances [coughs]. As you know the great sages they are, even Dhruva Maharaja, they had to undergo severe penances and austerities before realizing, before coming to Krsna consciousness. But it is a special favor for the fallen souls of this age: krsna, kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sahgaḥ [SB 12.3.51]. He becomes immeditaly freed from the colorful existence of material qualities.

So it is just like dream. All our material existence is a dream. There is no act. Therefore they are temporary. Just like dream is temporary, say for few minutes, or a few hours. Not few hours. Not no dream is for few hours. Because he change while he's in dreaming condition. We change also dreaming features. They also a part dreaming. Similarly the whole material existence is dreaming. Yoga-nidra. The whole material existence is also generated from the yoga-nidra of Maha-visnu. Yoga-nidra. So we have to consider it that the creation, this material creation is only a dream of the Supreme Lord. Therefore it is not eternal, it is temporary.

Nanu tarhi [Bhavartha-dipika, 7.7.27]. Here it has been, nice example has been given: budhyed gandhair vayum ivanvayat [SB 7.7.26] Our contamination of the material world, how it is just like the air passing in different conditions. The air passing through a filthy place, the air becomes filthy smelling. He immediately, "Uhk, some filthy smell is coming. Wherefrom it is coming?" It is due to the air passing through a filthy place it is bearing that filthy smell.

Similarly [coughs] the air passing through a rose garden, it will carry the flavor of the rose. So if you carry your mind, intelligence and ego through the activities of Krsna then your consciousness will be Krsna conscious. Your consciousness will change. What is the difficulty to understand how-what is Krsna consciousness? Is there any difficulty? If you always remain engaged in Krsna's activities: sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam pada-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. Hearing, chanting, remembering and worshiping, pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam, offering prayers. When you feel meditative-better chant Hare Krsna-loudly. That will save you.

So sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam, these nine kinds of devotional activities. According to time and circumstances you'll engage in one of them and you'll be made Krsna conscious. You try to avoid yourself passing on filthy place. Material activities means filthy place, then you will carry a bad smell. But if you carry through, I mean to say, good smell, good flavor of the rose, Krsna is good, all-good. God is all-good. So if you remain always in association with the all-good then your Krsna consciousness is secure, you are also all-good.

Ajnana, actually this our condition is ajnana-mūḍha. Ajnana-mūḍha means we are trying to imitate Krsna to become enjoyer. That is material life. Everyone is trying to become enjoyer. How first-class enjoyer I may be? How I can become the Prime Minister? How I can become Birla? How I can become God? Ultimately failing to become Birla and minister he speaks things to bluff some foolish persons and declare that "I am god." Eh? That is very cheap. So people. Actual. That is the mūla, that is the root cause of our suffering in the material world. That I want to imitate Krsna and enjoy. And to try to become god means the greatest enjoyer. God is the enjoyer of goddess of fortune, Laksmi.

So this Mayavada philosophy, Mayavadi philosophers they address themselves, self-complement. "Sir you are Narayana, I am Narayana." That's all. Very easy, you see? They therefore address amongst themselves: "Narayana", Oh he is very much pleased, "I have become Narayana." And Vivekananda brings such Narayana-daridra-narayana. So in this way it is going on. Narayana is the enjoyer, so we are trying to imitate. That is material disease: "I want to become Narayana." Just like Ravana. Sita is Laksmi, goddess of fortune, he wanted to become Narayana. So that kind of narayana becoming business is not very good. Then one has to be killed with all other narayanas.

Devotees: [laugh]

Prabhupada: You see? Don't try to do that. You see? That is ajnana. Ajnana. Our beginning of material life is ajnana. Therefore jnana means surrendering to Krsna. That is stated in Bhagavad-gita [7.19]: bahūnam janmanam ante jnanavan. So long one does not surrender to Krsna he is in ajnana, try to understand. He may be advertised as very erudite scholar, very nice lecturing, but if the ultimate goal is that, "I am Narayana"-that is also ajnana. Ajnana.

This is the ajnana. All these material activities are dreams only. That's all. These karmis who are working so hard, that is also dreaming. Exactly the same way. It is gross dreaming, and at night that is subtle dreaming. Everything has two [coughs] features: gross and subtle. The subtle dreaming is at night and gross dreaming is at daytime. The karmis are engrossed in it.

[aside:] Don't sit in that way.

So gross dreaming and subtle dreaming.

So this ajnana-mūla, all our activities except Krsna consciousness, because they are on the basis of ajnana, ignorance, therefore they are compared as dreaming. That dream has no value similarly anything done in ajnana, sleeping is also ajnana. Sleeping is ajnana, that is understood by everyone. When you are sleeping if somebody is coming to kill you. You do not know because you are in ajnana. And when you are awake if somebody is coming to kill you. You can take precautionary steps because that is not ajnana [coughs]. But here in this material world either you are asleep or you are awakened, because the basic principles of life is ajnana-ignorance. It is both of them are sleeping.

Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says: dvaite bhadrabhadra sakali samana [Cc Antya 4.176]. Our creation in this material world, "This is good, this is bad," they're all the same because it is material, temporary. So temporary good, what is the use of such goodness? But people are very much anxious, even temporary, they want to enjoy senses. Sense enjoyment is enjoyment but that is temporary. Real enjoyment is not temporary. Satyanande ramante yogino 'nante [Cc Madhya 9.29]. That is not temporary. That is brahmananda. That brahmananda, spiritual bliss, can be obtained when you are purified, when you are in Krsna consciousness. But because you are ignorant we accept this temporary so-called happiness as happiness. Dvaite bhadrabhadra 'ei bhala, ei manda', saba manodharma. Mental concoction.

yasmad... [coughs]

Thus Prahlada Maharaja is concluding: "My dear demon friends," therefore: tasmad bhavadbhiḥ kartavyam-it is your duty. It is your duty. Kartavyam karmanam tri-gunatmanam bija-nirharanam. So our activities, there is some cause of activities. Whatever we do, there is a cause. So that cause is called a seed. What is that english word? Scientific word? Putting?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: [indistinct] activate.

Prabhupada: No, no. Any activity, any action there is a scientific. That the action is put. What is called?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: The original pushing.

Devotee: Impulse.

Prabhupada: Eh? Impulse is all... There is a technical scientific. Just like a ball is rolling. Somebody has kicked. Somebody has kicked. Physical law.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Impetus? No there is a technical word. You try to find. So that kicking of the football is the beginning of the ball's rolling.

Devotee: Inertia?

Prabhupada: What? Anyway never mind. So here it is said that: tasmad bhavadbhiḥ kartavyam, karmanam tri-gunatmanam, bija-nirharanam yogaḥ. You practice such yoga by which the original impetus of this force by which you are now entangled in this material activities, so you accept that yoga. And Prahlada Maharaja recommending that you accept the bhakti-yoga. No, no other yoga.

In Europe, America this yoga method has become very popular and therefore these so-called yogis, they go and exploit your country. Here also Prahlada Maharaja recommending yoga but what is that yoga? Bija-nirharanam. Bija, the original impetus can be vanquished, that sort of yoga, bija-nirharanam. Just like you take a seed, you put it into water and it will sprout some, what is called?

Devotees: [indistinct] leaves?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: Leaves?

Prabhupada: You put some grain, just like chick-pea in the water and gradually it will sprout comes, twig? What is that called?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Shoot. Yes. But the same, same seed, chick-pea, you fry it and put it in the water, it will not come out. That is bija-nirharanam. Now are finishing the sprouting potency. Sprouting potency. Bija-nirharanamyogaḥ pravahoparamo dhiyaḥ. If you accept, if you engage yourself in that sort of yoga so that there will be no more impetus for material activities then you will be saved from this material entanglement and that is Krsna consciousness.

This yoga system [coughs] will no more create karma-bandhanaḥ. The sprouting, it will grow to another plant and from the plant there will be many chick-peas, green. And from that many chick-peas there will be many sprouting and many plants. It will go on, go on, go on, go on. But if you fry the chick-peas then there will be no more sprouting process. So that is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita: yajnarthat karma 'nyatra karma-bandhanaḥ [Bg 3.9].

Simply for Krsna you work. Otherwise your karma will produce another karma and that karma will produce another karma, another karma, another karma. So:

So that uparamaḥ, that completely ceasing the impetus, there may be many other processes but Prahlada Maharaja says ayam bhagavatoditaḥ. The process recommended by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is that process? The Supreme Personality He is giving you a process. "Just surrender unto Me." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. This is the perfect process. Bhagavatoditaḥ yad isvare bhagavati yatha yair anjasa ratiḥ.

[coughs] Sridhara Svami, giving the same formula, that you have to act something. You can not remain silent for a moment. It is said, "I, I will see," that is making surrender. No. You'll not see, you'll dream. So you can not make yourself, I mean to say, without activities for a moment either mind, body may be stopped acting but the mind will go on acting. Therefore Krsna says that yat karosi [Bg 9.27], just, "Whatever you do-do it for Me." This is Krsna consciousness. We therefore say that whatever talents you have got, just engage in Krsna's service. You are a painter, alright.

This article has come out in our Back to Godhead. That I encourage the printers, always go on printing, go on printing. Now they are becoming successful and the pictures are being appreciate, although never in their lives they have painted such pictures.

So yat karosi, you have got these talents, alright, you do it for Krsna. You can typewrite, alright. You do it for Krsna. You are carpenter-alright do it for Krsna. Yat karosi yad asnasi. Because you have to work and you have to eat. So you offer whatever you are eating. Don't be afraid, Krsna will take it away. It will remain. They're afraid, "Oh if I offer to Krsna He may, may eat it. Then why? I shall starve."

Devotees: [laugh]

Prabhupada: The rascal does not know that Krsna is not hungry, I am hungry, He is not hungry. He is so perfect: pūrnasya pūrnam adaya pūrnam evavasisyate . He will take everything because you offer with faith and devotion, He will take, but again it will remain as prasadam.

So yat karosi, you have got these talents, alright, you do it for Krsna. You can typewrite, alright. You do it for Krsna. You are [indistinct]-alright do it for Krsna. Yat karosi yad asnasi. Because you have to work and you have to eat. So you offer whatever you are eating. Don't be afraid, Krsna will take it away. It will remain. They're afraid, "Oh if I offer to Krsna He may, may eat it. Then why? I shall starve."

So in the Bhagavad-gita [Bg 9.27]: yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi, dadasi yat. Juhosi, juhosi means offering sacrifice, performing sacrifice. Tons of ghee in sacrifices for being elevated in the heavenly planets, they perform yajnas. So that yajna also you can do for Krsna. "But I have no money. Where to purchase ghee?" All right therefore for Kali-yuja: yajnaiḥ sahkirtana-prayaiḥ [SB 11.5.32].

You simply chant Hare Krsna mantra, that is the yajna recommended in this age. You haven't got to purchase ghee. Yaj juhosi, dadasi yat, everyone wants to give in charity. That is in every religion, charity is recommended.

You know in Jain religion they're, make charity very cheap. You know in Bombay you'll find many Jains, they give some grains. In your country also, bird feeding, what is it called? Cheap charity. Say ten shillings, grains, you throw in the street, so many birds will come. That is also charity. That is also charity. So Vivekananda's daridra-narayana-seva can be done in various ways. If you pass stool there will be many worms. That is also charity. Your stool will be eaten up by many worms. So why you should exert energy for that purpose? Krsna says, "Give Me", that is real charity, parasmin va tad-arpanam [SB 3.29.10].

Otherwise all these charitable institutions is as good as the Jains that take cheap methods. They take one paise worth flower, sweet flour, and one paise worth of sugar and mix together and put it in the holes of the ants. So thousands and millions of ants, they are giving charity in one paise. That is also charity. But this kind of charity will not help you. Therefore Krsna says parasmin va tad-arpanam: "If you have anything to give in charity give it to Me. When you are eating, you give it to Me. When you are working, work for Me." That will benefit you. Not otherwise. That is Krsna consciousness.

Stop it here.

Devotee: Hari bol. [break]

Prabhupada: Seventh Chapter.

Devotee: [indistinct] liberation.

Prabhupada: Therefore you have to surrender to the spiritual master. He will guide you. We have got so many bad habits, that's alright, but under the guidance of a bona-fide spiritual master you will be trained up.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: [indistinct] spiritual master.

Prabhupada: Surrender is willing. If you don't like to surrender who can make you obliged to surrender? Surrender is voluntary. "Yes I surrender." Determination, "Yes I surrender." Who can make you obliged to surrender? Nobody can make. Even Krsna can not work. This is a false pretense, "Please be merciful upon me so that I may surrender." But if you do not surrender, who, what my mercy do? Be merciful so that I can, I can serve zero[?].

You know that incident? A man has fallen in the well, he is crying, "Please get me up, get me up." Another man drops a rope, "Please catch it." I'll take it. Oh. Then if he says, "Be merciful so that I can catch." Is that a very good arrangement? Eh? "When you'll be merciful I'll be able to catch." Is that argument? You catch. Then he'll help you to get it out. And if you don't catch, how he will help you? What is the use of speaking, "Be merciful, be merciful"? He is already merciful, giving you the rope. Why don't you take it?

So these are all false pleadings. If you want to surrender you can surrender yourself. If you don't want to surrender then there will, so many. "Please, Sir be merciful so that I can surrender unto you." Surrender is in your hands. If you like you can. If you don't like, don't surrender. There is no question of being merciful. Mercy is already there.

Krpa, the mercy is already there. Krsna is coming, Krsna is sending His representative. Krsna is giving you advice in the Bhagavad-gita. If you don't take advantage of it then who, who can deliver you? Krsna is personally coming. Krsna is sending you His representative, Krsna has left Bhagavad-gita, then what else you want? But if you are determined not to surrender how Krsna, and sastra and guru can help you? Nobody can help you. Then you are hopeless. That is up to you, to surrender or not to surrender. And because they do not surrender they are suffering. Willful negligence. Is that? There is an English word like this, willful negligence. If you become willful negli, neglect, full, negligent then who can help you? Nobody can help you. Nobody can help you. Neither Krsna nor sastra nor guru.

Their darsi [?] instead of willful negligence, there must be willful cooperation, then it will be successful. These are all pleas, so that will not do. The sahajiyas they will show, "Oh, Sir you are so, and be merciful and." But when he say something you do not do it, "That I can not accept Sir." So [laughs] how it will help? Eh? "I am very much obedient to you but I shall not care any one of your words. I am so obedient." So how is that Krsna or guru or sastra can help him? Nobody can help. You must be willing cooperator. Then it will be possible otherwise not possible. Then one is doomed. Hm. Take it.

[break] ...the steel. But when he was manufacturing he did not deliver. He thought that, "I have saved the steel. I have saved this steel. I did not deliver to the blacksmith so my steel is saved." So my steel is saved; my next featured interest [?]. His [indistinct]. Eh? So similarly if we become neglectful, disobedient, then that steel selling process. Your chopper is blunt it will not cut. Do you follow what I say?

Devotee: Yes, follow.

Prabhupada: That steel means it is called: a steel saving logic. "Oh I've saved this steel, I've saved so much time." You see, instead of serving Krsna and spiritual master I've saved so much time by sleeping twelve hours. It is not service! It is spoiling! You must know that. One should mold his life in such a way that twenty-four hours he must be engaged in Krsna's service. Even in dreaming he should serve Krsna. That is Krsna Conscious. So if we follow the policy of steel saving from the blacksmith then we are cheating, the blacksmith is not cheated, he is doing his business, that's all.